Showalter: "We can't pitch the same guys every night"

Showalter: "We can't pitch the same guys every night"
Without revealing the names, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he had two or three relievers that he wasn't going to use today. Pedro Strop wasn't on that list. Strop allowed two inherited runners to score and four of his own in the Orioles' 9-5 loss to the Angels before 25,964 at Camden Yards. The seventh inning unraveled after Strop, inheriting two runners from starter Jason Hammel with no outs, leaping for Hank Conger's high chopper and failed to make a play. If he doesn't touch...

Strop and Hammel weigh in on O's loss to Angels

Strop and Hammel weigh in on O's loss to Angels
In the quiet of the Orioles clubhouse after today's game, I interviewed Pedro Strop for the "O's Xtra" postgame show on MASN. Here are his comments after he allowed four runs and three hits today in just one-third of an inning to take the loss for the Orioles. Q: You could not hold the lead today. What is your take on the outing? Strop: "Not good. Only thing I can say. I couldn't do the job." Q: Do you think it was location or stuff or a combination? Strop: "I would say location....

O's lose 4-2 lead as Angels avoid sweep at Camden Yards

O's lose 4-2 lead as Angels avoid sweep at Camden Yards
This one got away. The Orioles took a 4-2 lead to the top of the seventh this afternoon, but Jason Hammel appeared to tire and Pedro Strop struggled yet again. The Angels scored six times that inning to take an 8-4 lead and went on to post a 9-5 win over the Orioles. Hammel issued a single and walk to end his day. Strop got Hank Conger to hit a high chopper toward the mound. Had he fielded it cleanly or even let it go, it might have been a double play, but it hit off his glove for a single...

McLouth's stolen base streak ends, Davis' HR drought ends

McLouth's stolen base streak ends, Davis' HR drought ends
Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth is 2-for-2 at the plate today and 0-for-1 in arguments. McLouth singled again leading off the bottom of the third inning, and he appeared to get his 23rd stolen base of the season, which would have tied his career high. However, second base umpire Joe West ruled that McLouth's foot came off the bag as he came out of his slide, and shortstop Erick Aybar applied the tag. McLouth and manager Buck Showalter applied pressure to West, both of them disputing the...

Orioles facing decision on Wada (O's lead 2-0)

Orioles facing decision on Wada (O's lead 2-0)
Wada mess. OK, I couldn't resist. Left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada's injury rehab assignment ends this weekend and he can't be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk without his consent. It's part of his contract. Wada was torched last night for eight runs (seven earned) in 1 1/3 innings. He's totaled only 24 1/3 innings in six starts with the Tides, allowing 33 hits and posting an 8.14 ERA. He's not ready for major league hitters. The Orioles will try to convince Wada to remain with Norfolk past...

Hammel trying to feel at home

Hammel trying to feel at home
The lineups will be coming to you earlier than normal on a Wednesday, with the Orioles scheduled to play a 12:35 p.m. game against the Angels. Do the Orioles lead the majors in day games? Their body clocks must be out of whack. Jason Hammel is making his sixth start at Camden Yards. He's 1-3 with a 7.33 ERA at home, allowing 22 earned runs in 27 innings. His last start here ended with an ejection after back-to-back-to-back home runs by the Tigers. He's not looking to relive that...

More clubhouse chatter following 2-1 loss

More clubhouse chatter following 2-1 loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - James Loney led off the bottom of the seventh inning tonight with a single into left-center field, putting the tying run on base against Orioles starter Jason Hammel. Desmond Jennings stepped to the plate, and a few Orioles anticipated a bunt to move Loney into scoring position. Jennings swung at the first pitch and launched a two-run homer to center field. "I went up there thinking he might bunt him over," said Manny Machado following the Orioles' 2-1 loss to the...

Orioles acquire Loman, Showalter and Machado speak after 2-1 loss

Orioles acquire Loman, Showalter and Machado speak after 2-1 loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles made a minor league trade tonight, acquiring first baseman Seth Loman from the Chicago White Sox organization for cash considerations. Loman, 27, was batting .223/.390/.471 with six doubles, eight homers and 19 RBIs in 39 games at Triple-A Charlotte. He's a career .282/.382/.509 hitter with 123 homers and 424 RBIs in 668 minor league games over eight seasons. Loman has played 319 games at first base. He also can play the outfield. MLB.com first reported...

Machado remains a hit on the road (O's lose 2-1)

Machado remains a hit on the road (O's lose 2-1)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manny Machado bounced an RBI single into center field with two outs in the top of the third inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead and continue his assault on road pitching. Machado has hit safely in 22 of the last 24 road games, batting .394 with 14 doubles, three homers, 13 RBIs and 18 runs scored. He's hit in 14 of his last 15 road games, batting .406 with eight doubles, two homers, nine RBIs and 11 runs scored. Machado has hit in five straight games, but he didn't...

It's Hammel vs. Archer tonight (another draft update)

It's Hammel vs. Archer tonight (another draft update)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jason Hammel takes the mound tonight at Tropicana Field for the first time since being ejected Saturday afternoon following back-to-back-to-back home runs by the Tigers and a slider that hit Matt Tuiasosopo on the left shoulder. Hammel insisted that he wasn't aiming at Tuiasosopo, and he presented a strong argument just a few inches from the face of plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. You know who won that argument. In 32 games at The Trop, Hammel is 1-5 with a 5.78 ERA....

Looking back and ahead

Looking back and ahead
Kevin Gausman will attempt today to win his first major league game and avoid becoming the second consecutive Orioles starter to be ejected. I'm confident that he will achieve the second goal. I mean, what are the odds of it happening twice in two days? If the ball keeps slipping out of his hand, as it did yesterday with Jason Hammel, he may want to play it safe and switch to an underhand delivery. Maybe just roll the ball to the plate. Don't take any chances. Hammel had the full support...

Showalter and Hardy comment on Hammel's ejection

Showalter and Hardy comment on Hammel's ejection
Orioles manager Buck Showalter and shortstop J.J. Hardy used the same logic and arguments to defend starter Jason Hammel, who earned his first career ejection today in the fourth inning after surrendering three consecutive home runs and hitting Matt Tuiasosopo with the next pitch. The ball kept slipping out of Hammel's hand today, especially when he tried to throw his slider. And if you're going to drill a batter on purpose, you do it with a fastball to make the intent perfectly...

Jason Hammel: "Zero intent there to hit him"

Jason Hammel: "Zero intent there to hit him"
Jason Hammel was ejected from a game for the first time in the big leagues today. He didn't think he should have been tossed after he hit Detroit's Matt Tuiasosopo one pitch after yielding three straight homers in the top of the fourth inning. "I'm not going to make a big deal of - I hit him with a slider. Zero intent there to hit him," Hammel said. "Obviously I gave up the three home runs, but I'm not the guy that answers getting hit around with hitting somebody. That is bush league...

O's yield four homers in an inning for first time ever as Tigers roll 10-3

O's yield four homers in an inning for first time ever as Tigers roll 10-3
Miguel Cabrera homered again and this time it was a grand slam. Prince Fielder homered. The Tigers scored eight runs in an inning and Jason Hammel was ejected. It could have been a better Saturday for the Orioles, who gave up four homers in one inning for the first time in team history as Detroit pounded the Birds 10-3 behind Justin Verlander. After giving up three consecutive homers to Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila during the Tigers' eight-run fourth, Hammel was ejected...

Hammel ejected in fourth inning (O's allow fifth homer today, lose 10-3)

Hammel ejected in fourth inning (O's allow fifth homer today, lose 10-3)
It's gone from bad to worse for Orioles starter Jason Hammel, who will spend the rest of his afternoon in the Orioles' clubhouse. And not because manager Buck Showalter removed him from the game. Hammel served up back-to-back-to-back home runs to Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila to open the top of the fourth inning, giving Detroit a 4-1 lead. His next pitch sliced near Matt Tuiasosopo's head, hitting the Tigers left fielder on the left shoulder, and plate umpire Hunter...

Hammel wild early

Hammel wild early
Jason Hammel has matched his season high for walks today, and he hit the mark after only 1 2/3 innings. Not good. Hammel has issued three free passes, as he also did in four other starts. Factor in two singles, and he's fortunate to only be trailing 1-0. Five of the first nine batters reached against Hammel, including Matt Tuiasosopo, who singled in the second inning to score Victor Martinez after Alex Avila grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to nearly take Hammel off the hook. I also...

Orioles offense has been outstanding, but can rotation join in the fun?

Orioles offense has been outstanding, but can rotation join in the fun?
Before Freddy Garcia pitched eight shutout innings last night, Orioles starting pitchers had pitched to an ERA of 4.90 on the year. That ranked 12th in the American League, ahead of only Toronto, Houston and Minnesota. Those three clubs are a combined 33 games under .500 and two of the three reside in last place. That is not the company the Orioles want to be keeping. But here is a stat to keep in mind: The Orioles' starting pitcher ERA was 4.77 last year at the All-Star break. The starting...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
We have an interesting matchup tonight with the Orioles sending Kevin Gausman to the mound and the Nationals countering with Nathan Karns. It's Double-A Bowie vs. Double-A Harrisburg. Gausman, 22, will be making his second major league start. Karns, 25, will be making his major league debut. What's the record for fewest combined major league starts among two pitchers in the same game? Somebody get Elias on the phone. Gausman will try to give the Orioles their second consecutive quality...

Hammel on Hammel

Hammel on Hammel
WASHINGTON - Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel has been searching for his fastball command. Today, he found it. "The fastball command that I've been searching for has been getting closer and closer and closer, and today it was finally there," he said after holding the Nationals to two runs over eight innings and striking out eight in the Orioles' 6-2 victory. "A small adjustment I made with my slider added a lot more depth and a lot of swings and misses with that one. Stayed aggressive...

Showalter speaks after 6-2 win

Showalter speaks after 6-2 win
WASHINGTON - The Orioles' bullpen needed a break today, and starter Jason Hammel provided one by going eight innings in a 6-2 victory over the Nationals. "It reminded me a little of the Atlanta outing last year," said manager Buck Showalter. "A lot of strikes. Throwing zeros up after you score some runs. He was good. He was the difference today. We all would have signed up in blood for that today. "What are those things where you hold the bats like they do at the wedding chapel? I'm...