Bundy and Gausman on display tonight

Bundy and Gausman on display tonight
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will be playing under the lights again. They love the night life, they've got to boogie. It's worth the trek to Fort Myers to watch Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman pitch against the Boston Red Sox. This will be the first time they've appeared in the same game this spring. Gausman has been a day behind. Manager Buck Showalter decided to give Bundy the start. He asked reporters for their opinions before making the announcement, mostly out of curiosity. We can't...

Wrapping up a 6-3 victory

Wrapping up a 6-3 victory
BRADENTON, Fla. - Troy Patton threw two scoreless innings to pick up the save tonight in the Orioles' 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Patton hadn't gone more than 1 1/3 innings in his first three outings. "He feels good physically," said manager Buck Showalter. "Tonight was a good opportunity." Brian Matusz also tossed two scoreless innings against the Pirates and did more throwing in the bullpen to increase his workload to three innings. "Brian threw the ball well. We...

Chen leaves with lead after 2 1/3 innings (O's win 6-3)

Chen leaves with lead after 2 1/3 innings (O's win 6-3)
BRADENTON, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen was charged with his first earned run this spring while he sat on the bench. Tommy Hunter let an inherited runner score on Pedro Alvarez's single with two outs in the third, cutting the Orioles' lead to 4-2. Chen also permitted an unearned run in his 2 1/3 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out four. Chen appeared to be done after the second, but he faced two batters in the third, issuing a...

Markakis won't play Sunday

Markakis won't play Sunday
BRADENTON, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis won't be in Sunday's lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium because of continuing stiffness in his neck. Markakis' neck tightened up again yesterday while he played with his kids, according to manager Buck Showalter. He's better today - basically back to where he was two days ago - but the Orioles aren't taking any chances. "He's still close, but I wouldn't say Sunday. I'll probably wait a little bit on that...

Updates on Wada, Machado, Teagarden (pitching and contract notes)

Updates on Wada, Machado, Teagarden (pitching and contract notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Tsuyoshi Wada threw on one of the back fields today. Manny Machado is getting dressed for the workout, no evidence of swelling in his face after yesterday's root canal. Taylor Teagarden is preparing to take batting practice and catch bullpen sessions, the discomfort in his lower back fading. Never hurts to check. "I was pretty much a full participant in yesterday's workout and I'm going to do it again today," Teagarden said. "Make sure that the back feels good. It's...

Orioles lineup against Pirates and injury notes (updated)

Orioles lineup against Pirates and injury notes (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Xavier Avery gets the start in center field tonight, as the Orioles travel to Bradenton to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wilson Betemit will start at third base, with Manny Machado skipping the trip. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Wilson Betemit 3B Jason Pridie DH Travis Ishikawa 1B Trayvon Robinson LF Chris Dickerson RF Jose Gil C Xavier Avery CF Wei-Yin Chen LHP Brian Matusz, Tommy Hunter, Troy Patton and Daniel Schlereth also are scheduled to...

Tonight's game, McFarland and Ripken

Tonight's game, McFarland and Ripken
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are heading back to Bradenton tonight, where their first attempt to play the Pirates was washed away by rain. I drove there, set up in the press box, met with manager Buck Showalter in his office, watched him examine the outfield with the umpires, and drove back to my hotel. I still tingle over the memory. We have a night game, which means the media isn't allowed inside the Orioles' clubhouse in Sarasota before 1:30 p.m. It's almost like a day off. More...

Orioles make four cuts with one more pending (de San Miguel also cut)

Orioles make four cuts with one more pending (de San Miguel also cut)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned pitchers Mike Wright, Eduardo Rodriguez and Zach Braddock, and catcher Luis Martinez to minor league camp. One more player will be cut today, but manager Buck Showalter hadn't informed him. Wright allowed one run and three hits today. Braddock still hasn't pitched after undergoing surgery last summer to repair a torn labrum, but he's finally been cleared to throw off a mound. Martinez didn't get any at-bats because of a strained oblique, but...

Hammel and more from Ripken (Flaherty with walk-off homer)

Hammel and more from Ripken (Flaherty with walk-off homer)
SARASOTA, Fla. - There's a strong wind blowing out to left field, which makes it a typical day here at Ed Smith Stadium. And pretty much every ballpark in the state of Florida. I'm not sure exactly how that works, but I've witnessed the same thing in Dunedin, Bradenton, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers ... you name it. Mike Wright surrendered a run in the fifth inning and Toronto catcher Henry Blanco homered on the first pitch thrown by Daniel McCutchen in the sixth - a routine fly ball carrying...

Game update and (more) Ripken quotes

Game update and (more) Ripken quotes
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel didn't complete the third inning today, leaving after 2 1/3 with the score tied 1-1. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out four. Mark Hendrickson replaced Hammel with two runners on base, issued a two-out walk and escaped the jam. The Orioles scored five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 lead. Toronto committed two errors that accounted for four of those runs. Steve Pearce contributed a run-scoring double that raised his spring RBI total to...

Orioles continue to scout Dodgers pitchers (Reimold homers)

Orioles continue to scout Dodgers pitchers (Reimold homers)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have been scouting Los Angels Dodgers pitchers Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly and Chris Capuano, figuring that at least one of them will become available in a trade. The Dodgers' rotation is overflowing and the Orioles haven't closed the door on acquiring another veteran starter, though there's no shortage of arms in their camp. Harang, 34, went 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA in 31 starts last season. He's due to make $7 million this season, and his contract includes a $7...

Notes on Machado, Reimold, Bundy, Wada and more (updated)

Notes on Machado, Reimold, Bundy, Wada and more (updated)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado is starting at third base again today, but he will have a root canal later this afternoon. Manager Buck Showalter will remove him from the game after a few at-bats. Getting Machado out of the lineup this spring has been like pulling teeth, so it seems appropriate. Machado won't make the trip to Bradenton on Friday, but he will likely play Saturday night against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. Showalter wants Machado to face Red Sox left-hander Felix...

O'Day reflects on yesterday

O'Day reflects on yesterday
SARASOTA, Fla. - The next time reliever Darren O'Day pitches in a spring training game, he doesn't expect the Orioles to hold a 13-run lead against a largely anonymous opponent in winds that could lift a house off its foundation. O'Day made his spring debut yesterday against Team Spain and allowed two runs and three hits in the seventh inning. "The goal yesterday was to get out there in a game and throw and be healthy and make sure everything works," he said. "It was a tough game to...

Orioles' lineup against the Blue Jays (and Toronto lineup)

Orioles' lineup against the Blue Jays (and Toronto lineup)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' outfield for today's game against the Toronto Blue Jays will consist of Steve Pearce in left field, Nate McLouth in center and Conor Jackson in right. Nolan Reimold is batting leadoff and again serving as the designated hitter. He may return to the outfield on Sunday. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold DH Brian Roberts 2B Conor Jackson RF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Nate McLouth CF Manny Machado 3B Steve Pearce LF Jason Hammel RHP Mike Wright,...

Game, cuts and Cal

Game, cuts and Cal
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' regulars go back to work today. They've basically been given a three-day reprieve. No game on Monday, a road game on Tuesday, a minor league workout yesterday disguised as a game against Team Spain. The Orioles remain in Sarasota today, and they're playing the Toronto Blue Jays for the third time this spring - and the first away from Dunedin. Most of the regulars will be in the lineup, with the exception of right fielder Nick Markakis, who will take off a few...

Jim Johnson on his first outing of 2013

Jim Johnson on his first outing of 2013
SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's game between the Orioles and Team Spain lasted 3 hours, 40 minutes. Jim Johnson was only responsible for part of it. Johnson, making his first appearance this spring, allowed an unearned run and one hit in the eighth inning. His appearance was brief compared to many others on this blustery day. "I got a couple fastballs up," he said. "Other than that, I'm a lot better than where I was at this point last year." Johnson was slowed in camp last spring because of...

More from today's game and Urrutia (O's win 19-7)

More from today's game and Urrutia (O's win 19-7)
SARASOTA, Fla. - This game is moving too quickly for me to track. Seriously though, Niuman Romero had an RBI single in the fifth and Zach Britton gave up another run in the sixth - his third of the day in two innings. Adrian Marin bounced an RBI single into left field with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the sixth, and Buck Britton had a sacrifice fly. Orioles 10, Team Spain 4. Zach Britton allowed four hits, walked a batter and struck out one. He also threw three wild...

Hearing from Arrieta and Urrutia

Hearing from Arrieta and Urrutia
SARASOTA, Fla. - Zach Britton allowed two runs and two hits, with one walk, in the top of the fifth inning. The good news: He won't face Team Spain during the regular season. The Orioles lead 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jake Arrieta said he took a step forward today after allowing one unearned run in three innings. "Sometimes throughout the week before a start, a light bulb will go off, whether it's something small mechanically in the bullpen or something you are doing on a...

Game update and Showalter quotes (Canzler homers again)

Game update and Showalter quotes (Canzler homers again)
SARASOTA, Fla. - We're going to be here a while. The Orioles sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and took a 3-0 lead over Team Spain, which removed its starter, former Orioles farmhand, Richard Salazar, with one out in the second. Russ Canzler belted a three-run homer after Yamaico Navarro singled and Steve Pearce walked. Danny Valencia had an infield hit and Trayvon Robinson walked before LJ Hoes ripped a ground ball to the right side that deflected off...

A few quick hits before the first pitch (with Duquette quotes)

A few quick hits before the first pitch (with Duquette quotes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made Cuban defector Henry Urrutia available to the media today, and I'll pass along his quotes later this afternoon. Urrutia actually attended the Orioles' game in Cuba back in 1999. He sat in the stands as a 12-year-old. Urrutia's childhood hero was Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, and he would like to wear No. 51 with the Orioles. Fred Ferreira also signed Williams, who was managed by Buck Showalter. Urrutia could also play first base, but the Orioles...