O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a three-game sweep at Chicago

O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a three-game sweep at Chicago
The Orioles have not been swept in a three-game series on the road by the Chicago White Sox since May 13-15, 2003. From 2011-14, the Orioles went 10-4 at U.S. Cellular Field. But they lost there this weekend by scores of 1-0 and 3-2, coming up with just nine hits. They went 26 consecutive innings without scoring until Manny Machado's two-run homer in eighth inning yesterday. They have scored in just one of their last 28 innings. They were four outs away from a third straight shutout when...

Taking another look at the Orioles bullpen

Taking another look at the Orioles bullpen
The Orioles won't be facing Chris Sale on Sunday in the series finale against the White Sox. Left-hander Carlos Rodon will start against Miguel Gonzalez, with Sale pushed to Monday. The Orioles bullpen continues to lead the majors in ERA since April 29, though the figure has risen to 2.27 over 182 innings. Opponents are batting .219 in that span, which ranks fourth in the majors. Overall, Orioles relievers rank third in the American League and sixth in the majors with a 2.86 ERA. Orioles...

A few notes and Showalter's ranking in poll

A few notes and Showalter's ranking in poll
Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed last night that Miguel Gonzalez would start Sunday afternoon's game in Chicago, and the right-hander is officially listed in that spot. It's no longer TBD. Bud Norris' role still needs to be determined. The starters for next week's series in Minnesota haven't been revealed. According to STATS, the Orioles' 36-0 record when leading after seven innings is tied for the best mark in the majors. The Orioles are 39-0 when leading after the eighth,...

Buck Showalter on Sunday starter, Kevin Gausman and 2-0 loss

Buck Showalter on Sunday starter, Kevin Gausman and 2-0 loss
Orioles manager Buck Showalter named Miguel Gonzalez as Sunday's starter against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Bud Norris was lined up to make the start, but Gonzalez is moving ahead of him. Showalter also said Kevin Gausman will accompany the team to Chicago. He didn't promise that Gausman will get another start, but the right-hander is staying with the club and appears to be staying in the rotation. The Orioles won't add another reliever before Friday night's game, so Norris could...

Machado denied monthly honor (O's lose 2-0)

Machado denied monthly honor (O's lose 2-0)
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado had his 12-game hitting streak halted last night, and he learned today that he wasn't named the American League's Player of the Month for June. The honor went to Angels first baseman Albert Pujols, who batted .303 (30-for-99) with four doubles, 13 home runs, 26 RBIs and 23 runs scored in 27 games. Machado led the league with 42 hits and finished second with a .365 average in 28 games. He ranked fourth with 22 RBIs, tied for fifth with a .411 on-base...

Matt Wieters, Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Davis comment after O's loss to Texas

Matt Wieters, Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Davis comment after O's loss to Texas
Miguel Gonzalez gave up a season high six runs and a career-high-tying three homers tonight as Texas beat the Orioles 8-6 with another four-homer night at Camden Yards. "He just had a few mechanical flaws that kept him from throwing strikes like he normally does," catcher Matt Wieters said of Gonzalez. "When he doesn't have his fastball command, something is not quite right with him. But he'll get after it in his bullpen session and be ready to go his next start. "You have to make good...

Taking another look at a possible roster move and tonight's game

Taking another look at a possible roster move and tonight's game
The Orioles won't go with a six-man bullpen for much longer, and the extra arm may arrive later today. Manager Buck Showalter wants to get back to seven relievers and be able to match up rather than just choose who's most rested. Tyler Wilson is slated to start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk and he's been down for more than 10 days, making him eligible to return to the majors. The Orioles considered bringing up Jorge Rondon while they were in Toronto before choosing Mychal Givens. Rondon also...

Will the Orioles recall another reliever following 8-6 loss?

Will the Orioles recall another reliever following 8-6 loss?
The Orioles are discussing again whether they need to bring up another reliever following tonight's 8-6 loss to the Rangers before 27,370 at Camden Yards. Brad Brach tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings, leaving the Orioles without a long man in a shorthanded bullpen for Wednesday night's game. "Brad was the big key," said manager Buck Showalter after the Orioles lost their second straight game for the first time since June 18-19. "We have to kick it around whether we've got to make a move...

Texas Rangers hit four more homers to beat the Orioles 8-6

Texas Rangers hit four more homers to beat the Orioles 8-6
On Sunday, two Orioles starting pitchers led their team to back-to-back shutout victories in one day. But in the two games since, Texas Rangers hitters have teed off on O's starters for eight homers in two nights. Texas hit four total homers tonight in an 8-6 win over the Orioles to take the first two games of the series. The O's have dropped two in a row since winning 18 of 23 games. The loss overshadows a two-homer, four-RBI night for Chris Davis, who hit two-run homers in the first and...

O's game blog: It's Gonzalez against Lewis tonight at Camden Yards

O's game blog: It's Gonzalez against Lewis tonight at Camden Yards
Going into last night's game, the Texas Rangers had lost 11 of their last 12 games against the Orioles. But the Rangers hit four homers in an 8-1 win Monday night in the opener of a four-game series. The O's need a win to even the series tonight. Texas had lost seven of its last eight heading into this series, but, over a longer stretch, they were 23-16 before taking the opener. The Rangers are 24-19 on the road, and they have the most road wins in Major League Baseball. Also, the Rangers are...

O's get six runs off Eduardo Rodriguez, beat Boston and take series

O's get six runs off Eduardo Rodriguez, beat Boston and take series
Former Orioles pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez was rolling early in today's game against the Orioles. He retired the first nine batters with five strikeouts on 36 pitches. Who knew then that he would not make it out of the fourth inning? The Orioles pounded Rodriguez for seven consecutive hits that produced six runs in the top of the fourth and went on to outlast Boston 8-6 at Fenway Park. The Orioles are 38-34 and have won seven of 10, 13 of 17, and 15 of their last 20 games. They won...

O's game blog: Orioles face Eduardo Rodriguez in Fenway finale

O's game blog: Orioles face Eduardo Rodriguez in Fenway finale
When the Orioles play their third and deciding game of the series this afternoon at Boston, they'll need a win to post a fourth straight American League East division series win. They are 8-3 in that time in AL East games and are 23-20 in the division for the season. The Orioles are 37-34 overall with six wins in the last nine games and 14 in their last 19. They are 7-4 in their last 11 road games. On the mound today, Miguel Gonzalez (5-4, 3.33 ERA) pitches against Eduardo Rodriguez (3-1, 3.13...

Orioles option Mychal Givens (O's and Red Sox lineups)

Orioles option Mychal Givens (O's and Red Sox lineups)
The Orioles optioned reliever Mychal Givens this morning to make room for starter Miguel Gonzalez on the 25-man roster. Still waiting for the club to announce whether Givens is headed to Double-A Bowie or Triple-A Norfolk. Givens retired the Red Sox in order in the eighth inning last night in his major league debut. Nolan Reimold is starting in center field with Adam Jones on the bench. Chris Parmelee is starting at first base and Chris Davis is serving as the designated hitter. Steve Pearce is...

Miguel Gonzalez returns as Orioles try to win series

Miguel Gonzalez returns as Orioles try to win series
The Orioles and Red Sox are playing the rubber match this afternoon at Fenway Park after splitting the first two games of the series. The Orioles need to bounce back after allowing five unearned runs last night. And yes, you see what I did there. Did anyone else think J.J. Hardy looked uncomfortable while running the bases after reaching on Dustin Pedroia's errant throw on an attempted double play? Something didn't look right. Mychal Givens retired the side in order in the eighth inning and...

Rough inning: O's allow five unearned runs in sixth as they lose at Boston

Rough inning: O's allow five unearned runs in sixth as they lose at Boston
Bud Norris was rolling along with a three-hit shutout on 58 pitches through five innings. The Orioles provided him a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, but the last of the sixth was a horror show for the Orioles tonight. It began with two errors that opened the door for five Boston unearned runs as the Red Sox beat the Orioles 5-1 at Fenway Park tonight, ending a six-game losing streak against Baltimore. Former Oriole Alejandro De Aza hit a grounder to first to lead off that frame for Boston....

Looking at tonight's game and the roster crunch

Looking at tonight's game and the roster crunch
The Orioles are back in Boston for the first time since April 17-20, when they split four games, lost their starting pitcher to an ejection and lost their starting second baseman to a knee injury. Ubaldo Jimenez was tossed in the opener after hitting Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the right shoulder with two outs in the fourth inning. He hadn't allowed a hit or a run, but he walked three batters and nailed Sandoval. Plate umpire Jordan Baker decided that a gross overreaction was in...

Taking a look at tonight's starting pitchers

Taking a look at tonight's starting pitchers
In the life of Orioles right-hander Mike Wright, no start comes with a guarantee that another one will follow in five or six days. Wright is back on the mound tonight, making his first trip to Toronto. His major league career began with 14 1/3 scoreless innings, but he's allowed 10 runs and 14 hits in his last two starts over nine innings. Wright walked three batters in his last outing against the Yankees, but they came in succession to open the fifth inning. Brian Matusz replaced him with no...

Orioles return to Toronto, Showalter on Wieters' catching schedule

Orioles return to Toronto, Showalter on Wieters' catching schedule
Now that the Orioles are done with the Phillies, it's time to get back to baseball. (Yes, I know the Phillies won yesterday, but they tried to throw away the game on Chase Utley's error. There's also the blind squirrel analogy. That's a bad team and children shouldn't be exposed to it.) The Orioles flew into Toronto last night to begin a three-game series on the spongy turf at Rogers Centre. They were swept on April 21-23 and lost infielder Ryan Flaherty to a groin injury. The Blue Jays...

Updating Gonzalez and wrapping up a 2-1 loss

Updating Gonzalez and wrapping up a 2-1 loss
PHILADELPHIA - Miguel Gonzalez threw a bullpen session today and remains scheduled to pitch Saturday at Double-A Bowie before coming off the disabled list for a June 25 start with the Orioles. Gonzalez will perform some fielding drills to make sure there's no lingering discomfort in his groin. It rained this morning and limited his work on the field. "Went great, went really good," said manager Buck Showalter following a 2-1 loss to the Phillies. "He and Brady (Anderson) and Jonathan...

Orioles go for another sweep of Phillies

Orioles go for another sweep of Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - The Orioles are playing their last game today with a six-man bench, as they finish an interleague series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Long bench, short series. Adam Jones still may be counted among the reserves due to a sore right shoulder, the most painful of his ailments. He's 4-for-7 lifetime against Phillies starter Sean O'Sullivan, but manager Buck Showalter wants to take advantage of the schedule and sit Jones until the Orioles begin a weekend series in...