San Diego bashes five homers, wins big in series opener

San Diego bashes five homers, wins big in series opener
SAN DIEGO - When the San Diego Padres swept a two-game series in Baltimore late last month, they hit nine homers in those games. Tonight, they hit two on the first two pitches. That is how the night started for right-hander David Hess, recalled today from Triple-A to make this start. Hess allowed four homers in all as the Padres beat the Orioles 8-1. It was the opener of a two-game series at Petco Park. The Orioles (35-71) fall to 4-4 with one game to go on this road three-city trip. They have...

Orioles lineup vs. Padres

Orioles lineup vs. Padres
Chris Davis is on the bench again tonight as the Orioles open a two-game series against the Padres in San Diego. Renato Núñez is playing first base and the Orioles lose their designated hitter in a National League ballpark. Davis has made one start since July 24 and twice has come off the bench in the late innings. Jonathan Villar is the shortstop tonight with Hanser Alberto at second base. Stevie Wilkerson is in center field with Anthony Santander in left. Jace Peterson stays at third...

Villar's homer in the 16th leads O's to crazy win in Anaheim

Villar's homer in the 16th leads O's to crazy win in Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. - When this game began many, many hours ago, Jonathan Villar was 0-for-15 on this road trip and had two hits his last 22 at-bats. But he delivered a two-run homer in the 16th tonight, and the Orioles, finally, finally had a win. They outlasted the Los Angeles Angels 10-8 in a game that ended after 4 a.m. EDT. Villar's hit was the latest (in terms of innings) go-ahead homer in O's history. To make matters crazier, Stevie Wilkerson went from center field to the mound and retired...

Orioles lineup vs. Angels

Orioles lineup vs. Angels
The Orioles decided to shift gears tonight and go with an opener, or a bullpen game, depending on how it plays out. Jimmy Yacabonis has been named the starter after the club listed Tom Eshelman to begin the series against the Angels. Eshelman could follow Yacabonis. Manager Brandon Hyde will explain the move later to reporters in Anaheim. Yacabonis has made two starts among 23 appearances. His high in innings and pitches this season is 3 1/3 and 61 out of the bullpen in Game 1 of a July 13...

Next road trip stop: O's face Mike Trout and Angels in Anaheim

Next road trip stop: O's face Mike Trout and Angels in Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Orioles lost six of seven out west last month and started this trip out west losing two of three at Arizona. Now it's on to SoCal, where they will face the Los Angeles Angels for four games, starting tonight. The trip wraps up in San Diego on Tuesday. The Orioles (32-69), after Wednesday's 5-2 loss, are 4-3 over their past seven games, 5-7 since the All-Star break and 10-11 over their past 21 games. They are 3-3-1 in the last seven series, winning against the Indians,...

Means can't escape fourth inning in 5-2 loss (Ruiz optioned)

Means can't escape fourth inning in 5-2 loss (Ruiz optioned)
PHOENIX - John Means retired the first five batters today, getting strikeouts with his changeup and curveball. But something wasn't right. He wasn't particularly sharp and the Diamondbacks were chipping away at him. Means came tumbling down in the fourth, turning in his shortest start since his rotation debut back on April 9. Nine batters came to the plate in the inning, Carson Kelly hit a three-run homer and the Orioles lost 5-2 at Chase Field. Gabriel Ynoa stranded two inherited runners,...

Updating Rutschman's Aberdeen debut and more (O's down 5-2)

Updating Rutschman's Aberdeen debut and more (O's down 5-2)
PHOENIX - Catcher Adley Rutschman is expected to make his Maryland debut Saturday evening with the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds. The Orioles haven't made an official announcement and schedules always are subject to change, but Saturday appears to be the target date for Rutschman to leave the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Aberdeen began a six-game homestand Tuesday that carries through the weekend. The IronBirds host Hudson Valley Saturday at 6:05 p.m. Ripken Stadium should be...

Recapping last night's Orioles win and looking ahead

Recapping last night's Orioles win and looking ahead
PHOENIX - Dwight Smith Jr. used to be hitless in 33 at-bats and looking every bit like a player in a deep funk. Smith is a changed man. Hits in his last four games. A single and three-run homer last night in a 7-2 win. A hot streak that seemed to come out of nowhere. "I just kept working hard," he said. "It's just baseball. I was coming back from injury, so I was just getting timing back. And me struggling mentally and physically, it was a lot, but I had good teammates and good supporting...

Homers by Núñez, Santander, Smith power O's to win (updated)

Homers by Núñez, Santander, Smith power O's to win (updated)
PHOENIX - Renato Núñez can belt home runs as the designated hitter, first baseman or third baseman. He can launch baseballs in his sleep, though rounding the bases is harder to do if you tuck the sheets. Manager Brandon Hyde will pick a position or a role and let Núñez feast. It's become one of his easiest decisions. Just keep the guy in the middle of the lineup. Núñez hit his team-leading 24th home run tonight in the second and Anthony Santander delivered a two-run shot...

Orioles and Diamondbacks lineups

Orioles and Diamondbacks lineups
PHOENIX - Renato Núñez is making his first start at third base this season as the Orioles continue their series against the Diamondbacks. Núñez has played one inning at third this year. Rio Ruiz usually gets the start versus a right-hander. The lack of a designated hitter has forced manager Brandon Hyde to find ways to get Núñez's bat in the lineup. Dwight Smith Jr. is in left field and Anthony Santander is in center. Hanser Alberto is at second base and Jonthan Villar is...

Orioles can't live up to last night's standard in 17-6 loss (updated)

Orioles can't live up to last night's standard in 17-6 loss (updated)
The Orioles played one of their most complete games of the season last night, much to the delight of manager Brandon Hyde. A quality start, scoreless relief, hits from everyone in the lineup, smart baserunning and tight defense. The hard part is duplicating it. The pitching component was lacking in a big way, with Tom Eshelman surrendering three home runs in four innings and Jimmy Yacabonis retiring only one of the 10 batters he faced. A five-run third inning enabled the Orioles to tie the...

Rutschman homers in pro debut (Scott recalled and lineup)

Rutschman homers in pro debut (Scott recalled and lineup)
The long-awaited debut of catcher Adley Rutschman unfolded today in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and he again lived up to the hype. Chosen first overall by the Orioles in last month's First-Year Player Draft, Rutschman served as the designated hitter against the GCL Pirates in Bradenton and homered to right field in his third professional at-bat. Rutschman lined to shortstop and flied to deep right in his previous plate appearances before leading off the sixth inning with a home run from...

Is it Smith's turn to break out of slump?

Is it Smith's turn to break out of slump?
The presence of left-hander David Price on the mound last night for the Red Sox drove Dwight Smith Jr. to the bench. Or maybe it was a slump that's gotten control of him. More likely a combination of the two. Right-handers Rick Porcello and Andrew Cashner start the last two games of the series and Smith could get back in the lineup if manager Brandon Hyde is in platoon mode. Hyde has other options, with the roster including switch-hitters Anthony Santander and Stevie Wilkerson. Chris Davis sat...

Means rebounds and Orioles rout Red Sox 11-2 (with quotes)

Means rebounds and Orioles rout Red Sox 11-2 (with quotes)
While Andrew Cashner provided a reminder today of what the Orioles lost in their rotation as he chatted with teammates behind the batting cage, they remained confident that Dylan Bundy will rejoin it next week on the West Coast. The experimenting and auditioning will only cover two-thirds of the group, with John Means remaining in his role as unlikely ace. Means completed six innings, Anthony Santander and Keon Broxton homered, and the Orioles posted an 11-2 victory over the Red Sox before an...

Orioles offense perks up in 9-2 win (Scott optioned, quotes)

Orioles offense perks up in 9-2 win (Scott optioned, quotes)
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has been waiting for his offense to ignite. Trying various combinations, sitting certain guys, seeking out favorable matchups if they exist. It takes some digging. Twelve runs were scored in the first five games following the All-Star break. Multiple players have been fighting slumps and losing the battle. The Nationals recalled two pitchers from Triple-A to start in the series and the Orioles had their hands full. Austin Voth held them to one run in six innings in...

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals
Aaron Brooks makes his second start with the Orioles tonight as they try for a split of their two-game series with the Nationals. Brooks worked 2 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings in his debut Saturday in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Rays. He was removed after 32 pitches. Brooks has never faced the Nationals. Adam Eaton is 2-for-4 against him and Yan Gomes is 1-for-3. Anthony Santander has moved to left field tonight with Dwight Smith Jr. on the bench and sitting on an 0-for-30...

Nationals pull away from Orioles in 8-1 win (updated)

Nationals pull away from Orioles in 8-1 win (updated)
The Orioles missed Nationals ace and perennial Cy Young Award candidate Max Scherzer, who's on the injured list. They missed Stephen Strasburg, who's pushed back to Thursday and keeps alive his streak of never pitching in Baltimore. Tonight's matchup between right-handers Asher Wojciechowski and Austin Voth didn't necessarily send shivers up and down the spine, but the Orioles are trying to plug holes in their rotation and the Nats are doing some temporary tinkering. Wojciechowski gave the...

Orioles trying to bust a few slumps

Orioles trying to bust a few slumps
Failing to put a runner on base through eight innings of Sunday afternoon's game against the Rays allowed fans and media to redirect their attention from a disheveled rotation. Tom Eshelman was passable. Four runs allowed in 5 2/3 innings but better than the line indicated. He struck out seven, the last five with his curveball, and retired 11 in a row before the Rays tacked on two more runs. There's no reason to push him out of the rotation with Andrew Cashner traded. Just pitching into the...

Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Dwight Smith Jr. is on the bench today as the Orioles close out their series against the Rays, with Anthony Santander getting the start in left field. Smith is hitless in his last 26 at-bats, a career-high streak and the longest in the American League. Trey Mancini sat out Game 2 last night while in an 0-for-20 slump, but he's starting in right field today. Chris Davis is playing first base and batting sixth ahead of third baseman Hanser Alberto. Alberto's home run last night in Game 2 was...

Means struggles and Orioles settle for split (updated)

Means struggles and Orioles settle for split (updated)
While Orioles manager Brandon Hyde wonders how he's going to piece together his rotation following today's Andrew Cashner trade, he must rely even more on left-hander John Means to anchor the staff. It's a lot of weight to place on the rookie's shoulders, but who else is going to step up? How is Means going to hold up? Means allowed six runs and surrendered three homers for the first time in his career and the Orioles settled for a split of their doubleheader with a 12-4 loss to the Rays...