Showalter speaks after 2-2 tie

Showalter speaks after 2-2 tie
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles had enough pitching to play the 10th inning today, but the Twins were running short due to split-squad games. They also were playing the Rays in Port Charlotte. Former Orioles farmhand Brandon Waring homered off Orioles left-hander Troy Patton with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to account for the 2-2 tie. Patton walked the leadoff hitter and got a double play. Patton has pitched twice for the Orioles this spring and allowed two home runs in two...

Chen on Chen (O's, Twins end in 2-2 tie)

Chen on Chen  (O's, Twins end in 2-2 tie)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 2, Twins 2 Recap: Wei-Yin Chen has turned in two straight impressive starts, holding the Twins to one run and three hits over four innings today. He threw 41 of his 61 pitches for strikes. Tommy Hunter replaced Chen and retired the Twins in order with a strikeout. T.J. McFarland tossed three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Henry Urrutia hit his first spring home run to break a 1-1 tie. Urrutia, Steve Clevenger and Jonathan Schoop had two hits....

Game update and quotes from Showalter (Chen update, Urrutia homers)

Game update and quotes from Showalter (Chen update, Urrutia homers)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning against Twins starter Mike Pelfrey, but they scored only once on Quintin Berry's sacrifice fly to the warning track in right field. Steve Clevenger led off with a single, making him 8-for-17 this spring. Nolan Reimold walked and Jonathan Schoop lined a single into left field, making him 10-for-21. Is that good? Reimold held up on a ground ball down the third base line, perhaps assuming it would go foul, and...

Notes on Casilla, Wieters, Markakis, Yoon, Bundy and more (Lough scratched)

Notes on Casilla, Wieters, Markakis, Yoon, Bundy and more (Lough scratched)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Alexi Casilla was scratched from today's lineup with a hyperextended left knee. Jonathan Schoop has replaced him at shortstop. Casilla had recently been cleared to play after being shut down with a right hamstring injury. He's 0-for-5 in three games. Manager Buck Showalter learned of Casilla's injury via a phone call from bench coach John Russell as he prepared to make the drive to Fort Myers. Matt Wieters' right ankle is still a little swollen, and he probably won't...

Upcoming pitchers and Twins lineup (O's scratch Casilla)

Upcoming pitchers and Twins lineup (O's scratch Casilla)
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Today's game against the Twins at Hammond Stadium is another instant replay game. The Orioles may have challenged a call here during their last visit, but a replay wasn't available to them. That qualifies as a flaw in the system. Saturday afternoon's game against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium will air at 1:05 p.m. on MASN. The Orioles will start Chris Tillman, while New York counters with left-hander Vidal Nuno. Other Orioles scheduled to pitch include Suk-min Yoon,...

Yoon ready to make debut (Bundy optioned)

Yoon ready to make debut (Bundy optioned)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton said he is being given an extra day to rest and will pitch Saturday against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. Britton would have been used for the fourth time in nine days. Suk-min Yoon will make his Orioles debut Saturday after obtaining his work visa in Ottawa. He's sitting at his locker this morning. Yoon said "everything went well" in Ottawa, other than his cancelled flight on Wednesday, and he's looking forward to pitching this...

Orioles lineup against Twins

Orioles lineup against Twins
SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough is leading off and playing left field for the Orioles today in their 1:05 p.m. game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Not many regulars on this trip. Not a big surprise, either. Henry Urrutia is in right field. His defense has improved, but his baserunning mistakes are being noticed in the dugout. Not a good sign. Nolan Reimold is the designated hitter after getting about 12 plate appearances yesterday at the minor league complex. For the Orioles David Lough...

The catching situation and Johan Santana's role as mentor

The catching situation and Johan Santana's role as mentor
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are making another trip to Fort Myers this afternoon to play the Twins. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen is on the mound for his third start after shutting out the Pirates on one hit over three innings in his previous appearance. Overall, Chen has permitted two earned runs and six hits in five innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. Zach Britton, T.J. McFarland and Tommy Hunter also will pitch for the Orioles. Britton, as I mentioned yesterday, will be working for...

Showalter speaks after 6-0 loss

Showalter speaks after 6-0 loss
TAMPA - Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar walked to lead off the top of the ninth today and would have scored on Dariel Alvarez's two-out double if the ball hadn't hopped the left field fence. Mike Yastrzemski struck out to complete the Orioles' 6-0 loss to the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Manager Buck Showalter offered up his opinion on a few players, including starter Bud Norris, who allowed three runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings. "He was OK," Showalter said. "A little off...

Norris on Norris (O's lose 6-0)

Norris on Norris (O's lose 6-0)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Yankees 6, Orioles 0 Recap: Bud Norris left today's game after 1 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and throwing 60 pitches, but he felt good physically. Kevin Gausman gave up one run over two innings. Ryan Webb gave up two runs in the eighth. Alex Gonzalez and Henry Urrutia each had two hits, as the Orioles dropped their third consecutive game. Need to know: Urrutia made a baserunning mistake in the first inning that served as a valuable lesson moving forward - and...

Norris removed after 1 2/3 innings (updated)

Norris removed after 1 2/3 innings (updated)
TAMPA - Orioles pitcher Bud Norris didn't make it out of the second inning today in his worst start of the spring. Norris had tossed five scoreless innings over two starts before today, with three hits, one walk and six strikeouts. However, he gave up three runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings against the Yankees, with two walks and two strikeouts. Norris threw 60 pitches, 35 for strikes. He also committed a throwing error that allowed a run to score. Brad Brach replaced Norris with two outs...

Pregame notes in Tampa (updated)

Pregame notes in Tampa (updated)
TAMPA - Orioles pitcher Mike Wright has been shut down with tendinitis in his right elbow. Wright, one of the Orioles' top pitching prospects, didn't reveal the discomfort until reporting to the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park. Wright wasn't sharp this spring, allowing one run and three hits in three innings, with three walks and two strikeouts, before being optioned. Center fielder Adam Jones is the proud father of a baby boy. Manager Buck Showalter exchanged text messages with...

Update on Johan Santana and Yankees lineup

Update on Johan Santana and Yankees lineup
TAMPA - Johan Santana, signed to a minor league deal earlier this month, remains encouraged by the condition of his left shoulder and the progress he's making in his throwing program. "Once I get into the routine of baseball and doing everything with the team, but also with the trainers, it's definitely much better," he said. "I'm feeling good so far." Santana is throwing off flat ground from 120 feet, "just to make sure it feels good," he said. "Actually, what we're trying to do...

Orioles lineup against Yankees (with Wieters note)

Orioles lineup against Yankees (with Wieters note)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Quintin Berry is leading off and playing center field today for the Orioles, who return to Tampa for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Yankees. Jonathan Schoop gets the start at second base. He's 9-for-18 with three doubles, a home run, five RBIs and six runs scored in 10 games. For the Orioles Quintin Berry CF Alex Gonzalez SS Henry Urrutia LF Steve Pearce 1B Ryan Flaherty 3B Delmon Young DH Xavier Paul RF Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Bud Norris RHP Kevin Gausman will...

Hunter hunting for ways to retire Middlebrooks

Hunter hunting for ways to retire Middlebrooks
SARASOTA, Fla. - We're heading back to Tampa today for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Yankees. This time, we won't stake out Brian Roberts in the home dugout. That ship has sailed. This time, we won't be subjected to the torturous rush hour traffic on the way up there. We'll hit it on the way back to Sarasota. Bud Norris and Kevin Gausman will double-team the Yankees, who are starting Michael Pineda. Tommy Hunter had a humorous take yesterday on the two home runs that he's served up to...

Rodriguez and DeJesus Jr. reassigned to minor league camp (with quotes)

Rodriguez and DeJesus Jr. reassigned to minor league camp (with quotes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made two more roster moves today, reassigning left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. to minor league camp. The Orioles now have 47 players at their major league camp. Rodriguez allowed two runs in two innings today. He's expected to be assigned to Double-A Bowie. Rodriguez surrendered eight runs and 12 hits in six spring innings, with two walks, six strikeouts and two home runs. "It's been good for him," said manager Buck Showalter....

Reimold homers, Jimenez talks about his outing (O's lose 6-5)

Reimold homers, Jimenez talks about his outing (O's lose 6-5)
ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Phillies 6, Orioles 5 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez lasted only two innings in his second start, allowing four runs and four hits in two innings. He also walked three and threw 50 pitches. Eduardo Rodriguez gave up two runs in the fourth inning. Nolan Reimold singled and hit a two-run homer on the day that he was expected to play at the minor league complex. Alex Gonzalez hit a two out, two-run homer in the ninth. Need to know: Zach Britton cruised through the third...

Game update and more Ripken

Game update and more Ripken
SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton worked only one inning today, throwing all seven of his pitches for strikes while retiring the side in order. Not sure why it was such an abbreviated outing. The Orioles loaded the bases with one out in the third on Nolan Reimold's single and stolen base and two hit batters. Chris Davis grounded into a double play to end the threat. A.J. Burnett has now hit six batters in three starts over eight innings after drilling Jemile Weeks and Nick Markakis...

Jimenez update and a few minutes with Ripken

Jimenez update and a few minutes with Ripken
SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez's second start with the Orioles looks a lot different than the first. Jimenez threw 36 pitches in the opening inning, walking two batters and surrendering a three-run triple to Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown with two outs and the count full. Ben Revere and Freddy Galvis had back-to-back triples in the second after a leadoff walk and double play. Jimenez threw 14 pitches in the second, upping his total to 50, while left-hander Chris Jones warmed in the...

Huntzinger reassigned, and other notes (with quotes)

Huntzinger reassigned, and other notes (with quotes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Brock Huntzinger has been reassigned to minor league camp, leaving the Orioles with 49 players at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The Orioles will make at least one more cut after the game. Huntzinger, 25, allowed one run and two hits in 3 2/3 innings, with no walks and four strikeouts in three appearances. He picked up the save against the Yankees in Tampa after striking out the side in the ninth. Manager Buck Showalter has been impressed by Huntzinger, who could be...