Atkins leaves with lead, Johnson can't hold it

Atkins leaves with lead, Johnson can't hold it
I'm not ready to name Mitch Atkins the opening day starter in 2012, but he held a potent Rangers lineup to one run over six innings in his first major league start. I'd say he's earned another opportunity. Atkins scattered eight hits - which is what you do when you give up only one run - didn't walk a batter and struck out four. The fact that he didn't issue a walk might be the most impressive aspect of his night. Atkins retired the side in order only once in six innings. He didn't...

Another Hardy homer (with Matusz updates)

Another Hardy homer (with Matusz updates)
Shortstop J.J. Hardy turned the second pitch of tonight's game into his 13th home run, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead against Rangers left-hander Matt Harrison. Hardy's hitting .298 with 32 RBIs. I still believe that he was worth giving up minor league relievers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson. Don't try to talk me out of it. Down on the farm, Brian Matusz is making his first start with Triple-A Norfolk since being optioned. He's allowed two runs (one on a home run) and four hits in four...

Orioles lineup against Rangers (and Scott update)

Orioles lineup against Rangers (and Scott update)
Nolan Reimold is making back-to-back starts in left field. Vladimir Guerrero continues to bat cleanup. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Mitch Atkins RHP I wrote earlier today about Luke Scott going on the disabled list, but I forgot to mention that he'll undergo an MRA Friday in Baltimore. That's what happens when you trust your memory instead of your...

Luke Scott going on DL

Luke Scott going on DL
The Orioles will place left fielder Luke Scott on the 15-day disabled list later today to make room on the 25-man roster for pitcher Mitch Atkins, who gets the start tonight. The Orioles will purchase Atkins' contract from Triple-A Norfolk. He flew into Arlington yesterday. Scott is batting .223 with 11 doubles, nine homers and 22 RBIs in 63 games. He hit .226 with three homers and three RBIs in June, and went 0-for-9 in the Atlanta series. Scott has a tear in his right labrum, and the...

As the rotation turns

As the rotation turns
I didn't need to leave my house last night to watch fireworks. Thanks to MASN, they were set off in my living room. My blinds are still scorched and my ceiling fan ... well ... I wouldn't pull the chain. Sometimes, I think the Orioles are pulling my chain. I wish they'd stop. The Rangers lit up Orioles pitching for 13 runs last night, making them the latest team to torch the rotation. Chris Jakubauskas surrendered six of them and didn't record an out in the third inning. Orioles...

Showalter says Atkins most likely will start

Showalter says Atkins most likely will start
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told MASN's Jim Hunter that the "tentative plan" calls for

Atkins the likely starter tomorrow night (updated twice)

Atkins the likely starter tomorrow night (updated twice)
Alfredo Simon has replaced starter Chris Jakubauskas in the third inning, which eliminates him from consideration for tomorrow night's assignment. Mitch Atkins is in Arlington and could have his contract purchased after tonight's game. Jakubauskas is charged with six runs and seven hits in two-plus innings. Adrian Beltre delivered the knockout punch with a two-run homer. Jakubaukas threw 45 pitches, 31 for strikes. His ERA ballooned to 6.75. The rotation remains a mess. Jakubauskas has...

Reynolds homers again (Rangers take lead)

Reynolds homers again (Rangers take lead)
Mark Reynolds is staying hot, no matter where he hits in the lineup. Reynolds just belted his 19th home run, a two-run shot in the second inning that gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Rangers starter Colby Lewis hit Vladimir Guerrero on the left shoulder, and Reynolds followed with his third homer in three games and his fifth in five games. And like the others, it was a no-doubt shot to left field. Estimated distance: 407 feet. Reynolds, batting fifth tonight, has matched his error total with...

Reimold in tonight's lineup (Atkins in Arlington)

Reimold in tonight's lineup (Atkins in Arlington)
Nolan Reimold is starting in left field and batting eighth tonight. Mark Reynolds drops to fifth in the lineup behind Vladimir Guerrero. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Nolan Reimold LF Blake Davis 2B Chris Jakubauskas RHP NOTE: Mitch Atkins left Triple-A Norfolk to join the Orioles in Arlington, but that doesn't mean he's definitely starting tomorrow night. It could depend whether Alfredo...

What's right with Reimold (and notes)

What's right with Reimold (and notes)
The Orioles will face another right-hander tonight in the Rangers' Colby Lewis. Other than the Cardinals' Jaime Garcia last Thursday, I don't think the Orioles have seen a left-handed starter since Ron Guidry. It's no coincidence that Nolan Reimold hasn't been in the lineup since hitting a three-run homer off Garcia, and has started twice since June 15. Manager Buck Showalter prefers to use Luke Scott against right-handers. Felix Pie gets the starts if Scott is unavailable for shoulder,...

Keep Reynolds wrapped in cleanup

Keep Reynolds wrapped in cleanup
If you thought that the Orioles would go 0-10 on this road trip, well, you were just plain wrong. They won yesterday, so there's no need for all that negativity. I'm not one to overreact - OK, I'm famous for overreacting - but there's no way I'd remove Mark Reynolds from the cleanup spot. Reynolds hit a two-run homer and had a sacrifice fly yesterday in the Orioles' 5-4 victory over the Braves. He has six homers over his last 13 games, and a team-leading 18 for the season. The...

Reynolds gives Orioles lead (updated)

Reynolds gives Orioles lead (updated)
Say this about Mark Reynolds: None of his home runs are cheap ones. Nick Markakis collected his fourth hit of the day, and Reynolds collected his 18th home run of the season. It was an absolute bomb, which is typical of Reynolds. He doesn't need a gust of wind - except for the one that his swing creates. Reynolds gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning. Now it's up to the Orioles' bullpen, which has been so good, to make it hold up. Reynolds is only the second player to homer...

Britton gets another hit and a scare (Braves lead 4-3)

Britton gets another hit and a scare (Braves lead 4-3)
Zach Britton is 2-for-2 today after reaching on an infield hit in the fifth inning, but he stumbled after crossing first base and looked like he injured his leg. Fortunately for the Orioles, he was laughing after returning to the bag and stayed in the game. He's the only one laughing. Britton scored on Nick Markakis' third hit, a double. Markakis' average is up to .292. Blake Davis has made two outstanding plays at second base. Adam Jones is 0-for-3 and has left six runners on base. He...

Britton makes argument against DH (updated)

Britton makes argument against DH (updated)
I mentioned earlier today that Zach Britton's .600 batting average (3-for-5) was the fourth-highest for an American League pitcher. You can add a home run to that tally. Britton gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with his first major league home run. He pulled a pitch from Braves starter Brandon Beachy over the right field fence. An Orioles pitcher hadn't homered since Kris Benson on June 17, 2006 against the Mets. Beachy recorded five strikeouts in the first two...

Orioles lineup against Braves (and notes)

Orioles lineup against Braves (and notes)
The Orioles will try and avoid a sweep at the hands of the Braves today and end interleague play on a positive note. For those of you hoping to see Nolan Reimold in the lineup, you didn't get your wish, but Mark Reynolds slides into the cleanup spot. For the Orioles: SS J.J. Hardy RF Nick Markakis CF Adam Jones 3B Mark Reynolds 1B Derrek Lee LF Luke Scott C Craig Tatum 2B Blake Davis LHP Zach Britton Markakis has hit in 20 of his last 21 games, going 39-for-96 (.406). In his last 22...

Orioles lineup against Braves

Orioles lineup against Braves
For the Orioles: Zach Britton LHP Markakis has hit in 20 of his last 21 games, going 39-for-96 (.406). In his last 22 games, Reynolds is batting .328 (23-for-68) with four doubles, eight homers and 14 RBIs. He's also walked 18 times in those 22 games. In the last 18 games since June 12, Orioles starters have completed seven innings just once (Jeremy Guthrie on July 1st) and have compiled a 6.63 ERA in 92.1 innings. The starters are 2-6 with a 8.27 ERA in the last eight games. The...
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Wieters is an All-Star

Wieters is an All-Star
Catcher Matt Wieters will be the Orioles' lone representative for the July 12 All-Star Game in Arizona. Wieters is batting .262 with 13 doubles, seven homers and 33 RBIs in 71 games, but his selection is based heavily on his work defensively. Wieters leads all major league catchers in runners caught stealing (23) and in fielding percentage (.998, one error) and is the only catcher with more than 40 starts who has not been charged with a passed ball. Wieters has caught the second-most...

Orioles break out familiar recipe for defeat

Orioles break out familiar recipe for defeat
A play isn't made in the field. A young pitcher can't minimize the damage. If I had a nickel for every time I've seen this act play out, I'd report to spring training next year in my own private jet. Or I'd almost be able to pay Sidney Ponson's bar tab. The Orioles led, 2-0, in the fourth inning tonight, but starter Jake Arrieta gave up a two-out double to Chipper Jones. He hit Freddie Freeman on the foot with an 0-2 pitch, which he simply can't do in that situation. Dan Uggla...

Quick injury updates

Quick injury updates
I'm going to make another attempt to go off campus and watch the Orioles-Braves game, though I'm packing up the laptop in case of baseball emergency. Before I head out, I want to pass along three injury updates that manager Buck Showalter relayed to reporters in Hot-lanta. Brian Roberts could start swinging a bat early next week. He's had two good days in a row, getting through his conditioning work and limited baseball activities without headaches or dizziness. Showalter confirmed in his...

Davis gets start, Reimold does not

Davis gets start, Reimold does not
I know this will be an unpopular lineup with most of you, because Nolan Reimold isn't in it. Does it help that Blake Davis is starting at second base? For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott LF, Mark Reynolds 3B Blake Davis 2B Jake Arrieta RHP For the Braves: Jordan Schafer CF Alex Gonzalez SS Jason Heyward RF Chipper Jones 3B Freddie Freeman 1B Dan Uggla 2B Nate McLouth LF David Ross C Tim Hudson RHP
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