Roberts singles, Tillman continues (O's complete sweep with 4-2 win)

Roberts singles, Tillman continues (O's complete sweep with 4-2 win)
Brian Roberts lined a 1-2 pitch into center field for a single with one out in the fifth inning. Must have felt like a walk-off home run. Roberts had collected his first hit since April 4 at Tropicana Field, and his first hit in Baltimore since June 29, 2012. He took a deep breath and exhaled as he stood on the bag. He traveled a long way for that hit, and I don't mean Sarasota. Roberts is 6-for-14 this season. He's a nice presence at the bottom of the lineup. By the way, his wife,...

Machado's first homer since May 5, Roberts' first game since April 4 (O's lead 3-1)

Machado's first homer since May 5, Roberts' first game since April 4 (O's lead 3-1)
Manny Machado rounded the bases in the first inning tonight, waved to some fans after crossing home plate and disappeared into the Orioles' dugout. Machado hit his first home run since May 5, and it gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead over the Yankees in the bottom of the first inning at Camden Yards. This place was loud before the game started. Machado crushed an 83 mph slider and cranked up the volume. Machado is 4-for-13 with two homers against Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. His last homer...

Did Davis call his shot?

Did Davis call his shot?
Each day seems to bring another batch of statistics on Orioles first baseman Chris Davis. Club records he's on pace to crush. And records belonging to legendary Hall of Famers from the early 1900s. Every home run or extra-base hit brings him closer to another milestone or moves him from select company to a place all his own. Last night's opposite-field shot gave him 31 homers, a franchise record before the All-Star break. He's on such a roll, he'll probably pad the stat during the flight...

Notes before tonight's game (updated)

Notes before tonight's game (updated)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters today that Brian Roberts will start at second base Tuesday night in Chicago. Roberts is serving as the designated hitter tonight in the series finale against the Yankees. "Just a good place to start," Showalter said. Roberts is 5-for-12 in three games. "We saw it early on, the few games he played with us," Showalter said. "He had a really good spring, and I'm encouraged to hear (Triple-A Norfolk manager) Ron Johnson talk about the...

Roberts serving as DH tonight (updated)

Roberts serving as DH tonight (updated)
Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is off the disabled list and in the lineup for tonight's series finale against the New York Yankees at Camden Yards. Roberts is batting ninth, as he did in the first three games of the season. He was 5-for-12 before injuring his hamstring on a slide into second base at Tropicana Field. Roberts is serving as the designated hitter, with Ryan Flaherty started at second base. Flaherty is batting .483 (14-for-29) with four homers and nine RBIs during an...

Orioles designate Jurrjens for assignment (updated)

Orioles designate Jurrjens for assignment (updated)
The Orioles have officially activated second baseman Brian Roberts from the 60-day disabled list and designated pitcher Jair Jurrjens for assignment. Roberts is expected in tonight's lineup against the New York Yankees. Jurrjens threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief last night, allowing three hits after following starter Zach Britton to the mound. Jurrjens signed with the Orioles on Feb. 15 after the Atlanta Braves declined to offer him arbitration. His contract was restructured, going...

A few notes on the series, Tillman and Davis

A few notes on the series, Tillman and Davis
The Orioles have claimed consecutive home series wins against the Yankees for the first time since they took two of three on April 18-20 and May 26-28, 2008. But there's more to the story. The Orioles are looking to complete their first sweep of a three-game home series against the Yankees since April 15-17, 2005. They've won four straight at home against the Yankees for the first time since Sept. 9, 1991-June 19, 1992. The last time the Orioles won five straight at home against the Yankees...

Orioles acquire Thames from Mariners

Orioles acquire Thames from Mariners
The Orioles made another minor league trade today, sending infielder Ty Kelly to the Mariners for outfielder Eric Thames. Thames has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, but he will report to Sarasota while rehabbing a non-displaced fracture of the second metacarpal of his left hand, suffered when he was spiked in a collision with an infielder on June 15 with Tacoma. He's expected to be cleared for baseball activities within the next 10 days. Thames, 26, has appeared in 181 major league games...

Orioles working on their Sunday night moves (updated)

Orioles working on their Sunday night moves (updated)
Tonight marks the first "ESPN Sunday Night Baseball" game at Camden Yards since July 31, 2005. It seems like only yesterday. A week, tops. Maybe what happened to the Orioles explains why the network stayed away for so long. Rodrigo Lopez lasted only 1 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs and seven hits, walking three batters and hitting one. The Orioles lost to the White Sox 9-4. Who started for the White Sox? Well, that would be Freddy Garcia, who gave up four runs and 10 hits over seven...

Davis: "I'm not going up there to try and hit home runs"

Davis: "I'm not going up there to try and hit home runs"
It was just another night at the ballpark for Chris Davis. A couple of home runs, five RBIs, more records to approach. Davis has 54 extra-base hits in 82 games and is on pace for 106, which would break Brady Anderson's club record of 92 set in 1996. His 30 homers tie Anderson for the most by an Oriole before the All-Star break and are the most in franchise history by the end of June. According to Elias, Davis tied Albert Pujols for the most home runs by the end of June since 2001, when...

Showalter speaks after 11-3 win

Showalter speaks after 11-3 win
Are there any superlatives left to heap upon Orioles first baseman Chris Davis? Manager Buck Showalter won't even try. He'll just appreciate the return. "I'll let you all do it. You're better at it than I am," Showalter said following tonight's 11-3 win over the Yankees. "Chris knows what we think of him and how proud we are of the year he's having. I think you see a good example of the difference. Yesterday, I think he had three strikeouts. Today, he comes back and puts it behind...

Davis continues to do it (O's win 11-3)

Davis continues to do it (O's win 11-3)
Why stop at one home run? Chris Davis has homered twice tonight, sending an Ivan Nova curveball onto the flag court in right field in the sixth inning to increase the Orioles' lead to 11-2. Ridiculous. Out of control. Davis has six career multi-homer games and three this season. The others came on May 29 vs. Washington and June 19 in Detroit. Davis has tied his career high with five RBIs tonight. It's the fourth time overall and third this season. Oh, there's more. Davis' 30 home...

Davis does it again (O's lead 9-2)

Davis does it again (O's lead 9-2)
Chris Davis isn't satisfied with terrorizing opposing pitchers. Now he's taking aim at his own relievers. Davis hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning tonight, the ball landing in the Orioles' bullpen and causing teammates to scatter on the bench to avoid becoming seamheads. Davis has 29 home runs, 77 RBIs and serious designs on the American League Most Valuable Player Award. Yankees starter Davis Phelps faced nine batters and threw 30 pitches in the inning. He'd like to...

Showalter on roster move and more

Showalter on roster move and more
Orioles manager Buck Showalter explained to reporters why the club designated first baseman Travis Ishikawa for assignment this afternoon and recalled pitcher Jair Jurrjens. "Just felt like we needed some coverage in our bullpen tonight after last night, and we're going to make a move with Brian (Roberts) tomorrow, anyway," Showalter said. The Orioles will continue their attempts to trade Ishikawa. If he goes through waivers and clears, he can choose to become a free agent. "Hoping it...

Ishikawa on today's roster move

Ishikawa on today's roster move
First baseman Travis Ishikawa received the news this afternoon that the Orioles designated him for assignment to make room for pitcher Jair Jurrjens. He took it in stride, knowing that it was a distinct possibility. "They needed another arm," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen now. They have a few days to try to trade me, and then if they can't trade me, I go through the waiver process and see if anybody claims me. If they don't, I can either accept my assignment to Triple-A...

McLouth back at the top of the order (Jurrjens called up, Ishikawa designated)

McLouth back at the top of the order (Jurrjens called up, Ishikawa designated)
A night after breaking up CC Sabathia's no-hitter and hitting the game-winning home run, Nate McLouth is back at the top of the order and playing left field for the Orioles. Chris Dickerson is hitting eighth and is listed as the designated hitter. Tonight's starter is Zach Britton, who is 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA with the Orioles this season. As of right now, the same relievers are listed on the roster, including T.J. McFarland and Kevin Gausman. No roster move has been made yet. For the...

Roster rumblings

Roster rumblings
Second baseman Brian Roberts will return to Camden Yards today, take batting practice and wait to be activated on Sunday. For fans questioning whether he's ready to come off the disabled list after being removed from last night's game at Triple-A Norfolk because of rain, I'll respond by asking if you're really serious. Of course he should have come out of the game. Why risk injury on a wet minor league field to a guy coming off surgery on his hamstring? No team would have taken that...

Showalter speaks after 4-3 win

Showalter speaks after 4-3 win
The Orioles are discussing whether to bring up a reliever for Saturday night after Kevin Gausman worked 4 1/3 innings in relief. They don't really have a long man, since T.J. McFarland started tonight. Manager Buck Showalter prefers having a right-hander backing up a left-handed starter, and Zach Britton takes the mound Saturday night. Tommy Hunter pitched the last two innings for the Orioles and recorded his second career save in a 4-3 victory over the Yankees. Jim Johnson told Showalter...

Orioles no-hit through the fifth (McLouth homers, O's win 4-3)

Orioles no-hit through the fifth (McLouth homers, O's win 4-3)
It's another night where the Orioles have ventured into the middle innings without a hit. They have one baserunner against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia through five innings. Alexi Casilla reached on third baseman Alberto Gonzalez's fielding error with two outs in the third. It's getting a bit tense. Kevin Gausman has kept the Yankees from building on their 3-0 lead. He retired eight of the first nine Yankees, and struck out three of the first four. David Adams singled with one out in...

Showalter on McFarland's first start (Gausman replaces McFarland)

Showalter on McFarland's first start (Gausman replaces McFarland)
Left-hander T.J. McFarland found out after last night's game that he would make his first major league start tonight against the New York Yankees. Manager Buck Showalter approached McFarland at his locker and delivered the news. And he didn't take a direct path with it. "I asked him, 'What time do you usually get here?'" Showalter recalled. "He said, 'Oh, about 1 o'clock.' I said, 'Why don't you get here around 3:30 and be ready to pitch the first inning instead of the second,...