O's 2022 draft picks come up big as Aberdeen takes must-win playoff game

ABERDEEN, Md. – It was certainly much more than a three-man show. But on a night when high Single-A Aberdeen had to win to save its season, the Orioles' second, third and fourth selections in the 2022 MLB Draft came up big.

Dylan Beavers, taken No. 33 overall from Cal, Max Wager, drafted No. 42 from Clemson and Jud Fabian, taken No. 67 overall from Florida, combined to go 6-for-11 with two doubles, a homer, five runs and seven RBIs as Aberdeen beat Bowling Green 13-6.

The win evens the South Atlantic League best-of-three championship series at one win each. The teams play at 7:05 p.m. tonight at Ripken Stadium in a winner-take-all game. The game 3 winner will be SAL champs.

The last farm team for the Orioles to win a league championship was Double-A Bowie in the Eastern League in 2015. Seven years later, Aberdeen can join them.

The IronBirds offense was cooking early and often.

"Orioles Classics" #TBT: Going to the Matt

"Orioles Classics" #TBT: Going to the Matt
The Super Bowl is now behind us. The NCAA's March Madness - we hope - lies just ahead. But as far as MASN world is concerned, the really big event is scheduled to begin next week. In five days - cross your fingers, knock on wood or perform any other superstitious ritual you like to ward off evil spirits and the always looming potential coronavirus-related postponement - pitchers and catchers will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla. The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over,...

"Orioles Classics" #TBT: Pushing toward playoffs

"Orioles Classics" #TBT: Pushing toward playoffs
Greater Baltimore still stings a little since Sunday, when the Ravens took one on the chin in Buffalo, but now our region's sports fans can turn their full attention to the approach of spring training, whenever it actually is to start. Assessing the status of the Orioles rebuilding project should prove interesting. Meanwhile, we can take a look at the not-too-distant past to remind ourselves what a contending O's squad looks like. The Birds enjoyed a resurgance in the mid-2010s, making the...

Givens Back Foundation hosts haircuts and a night at the park

Givens Back Foundation hosts haircuts and a night at the park
Orioles right-hander Mychal Givens and his Givens Back Foundation today hosted students from the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys and the Orioles RBI program, who got free back-to-school haircuts and dinner at Oriole Park. Each student also got a backpack and a ticket to the Orioles' game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Givens and his wife, Tiffani, launched the Givens Back Foundation with the mission of enhancing the lives of inner city youth through sports. The Baltimore Collegiate School...

Opposite dugout: Mariners still in pursuit of a wild card berth

Opposite dugout: Mariners still in pursuit of a wild card berth
Manager: Scott Servais (3rd season) Record: 76-60 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: DH Nelson Cruz (33 HR, 83 RBIs), 2B Dee Gordon (30 SB), RF Mitch Haniger (23 HR, 84 RBIs), SS Jean Segura (.321) 1B Ryon Healy (24 HR, 66 RBIs) LHP Wade LeBlanc (8-3, 3.71 ERA), RHP Edwin Díaz (51 saves, 1.93 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 4-0 Pitching probables: Sept. 3: LHP Josh Rogers (1-0) vs. RHP Erasmo Ramírez (1-3), 9:10 p.m., MASNSept. 4: RHP Alex Cobb (4-15) vs. LHP Wade LeBlanc (8-3), 10:10...

Opposite dugout: Blue Jays host Orioles hoping to end four-game skid

Opposite dugout: Blue Jays host Orioles hoping to end four-game skid
Manager: John Gibbons (6th season) Record: 55-69 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 1B Justin Smoak (.257), LF Teoscar Hernández (18 HR), CF Kevin Pillar (13 SB), SS Aledmys Díaz (15 HR, 37 RBIs) RF Randal Grichuk (17 HR, 74 RBIs), RHP Ken Giles (15 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 9-1 Pitching probables: Aug. 20: RHP Andrew Cashner (4-10) vs. RHP Marco Estrada (6-9), 7:07 p.m., MASNAug. 21: RHP Dylan Bundy (7-11) vs. RHP Sam Gaviglio (2-5), 7:07 p.m., MASNAug. 22: RHP David Hess (1-4) vs....

Opposite Dugout: Rebuilding Marlins look to build off series win vs. Giants

Opposite Dugout: Rebuilding Marlins look to build off series win vs. Giants
Manager: Don Mattingly (2nd season with Marlins) Record: 26-43 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: RF/3B Brian Anderson (.304, 33 RBIs), 2B Starlin Castro (.282), 1B Justin Bour (10 HR, 29 RBIs), CF Lewis Brinson (26 RBIs), C J.T Realmuto (22 RBIs), RHP Kyle Barraclough (4 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (2-1 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 15: RHP José Ureña (1-8) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (3-5), 7:05 p.m., MASN2June 16: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (1-3) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (2-8), 4:05...

Opposite dugout: Young Astros stars shooting for repeat of dream season

Opposite dugout: Young Astros stars shooting for repeat of dream season
Manager: AL. Hinch (4th season) Record: 3-1 Who to watch (2017 stats): 2B Jose Altuve (.346, 32 steals), CF George Springer (34 homers), SS Carlos Correa (84 RBIs), 3B Alex Bregman (39 doubles), RHP Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.38 ERA), RHP Ken Giles (34 saves, 2.30 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (5-1 in 2017) Pitching probables: April 2: RHP Chris Tillman (1-7, 7.84 ERA in 2017) vs. RHP Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.62 ERA in 2017), 7:10 p.m., MASNApril 3: RHP Mike Wright Jr. (0-0, 5.76...

Yard Work: Episode 12

Yard Work: Episode 12
Hey, Orioles fans. Welcome to the latest edition of Yard Work. On this week's episode ... We hope you enjoyed the All-Star festivities. While there weren't any representatives from Birdland in this year's Home Run Derby, Jonathan Schoop came through in the clutch for the American League in last Tuesday's All-Star Game. His efforts helped the AL earn a 2-1 win over the NL. Too bad it doesn't mean anything this year, right? Steve Melewski and I will recap the All-Star events, including...

Yard Work: Episode 5

Yard Work: Episode 5
Hey, O's fans! Welcome to the crossover edition of the Yard Work podcast. This week, I'm joined by District 34 podcast hosts Bobby Blanco and Byron Kerr as the Battle of the Beltways gets underway for the 2017 season. It's become a rivalry featuring two of the game's top teams, and this year is no exception. Both the Nationals and Orioles boast two of the best records in baseball. The Orioles got a terrific outing from starter Kevin Gausman in Monday's series opener, helping the Birds to a...

Dillon Atkinson: Chapman deal puts Britton's trade value into perspective

Dillon Atkinson: Chapman deal puts Britton's trade value into perspective
Who would have thought Orioles closer Zach Britton could continue to get better? In his age-28 season this year, Britton has converted all 32 of his save opportunities, recording 10.55 strikeouts per nine innings and an MLB-leading 0.63 ERA over 42.2 innings pitched. He's one of the best, if not the best, relievers in all of baseball. With 2016 being his first year of arbitration eligibility, Britton is earning $6.8 million. He has two more years of arbitration prior to reaching free agency,...

Shorebirds' John Means throws seven-inning no-hitter (with video)

Shorebirds' John Means throws seven-inning no-hitter (with video)
SALISBURY, Md. - Single-A Delmarva left-hander John Means threw a seven-inning no-hitter in the Shorebirds' 4-0 victory over Charleston in the first game of a doubleheader Friday night. Means, an 11th-round pick by the Orioles out of West Virginia in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, walked one and struck out six in his first career no-hitter. He threw 78 pitches, 50 for strikes, in a game that lasted only 1 hour, 51 minutes. "That's a first for me," Means said. "Never thrown a no-hitter...