McKenna walks in ninth for walk-off win (updated)

McKenna walks in ninth for walk-off win (updated)
The parade of former Orioles pitchers was bound to stumble. It only takes one. Richard Bleier, the fourth to wear the designation tonight for the Marlins, allowed the tying runs to score in the eighth inning with a defensive breakdown providing an unwanted assist. Ryan McKenna walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and the Orioles rallied past Miami 8-7 before an announced crowd of 8,363 at Camden Yards. Pedro Severino and Trey Mancini homered and the Orioles head to Detroit...

Updates on Akin and Santander (plus lineup)

Updates on Akin and Santander (plus lineup)
Orioles pitcher Keegan Akin and outfielder Anthony Santander have completed the COVID-19 protocols implemented by Major League Baseball. Akin is throwing a bullpen session today and Santander is cleared to take batting practice, run and participate in defensive drills. The club will decide soon whether to return them to the active roster after their layoff. "We're going to evaluate both of them after today," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We want to get them on the field. It's been a week....

Ryan McKenna's impact on a win, plus getting the draft picks going

Ryan McKenna's impact on a win, plus getting the draft picks going
He flashed some power, some speed and he flashed some defense in the outfield. He can fly on the bases. Cedric Mullins, right? Well, yes, but this time we are talking about his teammate, Ryan McKenna, who made a major impact on the Orioles' 5-4 walk-off win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon. McKenna scampered home from third base with the winning run in the last of the ninth and who else would you have wanted 90 feet away from winning the game than the fastest player on the...

Means works into seventh and O's rally for 5-4 win (updated)

Means works into seventh and O's rally for 5-4 win (updated)
The plan for left-hander Johns Means today was to extend him further than his first start after his reinstatement from the injured list. The pitch limit would be stretched beyond 78. His innings in the right scenario would move past the fifth. "I'm going to bump him up," manager Brandon Hyde said earlier in the day. "Hopefully, everything goes well and he'll go deeper in the game." Means kept Hyde relaxed until the sixth, when Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run homer to erase a 3-1 lead. Trey...

A walk-off win produces a sweep against the Nationals

A walk-off win produces a sweep against the Nationals
Down 4-3 heading to the last of the ninth today and 0-51 this year when trailing after eight innings, the Orioles scored two runs in the ninth today to stun the Washington Nationals 5-4 and complete a three-game sweep at Camden Yards. Nats closer Brad Hand hit Maikel Franco on an 0-2 pitch to start the rally. Then Ryan McKenna singled, sending Franco to third base, and pinch-hitter Austin Hays walked to load the bases. A Pat Valaika sac fly to right scored the tie run and McKenna tagged, going...

Another debut on deck for Orioles

Another debut on deck for Orioles
The land of opportunity opened its doors to another newcomer yesterday. Conner Greene went from taxi squad pitcher to Triple-A Norfolk's bullpen to Camden Yards, where he's trying to become the 12th Oriole to make his major league debut this season. The club record, which I botched earlier this year due to an erroneous article found in a Google search, is 15 in 2018. The previous mark was 14 in 1955, followed by 12 in 2012 and 2001, per STATS research. I'd challenge anyone to name the 15...

Orioles lineup could change, Greene on promotion (updated)

Orioles lineup could change, Greene on promotion (updated)
Domingo Leyba is starting at second base tonight as the Orioles try to defeat the Nationals and claim the series following last night's 6-1 win at Camden Yards. Ryan McKenna is in left field and DJ Stewart is in right. Trey Mancini is the first baseman, with Ryan Mountcastle serving as designated hitter. Ramón Urías remains in the fifth spot in the order. However, the Nationals scratched starter Max Scherzer due to mild triceps soreness and moved up left-hander Jon Lester. Do the Orioles...

Notes on Franco, Akin, Santander, Zimmermann and more

Notes on Franco, Akin, Santander, Zimmermann and more
The Orioles needed just one rehab game for third baseman Maikel Franco to decide that he should be reinstated from the injured list. Franco had three plate appearances Tuesday morning with the Florida Complex League's orange team, going 0-for-1 with a walk and sacrifice fly, and he's in tonight's lineup against the Nationals. "On the road trip he had been taking batting practice with us, doing a running progression, taking ground balls every day," said manager Brandon Hyde. "Went down to...

Orioles option Gutiérrez to Triple-A Norfolk

Orioles option Gutiérrez to Triple-A Norfolk
An off-day for the Orioles didn't deter them from making a roster move. The club announced today that it optioned infielder Kelvin Gutiérrez to Triple-A Norfolk. The second half of the transaction is withheld until Friday, when the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Nationals at Camden Yards. Gutiérrez showed off a strong arm at third base but was 4-for-23 (.174) with two RBIs, two walks and nine strikeouts in eight games. The Orioles purchased his contract from the Royals on...

O's game blog: Alexander Wells makes first major league start

O's game blog: Alexander Wells makes first major league start
After splitting the first two games of their series against Tampa Bay, the Orioles and Rays meet today in an afternoon game which will wrap up this series and a six-game road trip for Baltimore. The Orioles (31-63) beat Tampa Bay 6-1 on Monday night behind Spenser Watkins and lost 9-3 last night. Lefty John Means returned from the injured list and took the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits over five innings. The Orioles are 18-33 on the road this season and 3-2 on this trip to Kansas City...

Akin and Santander on injured list (plus lineups)

Akin and Santander on injured list (plus lineups)
The Orioles placed left-hander Keegan Akin and outfielder Anthony Santander on the injured list this morning and recalled left-hander Alexander Wells and outfielder Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk. Wells is making his first major league start. Akin was supposed to start this afternoon to close out the series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. He's 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA and 1.800 WHIP in 13 games (eight starts). He's allowing 12.5 hits per nine innings. Santander has been playing on a sore...

Akin starting Wednesday (plus lineup and other notes)

Akin starting Wednesday (plus lineup and other notes)
Left-hander Keegan Akin is starting Wednesday afternoon's series finale against the Rays at Tropicana Field, the last road game before the Orioles enjoy an off-day and then host the Nationals over the weekend. Akin is 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA and 1.800 WHIP in 13 games, including eight starts. He faced the Royals on Friday and allowed six runs and eight hits with three walks in three innings. Thomas Eshelman stays in the bullpen for long relief. The current rotation sets up as Akin, Jorge...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Cedric Mullins is on the bench tonight as the Orioles begin a three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Ryan McKenna is in center field. Austin Hays is in left and batting first. Anthony Santander is in right field and hitting cleanup, followed by shortstop Ramón Urías. Ryan Mountcastle is starting at first base and Kelvin Gutierrez is at third. Spenser Watkins earned another start, his third in the majors. He's allowed two runs and seven hits in 10 1/3 innings, walking six...

Harvey with six scoreless, first win in two months (updated)

Harvey with six scoreless, first win in two months (updated)
Six pitches thrown in the first inning. Only 18 through the second and 28 through the third. Eleven of 12 first-pitch strikes. No runs against him. Matt Harvey was having himself a day. Manager Brandon Hyde was having visions of a starter plowing through the early and middle innings, removing one of the hardest decisions he routinely makes during the season, which inevitably fuels second-guessing as a first reaction to it. A hit batter, walk and infield single in the fourth, with Domingo...

Orioles and Royals lineups (updated)

Orioles and Royals lineups (updated)
DJ Stewart remains in the cleanup spot today, serving as the designated hitter for the series finale against the Royals in Kansas City. Austin Hays is in right field and Ryan McKenna in left, with Trey Mancini the first baseman. No Ryan Mountcastle or Anthony Santander. Domingo Leyba gets the start at second base and Kelvin Gutierrez is at third. Austin Wynns is catching. Shortstop Ramón Urías has six multi-hit games in his last nine, going 12-for-34 (.353) after being 5-for-36 (.139) in...

Diaz still can't crack crowded Orioles outfield

Diaz still can't crack crowded Orioles outfield
The Orioles begin the non-mathematical second half of their season tonight in Kansas City with six outfielders on the roster if counting Ryan Mountcastle, who's listed as an infielder on the team's website. He's made 31 starts at first base and 18 in left field. Let's just say the Orioles have six players on their roster who can play the outfield - seven if including Trey Mancini, but he hasn't done it since 2019. That's the kind of excess talked about over the winter and in spring...

Orioles enter full-squad reset before second half

Orioles enter full-squad reset before second half
Every Oriole finally is able to take a break. Trey Mancini finished as runner-up Monday night in the Home Run Derby. Cedric Mullins started for the American League and scored a run in last night's All-Star Game. Two days for the team to clear its collective heads and get back to business, which hasn't exactly been a pleasant experience in the first half. The Orioles are 28-61, the worst record in the American League and second behind the Diamondbacks (26-66). "We've been going through a lot...

Mancini comes off bench to tie game, Orioles lose in 10th

Mancini comes off bench to tie game, Orioles lose in 10th
The All-Star break is a time for rest and reflection, and Orioles manager Brandon Hyde knows exactly why his club has the worst record in the American League. Precisely what he's going to think about before play resumes Friday night in Kansas City. "For me," he said this afternoon, "it just shows you how far away we are, pitching-wise." Spenser Watkins tried to narrow the gap a little, maybe present Hyde with another option and keep earning more chances. He held the White Sox to one run in...

Orioles and White Sox lineups

Orioles and White Sox lineups
The All-Star break arrives after today's series finale, with the Orioles sending rookie Spenser Watkins to the mound for his second major league start and third appearance. Watkins held the Blue Jays to one run over five innings last week. Ryan McKenna gets the start in left field and Austin Hays is in right. Ryan Mountcastle is the first baseman and Anthony Santander is the designated hitter. Trey Mancini is on the bench before participating Monday in the Home Run Derby. Hot-hitting Ramón...

Another short start makes for long day in 8-3 loss (updated)

Another short start makes for long day in 8-3 loss (updated)
The Orioles held optional batting practice early this afternoon, the cage rolled onto the field and a pitching machine and hitting coach Don Long set up in front of the mound. A team with a roster weighted with established veterans might have attracted a small handful of participants. The Orioles had players coming in waves. The outfield was covered with pitchers willing to shag fly balls. Long worked up a heavy lather in the summer heat. "I don't see anybody not working in here," said...