Lowther and three relievers combine on shutout (updated)

Lowther and three relievers combine on shutout (updated)
The strikeouts kept coming from Zac Lowther. For five innings before his removal from the game. Leaving him four on a chilly night to sweat out whether he'd earn his first major league win. The Orioles manufactured a run in the fourth inning, Ryan Mountcastle hit his 31st homer in the fifth and Austin Hays clubbed his 22nd in the eighth, and the bullpen protected Lowther's lead in a 3-0 victory over the Rangers before an announced crowd of 6,328 at Camden Yards. Mountcastle took over the...

Looking for fewer strikeouts versus the AL East, plus farm notes

Looking for fewer strikeouts versus the AL East, plus farm notes
Put the ball in play and something good could happen. That has been true on offense in baseball forever. Although we are in an era now with big swings and big strikeout numbers. As the Orioles were held to four hits and lost 7-1 at Boston Friday night, they struck out just five times while drawing one walk. But as the Orioles look to get better and win more often in the rugged American League East, they are going to need to put the ball in play more versus other division clubs. Not only do...

Runs flow against Orioles after heavy rain in 9-4 loss (updated)

Runs flow against Orioles after heavy rain in 9-4 loss (updated)
The storm clouds rolled in today after the Tigers finished their batting practice rounds, unleashing a torrential downpour that pushed back the first pitch almost two hours. Fans instructed to leave open areas of the ballpark and head for cover due to the severe weather. The Camden Yards drainage system challenged again like a close play on the bases, except the grounds crew always gets it right. The most impressive pitching line in the organization already was complete, with left-hander Bruce...

Short starts resume in second half in 9-2 loss (updated)

Short starts resume in second half in 9-2 loss (updated)
The Orioles were comfortable going with a 25-man roster tonight in Kansas City following a four-day break that rested and recharged a tired bullpen. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't want to dip into it early, no matter its condition, but that same break didn't improve the early results of the second-half rotation. Rookie Keegan Akin fell behind by six runs in three innings and the Orioles lost to the Royals 9-2. Cedric Mullins singled in his first two at-bats, the only hits against Royals...

A look at how Bowie moved to the top of its league in offense

A look at how Bowie moved to the top of its league in offense
Players for the Double-A Bowie Baysox this year can go hitless, yet still get praise from the coaching staff for their hitting. And not just because they may have made a productive out. It's all about the swing decisions they make. They are graded both on the pitches they do swing at and those they do not. The goal is to get a very hittable pitch and drive it. Let almost everything else go. Even borderline strikes are sometimes spit on while a hitter waits for a better pitch. Sometimes, even...

A few notes as O's have lost first two this weekend at the Trop

A few notes as O's have lost first two this weekend at the Trop
Losing games is frustrating enough, but racking up close losses provides a whole other level of angst. The Orioles fell to 22-41 with Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. They have lost by two runs and one run in this series. During their 14-game losing streak, the Orioles went 0-7 in games decided by two runs or fewer. They are 1-2 in such games since the losing streak ended, with both losses this weekend at Tropicana Field. The Orioles are now 4-10 in one-run games. Austin Wynns hit...

Triple-A skipper Kendall with thoughts on Wynns, Harvey, Bradish and more

Triple-A skipper Kendall with thoughts on Wynns, Harvey, Bradish and more
Job one for any catcher is working with his pitchers and handling his pitching staff. If they can throw in a few hits and help the offense, that's a bonus. Orioles catcher Austin Wynns sees it that way, too, and since his recall to the big leagues Monday has caught two games where the Orioles have pitched well. On Monday versus Minnesota, O's pitchers allowed two earned runs over 10 innings with three walks and 14 strikeouts. On Wednesday night, they gave up three earned runs with three walks...

A scout's take on some Orioles prospects

A scout's take on some Orioles prospects
From time to time it is very interesting and also educational to hear from scouts from organizations outside of Baltimore to get opinions on Orioles players. I did just that recently with an American League scout who provided several solid insights on various O's minor league players. He had coverage of a few O's farm teams this year and got some good looks at players. He was generous with his time and opinions. We jumped around to various players, some highly ranked and others not ranked. So...

Futures Game O's, the Friday farm and a very noteworthy win

Futures Game O's, the Friday farm and a very noteworthy win
It must be pretty exciting for the organization that the two Orioles pitching prospects to make the All-Star Futures Game are among the youngest players on either the American League or National League rosters. The rosters for the game on July 7 in Cleveland were announced Friday. Single-A Delmarva right-hander Grayson Rodriguez makes the roster at age 19 and Single-A Frederick lefty DL Hall joins him on the AL roster at 20. There are six players among the 50 players on both rosters that are 19...

Brandon Hyde after 16-2 loss: "You know, pretty embarrassing again"

Brandon Hyde after 16-2 loss: "You know, pretty embarrassing again"
OAKLAND - It wasn't actually the first time this year the Orioles had allowed 16 runs in a game. But when it happened Tuesday night at Oakland, a manager who has had to handle interviews so many nights about a pitching staff that came up short, seemed to be exasperated to have to do it again. Who could blame Orioles skipper Brandon Hyde? That was indeed hard to watch. O's pitching allowed 16 runs to tie a season-high first set April 20 versus Minnesota, giving up 10 of them in the last of the...

Frederick is set to host the Carolina League All-Star game

Frederick is set to host the Carolina League All-Star game
OAKLAND - The All-Star break has arrived in the Single-A Carolina League, and tomorrow night the Orioles' Frederick Keys affiliate will host the All-Star game at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Frederick previously hosted All-Star games in 1991 and 2005. In that most recent game, the Orioles' Nick Markakis not only won the pregame Home Run Derby, but hit two homers in the game to lead the Carolina League past the California League. The All-Star Classic, presented by Visit Frederick, will...

Brooks Robinson was in the house to highlight the minor league awards

Brooks Robinson was in the house to highlight the minor league awards
Outfielder Cedric Mullins called being named the winner of the Brooks Robinson Award as the Orioles' minor league Player of the Year "top tier." But having Mr. Oriole himself there might have taken it a few tiers beyond that. When Brooks Robinson is around, is it possible to have a bad day? The Orioles Hall of Famer, legend, all-time great and current team special advisor and community liaison was seated in the second row during a press conference last night to honor the minor league award...

Mullins, Akin, Lowther among O's minor league award winners

Mullins, Akin, Lowther among O's minor league award winners
The Orioles have named outfielder Cedric Mullins the 2018 Brooks Robinson Award winner as their minor league Player of the Year. They named left-handers Keegan Akin and Zac Lowther as co-winners of the Jim Palmer Award for minor league Pitcher of the Year. Mullins played in 109 games between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Over 49 games with Bowie, he batted .313/.362/.512 with 12 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 36 runs and 28 RBIs. He was promoted to Triple-A on June 1 and played in...

A few notes and quotes from loss No. 50 (Dietz is an All-Star)

A few notes and quotes from loss No. 50 (Dietz is an All-Star)
Well, the Orioles finally scored a few runs. But they still lost 5-4 on Saturday to the Miami Marlins. The Orioles are 19-50 and have lost nine in a row overall and 11 straight at home. That's a lot of losing. The last time the Orioles lost 50 games this fast was actually not that long ago. The 2010 Orioles also started 19-50. That club began the year going 19-52, but they played three games over .500 from that point on, going 47-44 to finish at 66-96 for the season. The most losses ever by an...

Josh Michael: Three Shorebirds selected to South Atlantic League All-Star Game, one snubbed

Josh Michael: Three Shorebirds selected to South Atlantic League All-Star Game, one snubbed
While the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is more than a month away, the minor league All-Star Games will be here before you know it. The low Single-A South Atlantic League is where the Delmarva Shorebirds play, and on Tuesday, three Shorebirds were named to the All-Star Game: outfielder Zach Jarrett, first baseman Seamus Curran and third baseman Trevor Craport. This year's South Atlantic League All-Star Game will be the 59th edition and will be held at First National Bank Field in...

O's game blog: O's starters have four straight quality starts

O's game blog: O's starters have four straight quality starts
The Orioles and Yankees will not start on time today. There is a message on the scoreboard that reads: "Ladies and gentlemen, the start of today's game is being delayed by the threat of inclement weather. We are monitoring the national weather service reports and will keep you advised of an expected start time as soon as possible. We thank you for your patience and understanding." Orioles starting pitchers have recorded a season-best four consecutive quality starts. Right-hander Kevin...

Latest Jones milestone, Lee's debut and minor league awards

Latest Jones milestone, Lee's debut and minor league awards
OAKLAND, Calif. - Adam Jones has reached another milestone with the Orioles. Assuming that he's in tonight's lineup for the start of a three-game series, Jones will play in his 1,500th game since coming to the Orioles in a February 2008 trade with the Mariners. Jones will be the eighth player in club history to reach the mark, joining Cal Ripken, Jr. (3,001 games), Brooks Robinson (2,896), Mark Belanger (1,962), Eddie Murray (1,884), Boog Powell (1,763), Brady Anderson (1,759) and Paul Blair...

Minor league notes and O's organizational leaders (updated)

Minor league notes and O's organizational leaders (updated)
ANAHEIM, Calif. - As the calender turns to May, the Orioles' four full-season minor league teams have a combined record of 46-45. Triple-A Norfolk is 11-10, with Double-A Bowie 11-11, Single-A Frederick 8-16 and Single-A Delmarva at 16-8. The Shorebirds remain in first place by two games over three other teams in their division of the South Atlantic League. Meanwhile, for a 28th round draft pick last year out of UNC-Charlotte, Delmarva left fielder Zach Jarrett is sure looking good right now....