Orioles rally for lead and relinquish it in ninth in 4-3 loss (updated)

Orioles rally for lead and relinquish it in ninth in 4-3 loss (updated)
Gary Sánchez drove a fastball to deep center field tonight in the second inning, flipping his bat on the backswing, and began his trip around the bases. Where else was he going after making that kind of contact? Cedric Mullins sprinted to the ball, timed his leap at the fence and reached high above it, came down, hopped twice to his left - sticking the landing wasn't important in this event - and flipped it to Austin Hays. Hays would flip the lead later and watch it spin back. John Means...

Mike Baumann's thrilling debut highlights win over K.C.

Mike Baumann's thrilling debut highlights win over K.C.
It's exciting - thrilling, really - when a rookie gets his big chance and runs with it like Mike Baumann did last night. Nights like that can give Birdland hope that there may be more talents like Baumann still to come. They hope the young talent comes crashing into Camden Yards like waves into the shoreline. And the waves keep coming. And coming. It was before the game in the Orioles dugout when Baumann spoke with reporters and told us how excited he was to get the shot to make his major...

Lowther impresses but Orioles lose lead and game (updated)

Lowther impresses but Orioles lose lead and game (updated)
The door opens so wide for Orioles in search of an opportunity, it's a wonder that the hinges don't snap in half. Faces have been reddened by that same door slamming shut, the failures bound to leave a mark. Zac Lowther got his latest chance this afternoon after making one appearance each in April, May and June, and two in July. Manager Brandon Hyde suggested that the rookie would receive multiple starts and, hopefully, open some eyes in the front office. Maybe wider than the door. Lowther...

Orioles rally to tie and lose in 11th 4-3 (updated)

Orioles rally to tie and lose in 11th 4-3 (updated)
The Orioles couldn't carry pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. as a Rule 5 selection. Tonight, they couldn't break through against him until the sixth inning. Trey Mancini's first home run since Aug. 14 sent Cortes to the bench with two outs and sliced the deficit in half. Jorge Mateo was a three-time Top 100 prospect who began his professional career with the Yankees, finally made it to the Bronx tonight and hit a game-tying homer in the seventh. The redemption angle held up through regulation. Four...

Rays take final swings at Orioles in 12-8 win (updated)

Rays take final swings at Orioles in 12-8 win (updated)
The Orioles won't have the Rays to kick them around anymore. Not this year, at least. The schedule for the remainder of the season doesn't include another series between the teams, with the Rays' parting shot a 12-8 victory before an announced crowd of 8,353 at Camden Yards. The three-game sweep, pretty much sealed by Joey Wendle's grand slam off Paul Fry in the seventh, left the Orioles 1-18 against the Rays and 0-9 in Baltimore. They've lost the last 12 games. This is the club's first...

Orioles rally in eighth, end losing streak at 19 games (updated)

Orioles rally in eighth, end losing streak at 19 games (updated)
The old reverse lock theory is supposed to have its limits. A team riding a 19-game losing streak, its last victory on Aug. 2, and resorting to a bullpen tactic rather than using a starting pitcher, already is operating from an extreme disadvantage. The bench had two healthy players. The best hitter in 2021 fell into an August slump. The Orioles needed to catch a monumental break last night. Instead, they got Shohei Ohtani - on the mound and in the Angels lineup. An anchor tossed to a club with...

Greene recalled, Orioles lineup vs. Angels

Greene recalled, Orioles lineup vs. Angels
The Orioles recalled reliever Conner Greene from Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon, two days after claiming him off waivers from the Dodgers. He replaces Konner Wade, who was optioned late last night. Greene returned to the organization after appearing in three games and allowing six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked one batter and struck out five. The Dodgers claimed him off waivers on Aug. 9 and he tossed two scoreless innings in his two appearances. Greene, who's wearing No. 81,...

Orioles DFA Franco and option Martin among series of moves

Orioles DFA Franco and option Martin among series of moves
The Orioles are making changes to their infield before resuming their homestand Tuesday night. According to a source, the team is designating Maikel Franco for assignment and optioning Richie Martin to Triple-A Norfolk. In corresponding moves, Jahmai Jones and Kelvin Gutiérrez will be recalled from Norfolk. Jones can become the 54th player used by the Orioles this season. Franco signed a one-year deal on March 16 that guaranteed $800,000 and included incentives and a trade bonus. He appeared...

Mountcastle appears headed to concussion injured list

Mountcastle appears headed to concussion injured list
Out of the lineup tonight, Orioles rookie Ryan Mountcastle is moving toward an exit from the active roster. The Orioles are expected to place Mountcastle on the seven-day concussion injured list after he absorbed Wander Franco's hard tag on the side of the head last night while attempting to steal second base in the first inning. Mountcastle came out of the game in the top of the third, with Maikel Franco replacing him at first base. He underwent a concussion evaluation and the club has been...

Orioles recall Mattson and DFA Greene

Orioles recall Mattson and DFA Greene
The bullpen is changing again for the Orioles, who announced this afternoon that they recalled Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Norfolk and that Conner Greene would be designated for assignment. They also reinstated left-hander Ryan Hartman from the injured list at Triple-A Norfolk after he completed the intake process. Hartman goes on the 40-man roster, with Greene's removal opening a spot. Mattson, acquired from the Angels in the Dylan Bundy trade with the Angels in December 2019, made his major...

Rays inflict painful loss on Orioles (updated)

Rays inflict painful loss on Orioles (updated)
Ryan Mountcastle was thrown out trying to steal second base tonight, absorbed a hard tag to the side of his head and left the game in the top of the third. Trey Mancini fouled a ball off his crotch in the fifth, dropped face-down in the dirt and didn't move for several seconds. The Orioles were trying to win a game while in full survival mode, with Nelson Cruz doling out more punishment. Mancini lined his second double of the night on the next pitch and scored on Jorge Mateo's triple to...

Prospect list, Zimmermann update, Mateo and more

Prospect list, Zimmermann update, Mateo and more
Baseball America has published its updated top 30 prospects list for the Orioles, and first-round pick Colton Cowser ranks fifth while beginning his professional career in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. Heston Kjerstad, last year's first-rounder, hasn't appeared in a single game after being diagnosed with myocarditis, but he's sixth. This year's second-round pick, infielder Connor Norby, is 10th. A big jump was made by Double-A Bowie shortstop Joey Ortiz, who's 12th in the system...

Watkins retires 14 straight, but Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)

Watkins retires 14 straight, but Orioles lose 6-2 (updated)
A fastball from Spenser Watkins in the first inning this afternoon caught the top of the strike zone or just missed it, depending on the perspective from the mound and behind home plate. Watkins wanted the call, which would have closed out the inning without a runner reaching base. Umpire Marvin Hudson didn't give it to him. Hudson had the final word. The ensuing walk led to another, followed by the only two hits off Watkins through the fifth. The Tigers finally broke through again in the...

Spenser Watkins pitches into sixth, but O's lose series finale

Spenser Watkins pitches into sixth, but O's lose series finale
Only three Tigers got hits today off former Detroit farmhand and current O's right-hander Spenser Watkins. But his day was a mixed bag of a rough start and some late frustration as Detroit beat the Orioles 6-2 to level the four-game series at two wins each. After he gave up three runs after getting the first two batters out in the last of the first, Watkins settled in nicely. He gave the O's a solid outing and retired 14 in a row from the end of the first into the sixth. Watkins went 5 2/3...

Bullpen trade chips aren't displayed in 7-3 loss (updated)

Bullpen trade chips aren't displayed in 7-3 loss (updated)
Scouts who descended upon Camden Yards again tonight weren't attracted to the crab cakes and pit beef. Those are just perks of the job. The Orioles are sellers again and the trade deadline is 4 p.m. Friday. Contenders are checking on available players and determining whether there's a potential match and at what cost. The weekend series against the Nationals and the current two-game set against the Marlins comprise the final homestand before August. Remaining observations on Orioles trade...

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...

Conner Greene joins Orioles (plus other notes)

Conner Greene joins Orioles (plus other notes)
The Orioles replaced injured reliever Tyler Wells today with reliever Conner Greene, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk. Greene, wearing No. 71, is waiting to become the 12th Orioles player to make his major league debut this season. He's been on a few taxi squads. Wells went on the 10-day injured list yesterday with tendinitis in his right wrist. Greene, 26, is a former seventh-round draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2013. The Orioles signed him to a minor league deal in...

López expected to start Saturday night (and other notes)

López expected to start Saturday night (and other notes)
The Orioles are going with a 25-man roster for tonight's game against the Royals in Kansas City. They've decided to leave a spot open for starter Jorge López's anticipated return Saturday from the bereavement list. López would make the start later that night. The three-man taxi squad consists of pitchers Alexander Wells and Conner Greene and catcher Nick Ciuffo, so the Orioles have coverage for López if he's unavailable. "We're hoping that Lopie will be back tomorrow, and if...

Non-roster players keep getting chances with Orioles

Non-roster players keep getting chances with Orioles
The Orioles drafted a second baseman in the second round, Connor Norby of East Carolina University, but he isn't blocking Jahmai Jones. I already saw and approved that joke on Twitter. Norby is praised by scouts for his solid tools across the board. He's a career .392/.458/.596 hitter at East Carolina. He led the nation with 102 hits this year. But I'm betting that Jones beats him to the majors. Any takers? Jones is batting .279 with an .863 OPS after Tuesday night's single and triple and...