Orioles ride big inning to 8-4 win (updated)
Orioles ride big inning to 8-4 win (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde watched César Valdez wiggle out of a jam last night to preserve the slimmest of leads, tossed a few compliments at his closer and pointed out how it would be easier on everyone if his club didn't skimp on the runs. "It would be nice," Hyde said, "to score a couple more to give a little breathing room in the ninth for all of our pitchers." Matt Harvey stepped out of the dugout for the bottom of the third today with a six-run lead. A direct path to the mound...
We are now just two days from minor league opening day
We are now just two days from minor league opening day
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles are excited to see their young minor league players on the field starting Tuesday for many reasons. They had a strong preseason camp in Florida leading to Friday's release of the break-camp rosters. The organization feels a farm system that is now ranked fifth by MLBPipeline.com and seventh by Baseball America is robust. Final roster decisions were tough. "I think what is interesting is, you can look and see how much the organization has changed in terms of depth of talent over...
Corbin's arm, Bell's bat lift Nats to third straight win (updated)
Corbin's arm, Bell's bat lift Nats to third straight win (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals don't need Patrick Corbin to be elite right now. They would happily settle for solid. Which is precisely what he was today during a 7-2 victory over the Marlins. With seven innings of two-run ball, Corbin turned in the exact kind of performance the Nationals have been seeking from their erratic left-hander since the season began one month ago. He wasn't in peak form, but he displayed improved command of his fastball and slider and provided length to help take pressure off the...
O's game blog: Trying to build on Friday's win at Oakland
O's game blog: Trying to build on Friday's win at Oakland
Steve Melewski
Orioles
With back-to-back one-run wins over the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics under their belt, the Orioles take the field today at Oakland looking to move to within a game of the .500 mark. It's the second game of a three-game series and six-game trip to face the top two clubs in the American League West. With Friday's 3-2 win over Oakland, the Orioles (12-14) improved to 8-4 in road games. Their .667 road winning percentage is tied for the second-highest in the AL and tied for fourth-best...
Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)
Orioles and Athletics lineups (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Freddy Galvis has returned to the Orioles lineup today, batting seventh against the Athletics in Oakland. Galvis, previously out with a sore left adductor, is batting .348/.400/.630 (16-for-46) in his last 15 games. He slashed .115/.179/.154 (3-for-26) in his first seven. "He got off to a slow start offensively," manager Brandon Hyde said today in his Zoom call. "Really, like the last week to two weeks before he had a little bit of the groin soreness, I think you started seeing better...
Strasburg throws off mound, Soto throws in outfield
Strasburg throws off mound, Soto throws in outfield
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Stephen Strasburg and Juan Soto each took another step toward returning to the Nationals roster prior to today's game, Strasburg throwing off the bullpen mound for the first time since he landed on the 10-day injured list and Soto continuing to throw in right field to test out his strained left shoulder. Both players are now eligible to be activated off the IL, but both still have additional steps they need to take before the club makes the move, especially in Strasburg's case. Strasburg, who...
Game 23 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
Game 23 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
A quick turnaround from a night game to a day game is never easy, but when it comes on the heels of a walk-off win, it does at least brighten everyone's mood a little bit. So the Nationals have to be feeling pretty good about themselves after Friday night's 2-1, 10-inning victory over the Marlins, capped by Kyle Schwarber's 454-foot blast to right-center. In order to keep the good vibes going, they'll need Patrick Corbin to give themselves a chance to win today. Once this season, the...
Hyde on Means: "He's turning into a complete pitcher"
Hyde on Means: "He's turning into a complete pitcher"
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Suddenly, they are the cardiac Orioles. They lose a ninth-inning lead against the New York Yankees, but beat them in 10 on Thursday. They travel across the country, almost lose a lead in the last of the ninth at Oakland but beat the first-place A's for the second time in a row. One guess as to which pitcher started both games? It was John Means on the mound when the Orioles beat Oakland 8-1 last Sunday, snapping their 13-game winning streak. It was Means back out again, this time on the West...
Nats ready to transition from alternate site to minor leagues
Nats ready to transition from alternate site to minor leagues
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
When they needed to make a transaction prior to Friday's game to open up a spot on the active roster for Jon Lester, the Nationals elected to option right-hander Steven Fuentes. That wasn't terribly surprising; the 23-year-old prospect hadn't appeared in a game after getting called up 10 days earlier, and the organization wants to make sure he gets back into a typical, five-day routine as a starter who may have a bright future here. The more notable aspect of the transaction was the location...
The ace does it again: Means pitches O's past A's (updated)
The ace does it again: Means pitches O's past A's (updated)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Giving up a homer would annoy any pitcher. Tonight when he gave up one, it seemed to really annoy Orioles left-hander John Means. And Oakland batters would pay for that. A walk followed that solo homer in the Oakland second inning. Then Means would strike out eight of the next 12 Oakland batters and retire 14 in a row. He was well on his way to pitching another gem for the Orioles, as they beat Oakland 3-2 in the series and road trip opener. This win got very dicey in the last of the ninth....