Game update and Reimold note (and attendance)

Game update and Reimold note (and attendance)
Alfredo Simon lasted only 4 1/3 innings tonight. Dustin Pedroia hit a tie-breaking home run in the top of the fifth, and Simon exited after David Ortiz singled off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field. Simon was charged with three runs and six hits, with three walks, two strikeouts and a balk. He threw 87 pitches, 53 for strikes. Simon also gave up three runs in his last start, but they were spread out over eight innings against the Tigers. In the start before that one, he allowed six...

Angle, Jones and more (score tied 2-2)

Angle, Jones and more (score tied 2-2)
Alfredo Simon stranded a runner in the first inning and another one in the second, but the Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the third. No. 9 hitter Mike Aviles drew a leadoff walk, moved up on Jacoby Ellsbury's single and scored on Dustin Pedroia's single. Ellsbury extended his hitting streak against the Orioles to 36 games. Simon got a double play, issued an intentional walk and struck out Ryan Lavarnway, who homered twice last night. His pitch count is up to 52 through three innings. The...

Jones talks about MVO award

Jones talks about MVO award
I'm hearing now that it's highly unlikely that the Orioles make an announcement tomorrow regarding president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail. Something would have to change during the afternoon. Maybe on Friday. Center fielder Adam Jones beat out shortstop J.J. Hardy by one vote for Most Valuable Oriole. I expected a close count, but that's taking it to the extreme. "It's a tremendous honor," Jones said. "Played a hard season, a long season. There's a lot of deserving guys...

Chris Davis to undergo hernia surgery

Chris Davis to undergo hernia surgery
You can add corner infielder Chris Davis to the list of Orioles who will undergo sports hernia surgery after the season. Davis is in tonight's lineup at third base. He's batting .265 with five homers and 19 RBIs. "It's something he's had for a while," Showalter said. Second baseman Ryan Adams is scheduled to undergo a similar procedure on Oct. 4 in Philadelphia. Also, outfielder Matt Angle will work out at second base in the fall instructional league in Sarasota. "You've got Bordy...

Jones named MVO (with O's and Boston lineups)

Jones named MVO (with O's and Boston lineups)
Adam Jones has been named Most Valuable Oriole for the 2011 season. J.J. Hardy placed second and Matt Wieters was third. Both players received first-place votes. Mark Reynolds, Jim Johnson, Robert Andino and Nick Markakis also received votes from members of the media who cover the team. Jones has set career highs with 26 doubles, 25 home runs, 83 RBIs and 150 games played. He's tied for the team lead with 14 outfield assists, and leads all American League center fielders in...

Showalter speaks after 8-7 loss

Showalter speaks after 8-7 loss
Nick Markakis milked Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon for 11 pitches in the bottom of the ninth inning. Adam Jones worked him for 10 before bouncing out to end the game. Papelbon needed 28 pitches to record the save in the Red Sox's 8-7 win. The Orioles didn't go quietly. Not after falling behind 8-4 in the eighth inning, and not after trailing 8-6 in the ninth. "I don't think it surprises anybody who knows those two guys," manager Buck Showalter said. "I know you all get tired of...

Orioles' rally falls short

Orioles' rally falls short
The Orioles scored once against Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Adam Jones bounced to third base with the count full to strand the potential tying run at second in an 8-7 loss before an announced 22,123 at Camden Yards. Jones saw 10 pitches in the at-bat. J.J. Hardy led off with a single and took second on a bouncer to first base by Nick Markakis that concluded an 11-pitch at-bat. Markakis was swinging at everything because he didn't trust umpire Wally...

It's up to the bullpens (O's trail 8-6)

It's up to the bullpens (O's trail 8-6)
Former Oriole Erik Bedard didn't make it out of the fourth inning tonight. Rookie Zach Britton didn't make it out of the fifth. Nothing here that screams "quality," but they do classify as starts. Bedard allowed three runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. He threw 84 pitches, 48 for strikes. Britton was charged with five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, with two walks, two strikeouts, one wild pitch and two home runs. He threw 84 pitches, 45 for...

And now, the end is near ...

And now, the end is near ...
It seems like only yesterday that I was standing in the home clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium, scribbling down every move made by future Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero on his first day in camp. What he wore, where he sat, what he ate, how many words of English he spoke, how many teammates stared in awe. I was touring the refurbished Sarasota facility, staking out Justin Duchscherer's locker for updates on his hip, misspelling "wart" on Twitter - I blame Brian Matusz - counting pitches in...

No. 162

No. 162
It seems like only yesterday that I was standing in the home clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium, scribbling down every move made by future Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero on his first day in camp. I was touring the refurbished facility, staking out Justin Duchscherer's locker for another update on his hip, misspelling "wart" on Twitter, glazing over as the pitchers performed fielding drills, counting how many diet Dr. Peppers that The Sun's Peter Schmuck consumed for breakfast. I firmly...
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Britton loses lead in third (O's down 5-3)

Britton loses lead in third (O's down 5-3)
Both pitchers tonight have given up runs after recording the first two outs in an inning. Nick Markakis drew a two-out walk off former Orioles left-hander Erik Bedard in the bottom of the first and scored on Vladimir Guerrero's double into left-center field. Boston's No. 9 hitter, Marco Scutaro, doubled to left field against Orioles rookie Zach Britton with two outs in the top of the third and came home on Jacoby Ellsbury's 32nd home run of the season. Red Sox 2, Orioles 1. Ellsbury...

A few pregame notes and quotes

A few pregame notes and quotes
If Zach Britton records a win or a no-decision tonight, he'll become the first Orioles pitcher with 20 or more decisions to post a record above .500 since Erik Bedard went 15-11 in 2006. Coincidentally, Bedard is starting tonight for the Red Sox. I determined that it qualifies as a coincidence, not an irony. Please correct me if I'm wrong. A 12th victory tonight would tie Britton with Daniel Cabrera (2004) for the eighth-most wins by an Orioles rookie in franchise history. Pedro Strop...
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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Nolan Reimold LF Zach Britton LHP For the Red Sox: Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Ortiz DH Lowrie 3B Gonzalez 1B Lavarnway C McDonald RF Crawford LF Scutaro SS Bedard LHP This is the first time that Lowrie has began a game as Boston's cleanup hitter. Jones is 5-for-9 lifetime against Bedard. Guerrero is 6-for-18 with a double and home run.

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
I want to start out by saying that I went 12-4 picking against the spread in NFL games, which means I'll probably go 2-14 this weekend. Dallas rallied last night for my 12th win. I was hesitant to take a team whose quarterback was playing with cracked ribs and a punctured lung, but then I thought, "What the heck?" I mentioned last night that Adam Jones had the last Orioles inside-the-park home run until Robert Andino circled the bases against Josh Beckett. Jones' unique four-bagger...

Showalter limps after 6-3 win

Showalter limps after 6-3 win
Orioles manager Buck Showalter walked gingerly to his seat for his postgame session with the media following a 6-3 win over the Red Sox. He didn't move at the usual brisk pace. Each step was carefully measured. Showalter underwent X-rays on his ankle that, he assumes, came back negative. He was back in the dugout by the second inning. Showalter said he turned the ankle while walking to home plate to exchange lineup cards. Buck Showalter tells the media how proud he is of both Robert Andino...

Andino with inside-the-park home run

Andino with inside-the-park home run
That was an eventful bottom of the sixth inning. It started with Vladimir Guerrero setting the hits record for Dominican-born players and included Robert Andino's three-run inside-the-park home run that expanded the Orioles' lead to 6-2 against Boston's Josh Beckett. With his father watching in the stands, Andino sent a towering fly ball to center field with runners on second and third, two outs and the Orioles leading, 3-2, on Chris Davis' second RBI of the night. Jacoby Ellsbury almost...

Hunter grinds out five innings (Guerrero sets record)

Hunter grinds out five innings (Guerrero sets record)
Left-hander Troy Patton has replaced Tommy Hunter in the top of the sixth inning with the score tied, 2-2. Hunter allowed two runs (one earned) and seven hits in five innings, with three walks, two strikeouts and a home run. He threw 90 pitches, 54 for strikes. Hunter tweaked his groin during his last start, and he might have aggravated the injury tonight while doing the splits at first base on an attempted 3-6-1 double play in the second inning. He stretched for another throw at home plate...

More about Matusz

More about Matusz
If anyone with the Orioles needs a fresh start, it's left-hander Brian Matusz. Matusz left spring training as the No. 2 starter. He ended the season with one victory. I don't know anyone who saw it coming. I predicted that Matusz would become the staff ace after winning his last six decisions in 2010 and posting a 1.57 ERA over his final eight starts. Maybe I was just a year or two off. Matusz was 1-9 with a 10.69 ERA in 12 starts this season. He went on the disabled list in early April...

Showalter being treated for ankle injury (Boston takes 2-1 lead)

Showalter being treated for ankle injury (Boston takes 2-1 lead)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't in the dugout for the first inning after sustaining a "minor ankle injury," according to a team official. Showalter is receiving treatment for the injury, which apparently occurred earlier today, and will return to the bench shortly. Eyewitnesses said Showalter had to be carried down the runway leading from the dugout after exchanging lineup cards at home plate. This rival really has heated up. Even the manager is hurt. Showalter missed Tommy Hunter...

A few pregame notes (Sox lineup change)

A few pregame notes (Sox lineup change)
Red Sox manager Terry Francona told the Boston media that everyone in his bullpen should be available except Franklin Morales. I guess closer Jonathan Papelbon has something left in the tank after working 2 1/3 innings last night in Game 2. Orioles second baseman Ryan Adams remains scheduled to undergo surgery on Oct. 4 for a sports hernia. Nolan Reimold has five homers and 15 RBIs in 20 games this month. He isn't in the lineup tonight. Reimold is trying to convince Buck Showalter that he...