Matusz, Showalter and Chen after 5-4 loss

Matusz, Showalter and Chen after 5-4 loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - For one of the few times since he moved to the bullpen, Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz couldn't keep an inherited runner from scoring. The batter also rounded the bases tonight, the decisive blow in the Orioles' 5-4 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field. Pinch-hitter Jerry Sands smacked a two-run homer off Matusz with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to break a 3-3 tie. He got ahead in the count 2-0 and pulled a 91 mph fastball into the left field seats. Matusz...

Rays take lead in 8th, Orioles sign Rapada (O's lose 5-4)

Rays take lead in 8th, Orioles sign Rapada (O's lose 5-4)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jerry Sands picked an opportune time to hit his first home run of the season. Sands, pinch-hitting for David DeJesus, belted a two-run homer off left-hander Brian Matusz with two outs in the eighth to give Tampa Bay a 5-3 lead. It's the first pinch-hit homer of Sands' career and the second for the Rays this season. The Orioles had tied the game in the top of the eighth, but they couldn't score again after loading the bases with one out. The run was charged to Grant...

Markakis ties Singleton, Jones homers (updated)

Markakis ties Singleton, Jones homers (updated)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Nick Markakis doubled off the top of the fence in left field tonight leading off the sixth inning, giving him 1,455 career hits to tie Ken Singleton for sixth place on the Orioles' all-time list. Once Markakis passes Singleton, he can take aim at Boog Powell, who ranks fifth with 1,574 hits. Brady Anderson is fourth with 1,614. Markakis is 4-for-6 lifetime against Rays starter Jake Odorizzi. Markakis came close to breaking up Odorizzi's shutout bid with a home run....

Cruz and Wieters continue to lead in All-Star voting (O's down 3-0)

Cruz and Wieters continue to lead in All-Star voting (O's down 3-0)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Yunel Escobar homered off Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen in the bottom of the first inning tonight to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. Escobar was 1-for-12 lifetime against Chen. The Orioles have allowed only two home runs in the last 70 innings. David Lough drew an 11-pitch walk off Rays starter Jake Odorizzi with two outs in the second after J.J. Hardy reached on an infield hit, but Ryan Flaherty struck out. In the latest round of American League All-Star voting, Nelson...

More from Showalter on Wieters' pending elbow surgery

More from Showalter on Wieters' pending elbow surgery
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that catcher Matt Wieters will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Here's more from Showalter: "With a catcher/position player you're talking about nine months. I'm pretty sure that's from being able to play in a major league game, as far as the regular season. We're hopeful he's ready to start the year next year. "His facial (expressions), body...

Wieters to undergo season-ending elbow surgery

Wieters to undergo season-ending elbow surgery
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles received the anticipated news today on catcher Matt Wieters. They must proceed through the rest of the 2014 season without him. Wieters will undergo ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow at noon Tuesday in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Dr. James Andrews will handle the procedure after examining the elbow again this afternoon. Manager Buck Showalter said today's MRI revealed a little more damage than the one taken last month while the Orioles were in St....

Adam Jones on Tony Gwynn: "The man is the part you're going to miss"

Adam Jones on Tony Gwynn: "The man is the part you're going to miss"
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Adam Jones received a phone call early this morning with the news he had been dreading. Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn passed away after a courageous battle with salivary gland cancer, the disease taking him at age 54. The call came from Gwynn's son-in law, former Orioles farmhand Kennard Jones, who played at Single-A Frederick in 2007 and Double-A Bowie in 2008. All of baseball is mourning Gwynn's loss today, but it especially hits close to home for Adam Jones,...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight after getting a "mental break" yesterday at Camden Yards. David Lough is in left field and Ryan Flaherty is at second base. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate after sitting out the past two games. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH J.J. Hardy SS David Lough LF Ryan Flaherty 2B Caleb Joseph C Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Rays Desmond Jennings CF Yunel Escobar...

Pregame notes from Tropicana Field

Pregame notes from Tropicana Field
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A few of the Orioles are working on their bunting today as part of their early batting practice session at Tropicana Field. The group includes Jonathan Schoop, David Lough and Ryan Flaherty. Small ball may be in order if the Orioles are going to offer more run support for their pitchers. The Orioles have allowed only 14 runs in the last seven games, with 13 of those scoring in the last four days. Their 1.86 ERA over 63 innings since last Monday ranks second in the...

Ripken on Gwynn: "This is an extraordinarily sad day"

Ripken on Gwynn: "This is an extraordinarily sad day"
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The baseball world mourns the loss of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who died today at age 54 following a courageous battle with cancer. Gwynn was inducted on the same day as Cal Ripken Jr. in 2007. "This is an extraordinarily sad day," Ripken said in a statement. "Tony was a Hall of Fame ballplayer, but more importantly he was a wonderful man. Tony always had a big smile on his face and was one of the warmest and most genuine people I have ever had the honor of knowing....

Waiting for word on Wieters

Waiting for word on Wieters
The Orioles are in St. Petersburg, Fla. today, and I'll be joining them later if my 6:15 a.m. flight arrives safely. Matt Wieters is in Gulf Breeze, Fla., undergoing a second elbow exam by renowned and feared orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Feared by clubs who send their players to him and brace for the worst possible outcome. How often is the news good? Wieters was told he didn't need surgery during his first visit. That's one. No one in the organization will be shocked if...

Showalter speaks after 5-2 loss

Showalter speaks after 5-2 loss
The Orioles finally get a decent stretch of games at home and they go 5-5 before heading back on the road. They're also .500 against the Blue Jays after today's 5-2 loss before a sellout crowd at Camden Yards. "They're a really good team and there's no secret why they're there," said manager Buck Showalter. "They're very athletically talented and their pitching has really been solid. We knew that. I think the team everybody thought they might be last year, they are this year....

Orioles rotation produces another quality start, but O's lose 5-2

Orioles rotation produces another quality start, but O's lose 5-2
Orioles manager Buck Showalter removed Chris Tillman today after 92 pitches. There may have been more in the tank, but Showalter decided that Tillman was done. Tillman retired eight of the last nine Toronto batters he faced, and the rotation produced its seventh straight quality start. He allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings, with no walks or strikeouts. It marked the sixth time in Orioles history that a starter went seven or more innings without a walk or strikeout. Jimmy Key...

Tillman looking for smooth start after rocky first inning (O's down 3-1)

Tillman looking for smooth start after rocky first inning (O's down 3-1)
Chris Tillman has retired six consecutive Toronto batters this afternoon and eight of the last nine. Are his troubles in the past? They're still in his rear-view mirror, another run scoring against him in the first inning. That's 15 runs in the opening frame in his 15 starts this season. Jose Reyes led off with a single and scored with one out on Jose Bautista's double to right-center field. Three batters into the game and Tillman already was behind 1-0. Dioner Navarro led off the second...

Pregame notes on Gonzalez, rotation, Davis, Wendelstedt and more

Pregame notes on Gonzalez, rotation, Davis, Wendelstedt and more
Miguel Gonzalez remains the Orioles' scheduled starter for Tuesday night's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Kevin Gausman will start on Wednesday. "That's where we're headed," said manager Buck Showalter. "I think that's what we're planning on doing unless we get thrown a curveball." The Orioles will wait until Tuesday to activate Gonzalez from the disabled list unless they use both long relievers today and need him in the bullpen Monday night. Ubaldo Jimenez will get an...

Davis out of lineup (update)

Davis out of lineup (update)
The Orioles lineup for today's series finale against the Blue Jays doesn't include Chris Davis. Steve Pearce is starting at first base and Delmon Young is serving as the designated hitter. Davis hit a tie-breaking two-run homer yesterday. He could be getting a scheduled day off. Update: Davis said he's not out today because of a physical issue. Manager Buck Showalter is just giving him a mental break. Davis, however, did have some fun with reporters, saying he's day-to-day with a boo...

Tillman versus Happ and a few notes

Tillman versus Happ and a few notes
Toronto pitcher R.A. Dickey left yesterday's game at Camden Yards with a groin injury. Reliever Brett Cecil left Friday night's game with a groin injury. Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter just came off the disabled list after suffering a groin injury. Every time Chris Tillman has a poor start, he's asked whether he's bothered by a groin injury. Miguel Gonzalez didn't get the memo. An oblique injury? Did he miss a meeting? Tillman still hasn't won a game at home this season, but here's...

Showalter on Norris, Young and a 3-2 win

Showalter on Norris, Young and a 3-2 win
It all starts with starting pitching, and the Orioles are living the dream. Their rotation has churned out six consecutive quality starts. It's allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of the last 16 games, posting a 1.51 ERA in those 13 games. It's easy to understand why the Orioles are three games above .500 again and applying steady pressure to the first-place Blue Jays. "It's been at a level that, if we can stay there, will allow you to compete late in the season. Simple as that....

Norris staying stingy in latest start (O's win 3-2)

Norris staying stingy in latest start (O's win 3-2)
Bud Norris faced 10 Blue Jays in the first two innings of today's game. He fell behind on a bases-loaded walk in the second after hitting the previous batter. A bad day? Not anymore. Norris is cruising at Camden Yards, having retired eight in a row and 14 of the last 16 batters while holding a 3-1 lead. He's back on the mound in the seventh with his pitch count at 96, having thrown only eight in the first and fifth. Norris has allowed one run over his last two starts totaling 14 innings...

Orioles still stalling with RISP (Young's hustle delivers tying run, Davis homers)

Orioles still stalling with RISP (Young's hustle delivers tying run, Davis homers)
The Orioles went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position last night. They were 10-for-48 (.208) in the first eight games of the homestand. One inning into today's game and they were already 0-for-3. Nick Markakis singled and Manny Machado doubled off Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Second and third, no outs and the heart of the order coming up. The Orioles didn't show a pulse with RISP. Adam Jones flied to shallow center, Chris Davis lined to short and Nelson Cruz popped up. The...