O's game blog: Orioles look for series win today against Seattle

O's game blog: Orioles look for series win today against Seattle
In the series and homestand finale today at Camden Yards, the Orioles host Seattle with Chris Tillman (7-5, 3.97 ERA) facing right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (9-5, 3.06 ERA). Tillman is 5-0 with an ERA of 2.45 in five career starts against Seattle. Four of his five starts have been quality starts. He last faced the Mariners on Aug. 2, 2013 and got the win at Camden Yards. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and six earned runs. Tillman has now gone six straight starts without a win,...

Notes on Cruz, Young, Jimenez, Markakis, Machado, Jim Johnson and more

Notes on Cruz, Young, Jimenez, Markakis, Machado, Jim Johnson and more
Nelson Cruz is out of the Orioles lineup today for only the second time this season. Cruz's average is down to .262. He batted .215/.282/.364 in June and .211/.292/.379 in July, and he's 1-for-8 with four strikeouts this month. "They're not getting him out. He's getting himself out mostly," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's so tough. You get down 1-2, you just miss a pitch, you hook a ball foul you might normally have kept fair because you're a little quick with your front hip....

Orioles lineup vs. Angels

Orioles lineup vs. Angels
Exactly four years ago today, the Orioles hired Buck Showalter as the 19th manager in franchise history. No regrets. Showalter's team is 12 games above .500 and 2 1/2 ahead of the second-place Blue Jays in the American League East. Delmon Young is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter for the third time in five games. He's 5-for-9 with a three-run homer in his last three appearances and is 4-for-15 (.267) with a homer and two RBIs in his career against Angels right-hander Jered...

O's late rally falls short in 4-3 loss to Seattle

O's late rally falls short in 4-3 loss to Seattle
The Orioles were able to beat Seattle when Hisashi Iwakuma and Felix Hernandez got the start but lost today when Chris Young took the mound, although they did rally late in the game. The 35-year-old right-hander held the Orioles to two hits - both by Delmon Young - over seven scoreless innings this afternoon as Seattle beat the Orioles 4-3 at Safeco Field. Down 4-0, the O's scored three runs in the eighth. With two outs, Adam Jones was hit, Nelson Cruz walked and they both moved up on a wild...

Machado returns to Orioles lineup

Machado returns to Orioles lineup
After missing the past four games with tightness and spasms in his lower back, Manny Machado has returned to the Orioles' lineup today. Machado is starting at third base and batting seventh. Delmon Young is serving as the designated hitter and batting second, with Steve Pearce going back to the bench. Young is 14-for-35 (.400) with two doubles, three homers and eight RBIs in eight games in the second spot this year. The Orioles are trying to move 13 games above .500 for the first time since...

Chen throws gem as the O's win Seattle series opener

Chen throws gem as the O's win Seattle series opener
The Orioles used a big three-run homer and a fourth straight strong starting pitching performance to win their series opener at Seattle tonight. Wei-Yin Chen pitched eight scoreless innings and Delmon Young backed him with a three-run homer as the Orioles beat the Mariners 4-0 at Safeco Field. With the win, the Orioles improved to 4-3 on this road trip and to 56-45 on the year. They maintain a three-game lead atop the American League East over New York and Toronto after those clubs posted...

It's Delmon Young's turn in lineup (O's win 4-0)

It's Delmon Young's turn in lineup (O's win 4-0)
Last night, David Lough started for the first time since June 27 and collected two hits in Anaheim. Orioles manager Buck Showalter is reaching into his bench again tonight, putting Delmon Young in the lineup for the first time since July 6 in Boston. Young is playing in his sixth game this month after batting .417 (15-for-36) with a double, two homers and five RBIs in June. He's appeared in three games since his start at Fenway Park, going 1-for-3. The Orioles have faced Mariners...

Markakis takes errorless streak to Anaheim (Jones homers, game tied)

Markakis takes errorless streak to Anaheim (Jones homers, game tied)
The Orioles lead the all-time series against the Angels, 345-290, going 184-129 in Baltimore and 161-161 in Anaheim. Does anyone remember when Nolan Ryan no-hit the Orioles, back when he pitched for the California Angels? I'm old enough to recall it vividly. It happened on June 1, 1975. Ryan walked four and struck out nine while tossing the fourth no-no of his career. Wayne Garland replaced starter Ross Grimsley and allowed one hit over 4 2/3 innings in a 1-0 loss. Check out the boxscore...

Looking back and ahead, and adding a pinch of Young

Looking back and ahead, and adding a pinch of Young
Can the Orioles play a nine-inning game tonight? These guys must get paid by the hour. I guess it doesn't matter, as long as they keep expanding their lead in the American League East. It's up to three games. I stated yesterday that relievers Brad Brach and T.J. McFarland wouldn't be available. I batted .500. Manager Buck Showalter crossed me up by using McFarland in the final two innings. Tommy Hunter warmed as the Orioles broke open the game in the 11th, and he sat down while McFarland...

Orioles and Red Sox lineups for Game 1

Orioles and Red Sox lineups for Game 1
BOSTON - Chris Davis is starting at third base in Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Red Sox. Delmon Young is in left field and Steve Pearce is at first base. Reliever Preston Guilmet arrived this morning as the 26th player for Game 2. The season series is tied 5-5, with the Orioles going 3-3 in Baltimore and 2-2 in Boston. In 2013, the Orioles won the season series 11-8 by going 6-4 at home and 5-4 at Fenway Park. They were the only team in the American League East to post a winning...

Pearce justifies decision to play him (O's win 7-5)

Pearce justifies decision to play him (O's win 7-5)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had to choose tonight whether to use Steve Pearce or Delmon Young as the designated hitter. Young was 2-for-21 against Rays left-hander Erik Bedard. Decision made. Pearce walked twice against Bedard and hit a two-run homer off Brad Boxberger in the top of the seventh to increase the Orioles' lead to 7-4. Pearce has five home runs this season to go with a .310 average. He looks pretty good in that second slot in the order. Caleb Joseph led...

Thoughts on tonight's lineup

Thoughts on tonight's lineup
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Delmon Young is batting .296 this season. He's collected a hit in five of his last six games - he failed as a pinch-hitter Friday night - and has homered in two of his last five games. The Orioles are facing a left-hander tonight. Young seems like the obvious choice to serve as the designated hitter, with Nelson Cruz starting in left field. Or is he? Young is 2-for-21 (.095) lifetime against Tampa Bay's Erik Bedard, the former Oriole who's making his 13th appearance...

Showalter on Norris, Young and a 3-2 win

Showalter on Norris, Young and a 3-2 win
It all starts with starting pitching, and the Orioles are living the dream. Their rotation has churned out six consecutive quality starts. It's allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of the last 16 games, posting a 1.51 ERA in those 13 games. It's easy to understand why the Orioles are three games above .500 again and applying steady pressure to the first-place Blue Jays. "It's been at a level that, if we can stay there, will allow you to compete late in the season. Simple as that....

The pitching roll continues, Markakis and Young speak, plus a take on Gausman

The pitching roll continues, Markakis and Young speak, plus a take on Gausman
The Orioles' pitching roll continued last night, even though they gave up twice as many runs in the game against Toronto as they had the previous three games. They gave up two last night and had allowed just one in the three-game series against Boston. That is a team ERA of 0.75 over the last four games for Orioles pitchers. After the win last night, Nick Markakis talked about the recent run of solid pitching and how Kevin Gausman kept it going against Toronto. "It's big," Markakis said....

Machado out of lineup (McFarland in clubhouse, Machado update)

Machado out of lineup (McFarland in clubhouse, Machado update)
The Orioles just posted their lineup for tonight's game against the Indians at Camden Yards, and Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base. Manny Machado, who exited last night's game in the 11th inning with tightness in his right groin, is listed among the reserves. Delmon Young is serving as the designated hitter. The Orioles haven't announced a roster move. Still waiting on that one. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Jonathan Schoop 2B Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF J.J. Hardy...

What's next for Pearce and Young?

What's next for Pearce and Young?
The Marlins released reliever Carlos Marmol today and signed veteran infielder Miguel Tejada to a minor league contract. That sound you hear is the balance of power shifting in the National League East. Or it's my sarcasm. Earlier today, I mentioned how Steve Pearce has practically disappeared since Chris Davis came off the disabled list. The same is true of Delmon Young, another right-handed hitter on the roster. Pearce is batting .271/.327/.521 with three doubles, three homers and six RBIs...

Davis' return creates difficult roster decision

Davis' return creates difficult roster decision
Chris Davis will report to Double-A Bowie on a rehab assignment for the second time in his career. Davis also played two rehab games in September 2011, going 3-for-6 with a double. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to qualify for the Eastern League All-Star team. It's conceivable that the Orioles will activate Davis from the disabled list on Sunday, the first day that he's eligible. Otherwise, he should be back in the lineup by Monday. Who would have imagined such an early return after his...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Can the Orioles make it out of Tropicana Field tonight without more intrigue regarding an All-Star player's health? Can they avoid the letters MRI, which are a lot worse than LOB, though they don't show up in the box score? Look for Matt Wieters to serve as the designated hitter tonight against Tampa Bay left-hander David Price, which puts Delmon Young on the bench. Nelson Cruz isn't going to sit, and he's due for a lot more starts in left field if Wieters remains...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
The Orioles are off today. They're also off on Thursday and again next Monday. They'll pay a heavy price for these unnecessary early-season breaks later in the summer. "We've got another one around the corner, too, which is crazy," said manager Buck Showalter. "You go 20 days and then you have three in 10. I mean ..." We get it. On the plus side, these off days provide rest for the bullpen and mean fewer games missed by first baseman Chris Davis, who's on the disabled list with a...

Game update and more notes (updated)

Game update and more notes (updated)
Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez needed 27 pitches to get through the top of the first inning today, and he was down 1-0 on Colby Rasmus' long home run. Rasmus' ball landed on Eutaw St., the 78th time it's happened in Camden Yards history and the first in 2014. It's the 47th by an opponent and the fourth by a Blue Jay. Eric Thames was the last on April 24, 2012. Jimenez gave up three hits and struck out a batter. He's allowed three homers in 11 2/3 innings this season. The Orioles tied...