Arrieta gives Orioles a chance

Arrieta gives Orioles a chance
Too bad the Orioles forgot again to unpack their bats. You'd think the anthem or the opposing pitcher's warmup tosses would provide a reminder. Jake Arrieta has allowed three runs and five hits, with three walks and a career-high nine strikeouts in six innings. He's thrown 97 pitches, and it appears that Koji Uehara will replace him in the seventh. Give Arrieta credit for holding the Yankees to one run after the first, but again, an Orioles starter put the team in an early hole. And...

One of those pivotal moments (updated)

One of those pivotal moments (updated)
The Orioles rallied in the second inning against Freddy Garcia, who hasn't exactly been sharp today. Garcia had thrown only 11 of his first 21 pitches for strikes. Luke Scott singled with one out in the second and Adam Jones walked on four pitches. Rally time. Or so you'd think. Mark Reynolds swung at the first two pitches and flied to right, extending his slump to 0-for-21. Matt Wieters walked on four pitches, but Cesar Izturis struck out on three. End of rally time. The Yankees still...

That didn't take long - Part II (updated)

That didn't take long - Part II (updated)
The Yankees took a 2-0 lead last night after 10 pitches from Brad Bergesen. They have a 2-0 lead today after four pitches from Jake Arrieta. Somebody wake me up from this nightmare. Derek Jeter singled and Curtis Granderson belted his seventh home run. Arrieta walked the next two batters, bringing pitching coach Mark Connor from the mound. Maybe the Orioles should have sent Arrieta home last night so he wouldn't be exposed to that 15-3 thrashing. Cancel his cable subscription. Force him to...

Quick hits (and Matusz update)

Quick hits (and Matusz update)
Brian Matusz is throwing from 120 feet as the Orioles take batting practice on this glorious Easter morning at Camden Yards. Matusz will throw his first bullpen session on Tuesday unless the club makes an unexpected change to his schedule. Update: The club made an unexpected change. Matusz got through today's session without incident, but he'll repeat it Tuesday rather than throw in the bullpen. He made 60 throws in increments of 15 this morning from 60 to 120 feet, rested, then threw again...

Izturis only change in regular lineup

Izturis only change in regular lineup
The Orioles will send out the same lineup for today's 1:35 p.m. game against the Yankees that we've seen for most of the season, except Cesar Izturis will start at shortstop instead of Robert Andino. Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Jake Arrieta RHP Unfortunately for the Orioles, the Yankees' lineup looks familiar, too. Derek Jeter SS Curtis Granderson CF Mark Teixeira 1B Alex...

Showalter time

Showalter time
Orioles manager Buck Showalter spoke to reliever Josh Rupe about the pitch that drilled Russell Martin between the numbers in the ninth inning. Martin homered twice tonight, so the timing was dubious. "We asked him after the game," Showalter said following the Orioles' 15-3 loss to the Yankees before 39,054 at Camden Yards. "He said, 'I know what it looked like. I was trying to go in.' It did not look good. I didn't like it at all. But I choose to believe my pitcher and I've known Josh...

Rupe's rough ride (updated)

Rupe's rough ride (updated)
Josh Rupe made the Orioles' roster in spring training by allowing only two runs in 14 2/3 innings. If I'm remembering correctly, he hadn't been scored upon until his final appearance. Rupe served up Alex Rodriguez's 22nd career grand slam in the eighth inning tonight, increasing the Yankees' lead to 13-3. He let three inherited runners score after replacing Clay Rapada, who replaced Jason Berken. Rodriguez was his responsibility, and he's now surrendered six runs in 8 1/3...

Nothing to CC here (updated twice)

Nothing to CC here (updated twice)
Now I'm a little worried. Russell Martin's three-run homer off Brad Bergesen in the sixth inning has given the Yankees a 6-0 lead. Jason Berken was warming in the Orioles' bullpen as Martin came to the plate. Meanwhile, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia is dominating the Orioles again. He's allowed only one hit, a Derrek Lee single in the fourth. That's the only baserunner of the night. Sabathia is throwing everything for strikes. He struck out Mark Reynolds looking at a changeup and...

Bergesen settles down, Orioles offense bogs down

Bergesen settles down, Orioles offense bogs down
Brad Bergesen has retired 11 of 13 batters since Robinson Cano's run-scoring single in the first inning. Brett Gardner doubled with one out in the second and Russell Martin walked with two outs in the fourth for the only Yankees' baserunners. Jake Fox made a diving catch in left field to rob Jorge Posada in the fourth. Stop picking on his defense. CC Sabathia has retired the first nine batters he's faced, striking out three. The Orioles have gotten one ball out of the infield. Former...

That didn't take long

That didn't take long
The Yankees took a 2-0 lead only 10 pitches into tonight's game. Single, fly ball, double, double. Groan. Now the Orioles are playing from behind against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, who's 14-2 with a 2.86 ERA against them. Derek Jeter, batting .219 coming into the game, lined a single to right field. Mark Teixeira doubled to right with one out, and Alex Rodriguez doubled to right-center field on the next pitch from Orioles starter Brad Bergesen - an 84 mph slider - to deliver two...

Tillman: "It's a lot disappointing."

Tillman: "It's a lot disappointing."
Chris Tillman says he's felt good for a few days after making a couple plays in the field during his last start that caused discomfort in his right groin, but the Orioles are being cautious and skipping him in the rotation until next Saturday. Tillman is available to pitch in relief tonight, but only if manager Buck Showalter has to use him. "I can't pinpoint an exact time, but it happened during the last game (Monday) around the second inning," Tillman said. "There were a few things...

Matusz will return to Sarasota

Matusz will return to Sarasota
As expected, the Orioles will send left-hander Brian Matusz to Sarasota next weekend while they embark on a two-city road trip that begins Friday in Chicago. Matusz will throw from 120 feet tomorrow and throw bullpen sessions here on Tuesday and Thursday. He'll pitch in an extended spring training game in Sarasota, and will require at least three starts on his injury rehab assignment, placing his projected return to the Orioles' rotation in the middle of May. Manager Buck Showalter said the...

Tonight's lineup against Yankees

Tonight's lineup against Yankees
The Orioles are using the same lineup tonight that they posted yesterday before the game was postponed. Here's your reminder: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Jake Fox LF Robert Andino SS Brad Bergesen RHP

Updates on Simon, Patton and Mahoney

Updates on Simon, Patton and Mahoney
Alfredo Simon will pitch again Monday or Tuesday at extended spring training in Sarasota, and he'll likely work two innings in his next appearance before being extended to three innings in his following start. The Orioles will stretch him to four innings the following week as part of their two-week projection to get him to 50 pitches. The Orioles want to get Simon up to 12-15 pitches per inning, which they can manipulate in these games. The rules are flexible. Simon could go through a six-...

Who's pitching in?

Who's pitching in?
Manager Buck Showalter has been pretty good at blindsiding reporters this year. We gather on the field in spring training or in his office or in the auxiliary clubhouse, and he brings up an injury or medical issue that we didn't anticipate. Brian Matusz has a wart? Justin Duchscherer felt a twinge? Brian Roberts has a stiff neck? Derrek Lee has a sore wrist? Lee has a sore foot? Matusz got hit on the arm by a line drive? J.J. Hardy has pain in his lower ribcage? Roberts went to the hospital...

Show up early Saturday

Show up early Saturday
The Orioles are anticipating a large walk-up crowd for tomorrow's 7:05 p.m. game against the Yankees, so you'll want to plan accordingly if you're purchasing tickets or risk being stuck in a long line. If you had my level of patience, you would have camped out overnight. All points of sale will be open at Camden Yards, but the large turnout creates the possibility of significant wait times. The club is advising fans to stop by the box offices in the morning or early-to-mid afternoon to buy...

More on the postponement and Tillman

More on the postponement and Tillman
A final decision hasn't been made, but I'd expect the Orioles to schedule a day-night doubleheader against the Yankees in August. I'll pass along the makeup date once it's available. Hold onto those tickets. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Chris Tillman is being skipped in the rotation because of "right groin issues" that surfaced during the pitcher's last start. "We'll take this opportunity to try to clear that up," Showalter said. "It looks like we'll stay in line...

Tillman skipped in rotation

Tillman skipped in rotation
Brad Bergesen will make tomorrow's start against Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, and Jake Arrieta will start Sunday's finale. Chris Tillman is being skipped in the rotation because of a sore groin muscle, according to manager Buck Showalter. Tillman apparently felt good enough to pitch Sunday, but tonight's postponement allows him to gain additional rest. He can pitch in relief if needed. Following Monday's open date on the schedule, the rotation for the series against the Red Sox...

Tonight's game postponed; no makeup date announced

Tonight's game postponed; no makeup date announced
Tonight's game between the Orioles and Yankees at Camden Yards has been postponed because of rain. A makeup date will be announced at a later time. Fans are advised to keep their tickets. That's all the information I can provide at the moment.

Showalter on Gonzalez

Showalter on Gonzalez
Orioles manager Buck Showalter is trying to use struggling left-hander Michael Gonzalez in less-pressurized situations, though it's not an easy proposition. Gonzalez has allowed runs in five of his six appearances, and home runs in back-to-back outings. Gonzalez isn't pitching as well as he'd like, of course, and "he's not pitching as well as I want him to, too," Showalter said. "He's still going to pitch. In the American League, you don't have somebody down there who doesn't pitch...