Another quality start for Gonzalez and RBI for Teagarden (O's lose 4-2)

Another quality start for Gonzalez and RBI for Teagarden (O's lose 4-2)
The only thing missing from Miguel Gonzalez's start today was run support. And maybe a better plan against Blue Jays third baseman Maicer Izturis. Gonzalez allowed only three hits in 7 1/3 innings - Adam Lind's single in the first, Izturis' first-pitch home run in the fifth and Munenori Kawasaki's bouncer up the middle with one out in the eighth. The Jays led 2-1 before Taylor Teagarden launched his second home run of the season in the top of the eighth to tie the game. Gonzalez walked...

Orioles searching for first run (O's down 2-1)

Orioles searching for first run (O's down 2-1)
Miguel Gonzalez has four strikeouts in the first three innings today against the Toronto Blue Jays. All of them are called third strikes. Gonzalez punched out Munesori Kawasaki in the third inning. Not literally, though there must be a slight temptation. Kawasaki was batting .229 before today, but .321 vs. the Orioles. Eight of his 17 RBIs came against them. Gonzalez has allowed only one hit in three innings, but his wild pitch in the first gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. He's retired seven...

Steve Johnson begins throwing progression

Steve Johnson begins throwing progression
Orioles pitcher Steve Johnson began his throwing progress today with a game of catch at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. Johnson made 25 throws from 60 feet. He's waiting to find out what's next on his schedule. Johnson, on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, sent out the following tweet earlier this morning: "Threw today and felt good! Hopin to be back soon. Tired of being in Sarasota. Can't wait to get back" This is the latest piece of encouraging injury/rehab...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups
Travis Ishikawa will make his second start at first base today, as the Orioles try to even their series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Chris Davis will serve as the designated hitter for the second time. He hit two home runs Wednesday in Detroit. Taylor Teagarden is behind the plate. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH J.J. Hardy SS Travis Ishikawa 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Taylor Teagarden C Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the...

It's Gonzalez vs. Wang today

It's Gonzalez vs. Wang today
The Orioles have a quick turnaround today with their 1:07 p.m. game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Again, I'm convinced that they lead the world in day games. Taylor Teagarden most likely will be behind the plate, which will appease the fans who are convinced that Matt Wieters cost the Orioles last night's game by calling for a cutter to Munenori Kawasaki with Tommy Hunter on the mound. Apparently, Hunter's head doesn't move from side to side and he can't shake off a sign. And...

Hammel leaves game, Orioles lose lead (O's lose 7-6)

Hammel leaves game, Orioles lose lead (O's lose 7-6)
Jason Hammel won't be satisfied with tonight's start. He's a harsh critic. But he had a chance to register his eighth victory of the season and his seventh on the road. It won't happen. Toronto shortstop Munenori Kawasaki continues to harass the Orioles, launching a two-run homer off Tommy Hunter in the seventh inning to tie the game 6-6. It was Kawasaki's first major league home run, and the first allowed by Hunter since May 24 in Toronto - a span of 12 appearances. Kawasaki doesn't...

Showalter ejected in second inning (Davis, Flaherty homer)

Showalter ejected in second inning (Davis, Flaherty homer)
Plate umpire Angel Hernandez infuriated both managers tonight in the top of the second inning. Hernandez is in mid-game form. Chris Davis appeared to swing through an R.A. Dickey knuckleball for the first out of the inning. He dropped the bat and started running to first. However, Hernandez ruled it was foul tipped, which brought Blue Jays manager John Gibbons out of the dugout. Hernandez conferred with third base umpire Jordan Baker and changed his call, which brought Orioles manager Buck...

Orioles place Pearce on DL

Orioles place Pearce on DL
The Orioles have reinstated pitcher Miguel Gonzalez from the paternity list and placed outfielder Steve Pearce on the 15-day disabled list with left wrist tendinitis. The DL move is retroactive to yesterday, making Pearce eligible to return on July 5 in New York. Pearce appeared in Wednesday's game in Detroit without an official at-bat, replacing Nick Markakis in right field in a 13-3 win. He's batting .235/.311/.383 with three homers and nine RBIs in 28 games. Pearce had three hits in a...

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups (Pearce not listed among reserves)

Orioles and Blue Jays lineups (Pearce not listed among reserves)
Still waiting on the Orioles' roster move for Miguel Gonzalez's activation tonight. The lineup is pretty standard for the series opener in Toronto. Ryan Flaherty is at second and Danny Valencia is batting ninth as the designated hitter against R.A. Dickey. On another note, the July 7 game against the Yankees in the Bronx will air on TBS beginning at 1 p.m. For the Orioles LF Nate McLouth 3B Manny Machado RF Nick Markakis CF Adam Jones 1B Chris Davis C Matt Wieters SS J.J. Hardy 2B Ryan...
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It's Hammel vs. Dickey tonight (with notes)

It's Hammel vs. Dickey tonight (with notes)
The Orioles will make a roster move later today to create room for pitcher Miguel Gonzalez, who's returned from paternity leave and will start Saturday at Rogers Centre. First baseman Travis Ishikawa had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk after filing paperwork to opt out. He's 1-for-9 with five strikeouts in two games. Ishikawa can't be sent back down to the minors without an outright assignment, which he can refuse based on service time. The Yankees are believed to have interest...

Machado second to none in lineup

Machado second to none in lineup
Orioles manager Buck Showalter had a plan for third baseman Manny Machado. He formulated it over the winter, kept it quiet and sprung it on the media - and the world - toward the end of spring training. Showalter elevated Machado to second in the order in a late exhibition game. Since the rest of the lineup seemed to be designed for opening day in St. Petersburg, it was safe to assume that Machado would be the No. 2 hitter for the Orioles. Showalter downplayed it, of course, saying that...

Update on Chen's simulated game

Update on Chen's simulated game
Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen completed three innings today in a simulated game in Sarasota and remains on schedule to return to Baltimore next week. Chen threw 42 pitches, 27 for strikes. He threw all of his pitches, as he did in his second bullpen session on Monday. "He looks good," said Scott McGregor, the Orioles' pitching rehab coordinator. "It was a good test for him today. He threw all of them and looked pretty comfortable." Chen will throw another bullpen session on Saturday...

Orioles trade minor league catcher Chris Robinson (updated)

Orioles trade minor league catcher Chris Robinson (updated)
Though the Orioles are off today, they managed to swing a minor league trade involving Triple-A Norfolk catcher Chris Robinson. Robinson has been dealt to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. He was batting .241/.268/.278 with four doubles and five RBIs in 29 games. He hadn't played since June 9. Robinson will report to the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in Tucson. Update: The trade is for cash considerations. No PTBNL. The Orioles signed Robinson as a minor league free agent...

How do you like them now?

How do you like them now?
The Orioles are off today, so they can savor being 11 games above .500 for the first time this season. More likely, they haven't given it a single thought. That's especially true of third baseman Manny Machado, who only gives double thoughts. (See what I did there?) This team doesn't obsess over records and streaks. It hasn't swept a series longer than two games, but it keeps winning them. Sixteen if you're counting at home, which leads the majors. I sensed some panic here when the...

Quick Gausman update

Quick Gausman update
Kevin Gauman's first start at the Triple-A level didn't produce the desired results. Gausman allowed seven runs and 10 hits in six innings for the Norfolk Tides in Game 1 of a doubleheader, with one walk, four strikeouts and one wild pitch. He served up a three-run homer to Indianapolis left fielder Andrew Lambo in the sixth inning. Jon Rauch replaced Gausman in the seventh and gave up a solo homer in an 8-1 loss. Rauch apparently has decided not to opt out of his contract. Gausman was 2-4...

Strop with another scoreless inning, Davis homers in 13-3 win (rotation update)

Strop with another scoreless inning, Davis homers in 13-3 win (rotation update)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter found another safe spot for reliever Pedro Strop today, inserting him into the eighth inning with a six-run lead. Strop responded by retiring all three Tigers he faced, striking out two, and watched the Orioles extend their lead to 13-3. The Orioles tacked on four more runs against Jose Valverde in the top of the ninth on Adam Jones' two-run double that followed singles by Manny Machado and Nick Markakis, and a long two-run homer by Chris Davis that may have...

Tillman trying to remain unbeaten on the road (updated)

Tillman trying to remain unbeaten on the road (updated)
The Orioles scored six runs for Chris Tillman today. He gave them five-plus innings. Tillman won't pick up his 10th quality start, but he could improve to 6-0 on the road this season. Since Aug. 21, 2012, Tillman has made 12 consecutive starts on the road allowing three runs or fewer. He's charged with three today, the last two scoring after T.J. McFarland entered the game with two runners on base and gave up a double to Matt Tuiasosopo. McFarland has let 10 of 16 inherited runners score...

Game update and a few more notes (Davis and Teagarden homer)

Game update and a few more notes (Davis and Teagarden homer)
Chris Tillman has thrown 47 pitches in two innings today, but the Orioles and Tigers remain scoreless at Comerica Park. Tillman has allowed four hits and walked a batter. He's been aided by outstanding plays by third baseman Manny Machado and left fielder Nate McLouth. Tillman has allowed eight runs in the third this season, his highest total in any inning. McLouth singled in the first inning, giving him hits in six of his last eight games and four in a row. He's 7-for-27 in those eight...

Ishikawa starting at first base, Davis the DH

Ishikawa starting at first base, Davis the DH
Travis Ishikawa is starting at first base today for the Orioles in the series finale against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Chris Davis will get a partial break as the designated hitter. Taylor Teagarden is catching today. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH J.J. Hardy SS Travis Ishikawa 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Taylor Teagarden C Chris Tillman RHP For the Tigers Austin Jackson CF Andy Dirks LF Miguel Cabrera 3B Prince Fielder...

Orioles go for series win today, Chen pitches in simulated game

Orioles go for series win today, Chen pitches in simulated game
The Orioles have an early game today in Detroit, and Chris Tillman will attempt to record his 10th quality start out of 15 appearances, and his fourth in a row. In three June outings, Tillman has held opponents to three earned runs (four total) and 11 hits in 19 innings, with seven walks and 16 strikeouts. Tillman is 1-0 with a 4.07 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers, with 11 runs and 17 hits in 24 1/3 innings. He's walked 13 and struck out 20. He's allowed six runs and eight hits...