Norfolk's Ron Johnson with big props for O's skipper (O's win 7-6)

Norfolk's Ron Johnson with big props for O's skipper (O's win 7-6)
NORFOLK, Va. - We've heard it before, but two managers that greatly like and respect each other are the Orioles' Buck Showalter and his Triple-A counterpart, Norfolk's Ron Johnson. Johnson is the winningest manager in Tides history with 422 victories in six seasons. Showalter has often praised Johnson and appreciates his opinions on players over the years as he and the club decide which players to call up from the Tides. "We speak a lot during the season and I value his opinion," Showalter...

Wrapping up a 1-1 tie

Wrapping up a 1-1 tie
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles loaded the bases three times tonight without scoring, including the eighth inning when the first three batters reached. They put two runners in scoring position with two outs in the ninth and came away empty. It served as the recipe for a 1-1 tie with the Twins. The game ended after regulation instead of the teams playing a 10th inning. No one complained. Jake Ring struck out to send everyone home and make the Orioles 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. They...

Walk-off win: Frederick stuns Lynchburg in playoff opener

Walk-off win: Frederick stuns Lynchburg in playoff opener
FREDERICK, Md. - The Single-A Frederick Keys scored four runs in the last of the ninth to stun the Lynchburg Hillcats 10-9 tonight and take the opener of a best-of-three Carolina League playoff series. Frederick can win the series on Friday night at Lynchburg. The Keys kept coming back tonight. They were down 4-1 after six innings and 9-5 after the top of the eighth. But they pulled off this improbable win, overcame four errors and beat the team with the best record in the league. The Keys came...

O's game blog: O's and Pirates begin two-game series

O's game blog: O's and Pirates begin two-game series
The Orioles are 4-2 against National League teams this year, going 2-1 against both Washington and Cincinnati. Their next three games are versus NL teams, starting with a two-game series that begins tonight with Pittsburgh. This series will end a nine-game homestand. The Orioles are 4-3 on the stand, going 2-1 against the Yankees and 2-2 against the Red Sox. The Orioles went 14-6 in interleague games last season. The 14 wins were the most in club history. Since interleague play began in 1997,...

A look at some solid performances on the O's farm

A look at some solid performances on the O's farm
As the four full-season affiliates in the Orioles organization have all now played around 36 games, we've got a large enough sample size to see a few things emerge. A few quick impressions: * Ryan Mountcastle's bat has been pretty special during his debut season at age 20 in the Carolina League for Single-A Frederick. Yes, there are big questions about his defense at shortstop, but his bat looks like it has future middle-of-the-order potential. He went 4-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs last...

O's game blog: O's face former teammate Miguel González in series opener

O's game blog: O's face former teammate Miguel González in series opener
The Orioles have finally moved into a stretch of the season where they will face some non-American League East opponents. But that doesn't necessarily mean their schedule gets easier. After playing 24 of the first 27 within the division (and going 15-9), their next seven games are against the Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals. Both teams currently reside in first place in their respective divisions. The Orioles host the White Sox for three games this weekend at Camden Yards. Chicago...

Hot starts on the farm: Ring, Mountcastle deliver with bats (plus O's notes)

Hot starts on the farm: Ring, Mountcastle deliver with bats (plus O's notes)
One player is a high draft pick and the Orioles were confident he would do well as he moved up a level on the farm this year. He has so far. Another has basically come out of nowhere. But they both have gotten off to very strong starts with the bat. The first player is Single-A Frederick shortstop Ryan Mountcastle. He was taken with the 36th overall pick in the 2015 draft. The other is Single-A Delmarva outfielder Jake Ring. He was taken with the 931st pick (in the 31st round) of the 2016...

O's game blog: O's begin interleague play in Cincinnati (O's lose 9-3)

O's game blog: O's begin interleague play in Cincinnati (O's lose 9-3)
After splitting two games in Boston and winning three of four in Toronto, the Orioles start the last series of this road trip tonight in Cincinnati. They begin the night at 8-3 overall and 4-2 on this nine-game trip. The Reds are 8-5 and in first place in the National League Central. This is not only the Orioles' first interleague series of the 2017 season, but it's the only series outside of the American League East they play through May 4. They will have played 24 of 27 within the division,...

Cedric Mullins is Eastern League Player of Week (plus other notes)

Cedric Mullins is Eastern League Player of Week (plus other notes)
He's off to a great start on the O's farm and today Bowie Baysox outfielder Cedric Mullins was named the Player of the Week in the Double-A Eastern League. Mullins has hit safely in all 10 games to start the season, batting .455/.489/.818 with five doubles, a triple, three homers and eight RBIs. His sizzling hot bat was going to eventually slow a bit and it did earlier last week. But even then he had one hit in each of three straight games. Mullins ranks first in the Eastern League in hits...