Jakubauskas signs with Diamondbacks

Jakubauskas signs with Diamondbacks
Pitcher Chris Jakubauskas has signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jakubauskas broke the news on his Twitter account earlier today. "Have new home for 2012. Heading back west to the Valley of the Sun. Looking forward to meeting new teammates and improving on 2011." Jakubauskas also tweeted: "I want to also thank The Orioles and the city of B-More. I enjoyed my time there and wish them great success in the years to come." The Orioles outrighted Jakubauskas after the...

Quick Jakubauskas update

Quick Jakubauskas update
It took longer to type his last name. Pitcher Chris Jakubauskas, who cleared waivers last week, has refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected to become a free agent. Jakubauskas was outrighted previously, which allowed him to refuse the assignment. He also would have qualified as a minor league free agent later this week. Jakubauskas, 32, was 2-2 with a 5.72 ERA in 33 games (six starts) and 72 1/3 innings for the Orioles this season. He wasn't invited to spring...

Atkins the likely starter tomorrow night (updated twice)

Atkins the likely starter tomorrow night (updated twice)
Alfredo Simon has replaced starter Chris Jakubauskas in the third inning, which eliminates him from consideration for tomorrow night's assignment. Mitch Atkins is in Arlington and could have his contract purchased after tonight's game. Jakubauskas is charged with six runs and seven hits in two-plus innings. Adrian Beltre delivered the knockout punch with a two-run homer. Jakubaukas threw 45 pitches, 31 for strikes. His ERA ballooned to 6.75. The rotation remains a mess. Jakubauskas has...

Jakubauskas talks about his outing

Jakubauskas talks about his outing
One more note on the starters: They're 3-8 with a 5.99 ERA and have failed to complete seven innings in the last 16 games since Jake Arrieta did it on June 10. Chris Jakubauskas fell to 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA after allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings. He noted that the Cardinals were "a little bit more aggressive." They also were four runs better. Chris Jakubauskas meets with the media about picking up his first loss as an O's starter "I noticed it in the first inning," he...

Jakubauskas and Berkman meet again (updated twice)

Jakubauskas and Berkman meet again (updated twice)
That was a nice eight-pitch top of the first inning for Orioles right-hander Chris Jakubauskas. Pop up, strikeout. fly ball. It can be a pretty simple game. Throw strikes and work quickly. Command your fastball and good things usually will happen. Lance Berkman stepped to the plate in the top of the second, which must have brought disturbing flashbacks for both men. Jakubauskas' only major league start in 2010 ended after a Berkman line drive slammed off his head. Jakubauskas was pitching...

Showalter speaks after 5-4, 12-inning win

Showalter speaks after 5-4, 12-inning win
Like everyone else in the Orioles' dugout, manager Buck Showalter was happy for first baseman Derrek Lee, who hit the walk-off home run that produced a 5-4 win in 12 innings. Buck Showalter's postgame comments after Friday's uplifting 5-4 win against Cincinnati "I'm happy for us, too," Showalter said. "That's a really good club over there. I said before, they won the National League Central in a tough division. MVP, three Gold Glove guys, a great manager. That was a battle. And I...

Jakubauskas falters in fifth (game tied in sixth)

Jakubauskas falters in fifth (game tied in sixth)
Chris Jakubauskas shut out the Reds through four innings, no small feat considering they began the night having scored the third-most runs in the majors with 364. Their .261 average ranked seventh. Jakubauskas issued a two-out walk to leadoff hitter Chris Heisey in the fifth, moving former Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez to second base. You could guess what would happen next. Brandon Phillips followed with a two-run double, and he scored on Joey Votto's double. Orioles 4, Reds 3. Scott...

Jakubauskas: "My main thing was don't fall down"

Jakubauskas: "My main thing was don't fall down"
WASHINGTON - Chris Jakubauskas didn't receive an official invite to spring training, but he's won two games for the Orioles this season. Funny how these things work out. He's also their best hitter on the pitching staff. Chris Jakubauskas talks about his outing on the mound Sunday and at the plate "The first hit, ironically, probably means more to me since I was a hitter my entire life growing up. It means more to me than it did when I got my first win, but obviously today the win...

Some impressions from the weekend series against the Nats

Some impressions from the weekend series against the Nats
Some thoughts after the end of the weekend series in Washington. The clubs split six games this year and today's O's win keeps the Orioles ahead, 19-17, in the all-time series versus the Nationals. * We've said it before, but maybe this team will finally get hot on offense for an extended time. It seems that Nick Markakis and Derrek Lee have heated up and maybe those hot bats will join those of Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy to see this club finally put up some runs. Markakis is...

Showalter speaks after 7-4 win

Showalter speaks after 7-4 win
WASHINGTON - The Orioles avoided the sweep with today's 7-4 victory over the sloppy Nationals, who committed three errors and bobbled a few other balls. Buck Showalter hopes the O's can use the momentum from Sunday's win to carry them into Pittsburgh "I've said many times, usually you look at that error column and you're winning that, you're in the ballgame. And taking advantage of those was big," said manager Buck Showalter. Chris Jakubauskas picked up his second win after...

Jakubauskas brings the heavy lumber (updated)

Jakubauskas brings the heavy lumber (updated)
WASHINGTON - Chris Jakubauskas singled twice today before Jim Johnson replaced him. That .667 average will put a little more pressure on the other pitchers. The last Orioles pitcher to collect two hits in a game? That would be Erik Bedard on May 20, 2007 against the Nationals. This is the 130th time that an Orioles pitcher had two hits or more in a game. We're not sure whether Jakubauskas will take his next turn. He could be skipped because of Thursday's open date on the schedule. There's...

Lee stays hot (updated twice)

Lee stays hot (updated twice)
WASHINGTON - Adam Jones singled with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to score J.J. Hardy, and Derrek Lee followed with a double to increase the Orioles' lead to 5-2. That's it for Nationals left-hander Tom Gorzelanny. The Orioles have salvaged the inning after a highly questionable send by third base coach John Russell resulted in pitcher Chris Jakubauskas being thrown out at the plate by a wide margin. Jakubauskas collected his first major league hit, a single leading off the...

Jakubauskas can't get through sixth (game tied)

Jakubauskas can't get through sixth (game tied)
The Orioles got five scoreless innings out of Chris Jakubauskas in his first start since April 2010. Tonight, he's charged with four runs in 5 1/3 innings, and he leaves with two runners on base and the Blue Jays threatening to build on a 4-1 lead. Jakubauskas allowed seven hits, walked four, struck out two, threw a wild pitch and hit a batter. He threw 101 pitches, 57 for strikes. One run probably should have been unearned, since it scored on Robert Andino's throwing error. Catcher Matt...

One losing streak will end tonight

One losing streak will end tonight
One team will end a losing streak tonight at Rogers Centre. The Orioles have lost 14 straight in that park and are just 1-19 in their last 20 games in Canada. They have lost 23 of 25 there. The Orioles' last win in Toronto was August 7, 2009 by a 7-5 score. Jason Berken got the start and win while Jim Johnson got a save. Nolan Reimold and Nick Markakis had two RBIs each. Meanwhile, Toronto has lost four games in a row being outscored 38-8 in that time. Toronto has lost five in a row at...

Jakubauskas takes another turn (Lee reinstated)

Jakubauskas takes another turn (Lee reinstated)
Chris Jakubauskas wasn't expected to rejoin the rotation until Saturday, when the Orioles needed a fifth starter, but he's taking the ball tonight in the series opener in Toronto. Manager Buck Showalter bumped rookie left-hander Zach Britton to Friday's game in Washington, which might seem puzzling. Wouldn't he want Britton going against a division rival? Well, it's a small sample size, but the Blue Jays scored seven runs off him (five earned) in five innings in a June 3 start at...

Leftovers for dinner (updated twice)

Leftovers for dinner (updated twice)
Orioles pitcher Chris Jakubauskas has a little discoloration near his left foot today after being hit by Cliff Pennington's sharp grounder up the middle last night, but he said there's no pain and he's fine. Jakubauskas faced one more batter to complete the fifth inning and pass along the shutout to Clay Rapada. The Orioles will need a fifth starter again on June 18 in Washington, and Jakubauskas figures to get the assignment. With five scoreless innings, he did nothing to cause manager...

Hearing from Jakubauskas, Hardy and Scott

Hearing from Jakubauskas, Hardy and Scott
Chris Jakubauskas held the Athletics to three hits over five scoreless innings, walking one and striking out five to earn his first win since Aug. 12, 2009. He also came away with a bruise on his left shin, courtesy of Cliff Pennington's smash up the middle, but he stayed in the game long enough to record the final out in the fifth. "It hurt pretty good right off the bat," he said. "I threw it, he hit it, I was like, 'Let it miss me,' but it didn't. As Buck (Showalter) said on the...

Showalter speaks after 4-0 win

Showalter speaks after 4-0 win
Nolan Reimold wasn't available tonight because of neck spasms. He could only pinch-run, but the Orioles are hoping that he returns to the lineup tomorrow night against Oakland left-hander Josh Outman. The Orioles won the series over Oakland after losing the last eight. Their last series win over the Athletics came in July 2007. Looking for nights to attend games at Camden Yards? The Orioles are 5-0 at home on Tuesdays. By the way, the Orioles will face Jeremy Hellickson, David Price and...

Jakubauskas, 'pen hold down A's in Birds' 4-0 win

Jakubauskas, 'pen hold down A's in Birds' 4-0 win
Say it quietly, but the Orioles' bullpen continues to throw well, at least it has for the last nine games. The Orioles 'pen put up four scoreless innings tonight in relief of starter Chris Jakubauskas who got the win in the Birds' 4-0 victory over Oakland. This was the O's fourth shutout of the season. But about that 'pen ... Over the last nine games now, the O's 'pen has worked to an ERA of 0.30 allowing just two earned runs over the last 30 innings in that time. That is some roll...

Hardy homers as leadoff hitter (with draft update)

Hardy homers as leadoff hitter (with draft update)
J.J. Hardy didn't have an official at-bat as a leadoff hitter in the majors until tonight. On the second pitch thrown to him, Hardy homered to left field to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. It wasn't supposed to work out that way, but manager Buck Showalter will take it. Baseball-reference lists Hardy as appearing in the leadoff spot in one game, but not having an at-bat. Hardy can't remember the circumstances. Maybe he was part of a double-switch. Hardy jumped on an 0-1 pitch tonight from...