Can offense perk up in time to avoid sweep?

Can offense perk up in time to avoid sweep?
If the Orioles are going to avoid being swept in Houston, they must do some damage today against Astros starter Dallas Keuchel, who has been named the American League's Pitcher of the Month for April and May. What could go wrong? The Orioles are six games below .500 for the first time since September 2011. They've lost five in a row to tie their longest streak of the season. They couldn't do much last night with right-hander Lance McCullers, making only his fourth major league start after...

Jones remains out of Orioles lineup

Jones remains out of Orioles lineup
Adam Jones remains out of the Orioles lineup today after an X-ray taken on his left ankle revealed a mild sprain. Jones also was scheduled yesterday to have an MRI on the ankle. David Lough is in center field and Steve Pearce is playing left field. Jimmy Paredes, in a 1-for-16 slump with nine strikeouts, remains the designated hitter. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Jimmy Paredes DH Delmon Young RF Chris Davis 1B Steve Pearce LF J.J. Hardy SS David Lough CF Caleb Joseph C Ryan Flaherty...

Domenic Vadala: Is it time for O's to get creative at first base?

Domenic Vadala: Is it time for O's to get creative at first base?
I was a bit shocked when I saw the lineup hours prior to Monday's game against Houston. Aside from the time when he was suspended, when's the last time the Orioles' starting lineup didn't include Chris Davis? Sitting Davis on the bench is something that was lauded by many fans, and understandably so. Hovering around the Mendoza line isn't exactly what one would have expected going into this year. But my question is whether or not it's time to get creative with first base. And by creative,...

O's game blog: It's Tillman against Feldman at Camden Yards

O's game blog: It's Tillman against Feldman at Camden Yards
Well, the Orioles are not exactly setting the world on fire with their win-loss record, but they keep gaining ground slowly but surely. Since May 11, the Orioles are over .500 at 7-6. In that stretch, they have gone from 5 1/2 games out of first place to two games beginning play tonight. This is the closest they've been to first since they were two out on April 29. On the mound tonight Chris Tillman (2-5, 6.10 ERA) pitches against Scott Feldman (3-4, 5.17 ERA). Tillman has not recorded a win...

Showalter on Hardy and 4-3 win (Bundy scratched Tuesday)

Showalter on Hardy and 4-3 win (Bundy scratched Tuesday)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter expressed confidence that shortstop J.J. Hardy will be in Tuesday night's lineup against the Astros after leaving today's game prior to the top of the eighth inning with back tightness. "I think he's going to be OK tomorrow," Showalter said following a 4-3 win at Camden Yards. "He was fine yesterday and had nothing. He came in today with a stiff back, and as the morning went on, he felt fine. Went out and took ground balls and some light swings. Thought he...

Pearce on win, Brach on 'pen, Chen on his outing after victory over Houston

Pearce on win, Brach on 'pen, Chen on his outing after victory over Houston
Steve Pearce said American League ERA leader Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros made a rare mistake. With a man on first base and with a 3-2 lead in the last of the seventh, his first pitch to Pearce was up in the zone and Pearce didn't miss it. He hit a two-run homer to right-center that put the Orioles ahead 4-3, and they won by that margin today over the Astros. Coming off back-to-back losses in Miami, it was big to win the series opener in come-from-behind fashion against the team with...

Steve Pearce hits go-ahead homer in seventh as O's beat Houston

Steve Pearce hits go-ahead homer in seventh as O's beat Houston
The Orioles were facing the American League's ERA leader, who had given up just one homer all year over nine starts and 64 2/3 innings. But the O's hit two homers today to beat Dallas Keuchel and the Astros 4-3 this afternoon in front of 28,909 at Camden Yards. Caleb Joseph's two-run homer in the last of the second off Kuechel had given the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Joseph's fourth homer came on a 1-1 pitch. With that one swing, the O's matched their run output for the last 23 innings of the...

Orioles lineup vs. Astros

Orioles lineup vs. Astros
Chris Davis is out of the Orioles lineup today against Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel. Steve Pearce is starting at first base and Everth Cabrera is at second base. Davis had played every game since his suspension ended after opening day. Shortstop J.J. Hardy returns to the lineup after being rested yesterday in Miami. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Jimmy Paredes DH Adam Jones CF Delmon Young RF Steve Pearce 1B J.J. Hardy SS Caleb Joseph C Everth Cabrera 2B Alejandro De Aza LF Wei-Yin Chen...

The O's bullpen carried a heavy load, plus other notes and minor league results

The O's bullpen carried a heavy load, plus other notes and minor league results
They may not have known it heading into yesterday's game, but the Orioles bullpen would be quite busy in Thursday's 5-4 win over Seattle. After a rain delay of two hours and five minutes, starter Chris Tillman did not return after pitching the first three innings. So, the O's bullpen had to cover six innings, and six different pitchers were used to get the 18 outs. Tommy Hunter pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth to keep the game tied 4-4. When J.J. Hardy drove in the...

O's lose lead but not game as Hardy's tiebreaking single provides 5-4 win

O's lose lead but not game as Hardy's tiebreaking single provides 5-4 win
For the Orioles, a long afternoon of baseball and rain ended with a win. The Orioles took a 4-0 lead early on before a rain delay of two hours and five minutes after the top of the third. They lost the lead and were tied 4-4 after the delay, but J.J. Hardy's RBI single in the eighth broke the tie and lifted the O's to a 5-4 win over the Mariners at chilly Camden Yards. After Seattle had tied the game in the seventh, Chris Davis led off the eighth with an infield single off Danny Farquhar and...

Pearce hits first career slam (O's win 5-4)

Pearce hits first career slam (O's win 5-4)
Steve Pearce was hitless in four at-bats last night, swung at the first pitch a few times and saw his average tumble to .193. Pearce remained in the Orioles' lineup today for their series finale against the Mariners, moving from left field to second base. He came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning, Chris Davis reaching ahead of him on a walk by left-hander J.A Happ. Take a pitch? Forget about it. Pearce stayed in attack mode, swinging at an 85 mph changeup and...

Pearce on lack of runs, Chen on his outing, Wilson on big league debut

Pearce on lack of runs, Chen on his outing, Wilson on big league debut
After scoring nine runs last night, the Orioles were held to a pair tonight in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners. They fall to 17-20 for the season and have scored just eight runs in their last five losses. The Orioles have scored three runs or less in nine of their last 14 games. "(Roenis) Elias pitched a great game," Steve Pearce said. "He was working quick, throwing strikes and getting ahead early. He kept us off balance and tomorrow we have to do a better job to win this series. "We...

Orioles and Mariners lineups

Orioles and Mariners lineups
Steve Pearce is batting fifth and starting at second base tonight as the Orioles open a three-game series against the Mariners at Camden Yards to conclude their homestand. Travis Snider is in left field and Alejandro De Aza is in right. Jimmy Paredes is batting second again as the designated hitter. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Jimmy Paredes DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Steve Pearce 2B Travis Snider LF J.J. Hardy SS Alejandro De Aza RF Caleb Joseph C Miguel Gonzalez RHP Orioles pitchers...

Orioles need Mike Wright to be the right choice

Orioles need Mike Wright to be the right choice
If there's a silver lining in the Orioles' rotation woes, it's the wealth of candidates who can fill the vacancies. It may not seem like an abundance of arms, but consider the past. Remember how the Triple-A roster was littered with journeymen and failed prospects? How a pitcher needed one decent outing and proper rest to earn serious consideration for a promotion? Sometimes, all it took was a pulse. Hold a mirror under their noses to make sure they're still breathing and hand them a plane...

Ubaldo Jimenez and Steve Pearce comment after O's loss to Angels

Ubaldo Jimenez and Steve Pearce comment after O's loss to Angels
For a baseball team, scoring two runs on eight hits is not a big night on offense. But that is the Orioles' total in two games this weekend against Los Angeles Angels pitching. "You know, we are just not getting the timely hits right now," Steve Pearce said after tonight's 6-1 loss. "Hitting a lot of balls hard right at people. Tomorrow is a new game and we have to shake it off. We're still four or five games back. Still a long season and we are hoping to turn this thing around starting...

Orioles held to one run for second straight night in loss to Angels

Orioles held to one run for second straight night in loss to Angels
The Orioles came into this game with a record of 5-8 in May and were scoring just 3.1 runs per game this month. They couldn't even hit that total tonight. Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker, whose ERA was 6.61 at gametime, shut down the Orioles and Mike Trout homered as Los Angeles beat the O's 6-1 at Camden Yards. In falling to 15-19, the Orioles are four games under the .500 mark for the first time this season. They have lost the first two games of this series, scoring two runs on eight...

Orioles and Angels lineups

Orioles and Angels lineups
Steve Pearce is starting at second base and batting fifth tonight for the Orioles, who are trying to even their series against the Angels following last night's loss at Camden Yards. Pearce is 3-for-23 this month. He's making only his fifth start since May 3. David Lough is in left field and Alejandro De Aza is in right. Ubaldo Jimenez gets the start while Bud Norris is out with bronchitis. According to STATS Inc., the Orioles have won seven straight home starts by Jimenez and the Angels have...

The defense can't rest

The defense can't rest
Please allow me to quote myself from yesterday morning's blog entry. "Makes you wonder what tomorrow will bring? Since it's the Orioles, there's always the possibility of an injury." As if on cue, the Orioles are prepared to place Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia on the disabled list and recall pitcher Mike Wright from Triple-A Norfolk. Garcia will be examind by a team doctor. Wright will hang out in Baltimore and wait for the Orioles to make their decision. Wright has earned a shot. And these...

Pearce at second base tonight (Gausman update)

Pearce at second base tonight (Gausman update)
With Ryan Flaherty injured, Steve Pearce is starting at second base tonight for the Orioles. No official announcement yet on Flaherty going on the disabled list. Pearce is working out early at second base with infield instructor and third base coach Bobby Dickerson. Travis Snider is starting in left field against Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle. As I wrote this morning, Snider is 5-for-9 against him. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Jimmy Paredes DH Adam Jones CF Delmon Young RF Chris Davis...

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays (with Jays lineup)

Orioles lineup vs. Blue Jays (with Jays lineup)
Manny Machado remains in the leadoff spot and Jimmy Paredes continues to bat second, as the Orioles return home for the first time in two weeks to begin a three-game series against the Blue Jays. Steve Pearce is in left field tonight. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B Jimmy Paredes DH Adam Jones CF Delmon Young RF Chris Davis 1B Steve Pearce LF J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Caleb Joseph C Ubaldo Jimenez RHP For the Blue JaysDevon Travis 2BJosh Donaldson 3BRussell Martin CEdwin Encarnacion...