A few notes
A few notes
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Buck Showalter, Earl Weaver and Davey Johnson are the only Orioles managers to start out 6-1 in their first seasons. Did you know that Weaver won his first six games and lost each of his next three by one run? According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Showalter is the first manager since 1924 to win three of his first seven games in walk-off fashion. I'm not sure what that says about Showalter or his team, but it's a fact. The Orioles have nine walk-off wins this season, and their 10...
Zimmerman Hosts "A Night at the Park"
Zimmerman Hosts "A Night at the Park"
Josh Land
Nationals
On an off-night after a long West Coast road trip, nine Washington Nationals skipped a night of rest and family time to support Ryan Zimmerman's inaugural ziMS Foundation event in Washington D.C. "A Night at the Park" formally launched the foundation in the nation's capital, introducing Nationals fans and Washington elite to Zimmerman's important cause. "This has been my home for the past five years. I've grown fond of this city," Zimmerman said. "We ultimately want to make the...
Looking back and ahead
Looking back and ahead
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I haven't seen a replay of the Orioles scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning last night, but I still find it hard to believe that Paul Konerko didn't step on first base before throwing home. It sure looked like he did, but he insisted that he stopped and umpire Brian O'Nora agreed. As I wrote last night, it doesn't change a whole lot except for how the official scorer reports it. Matt Wieters would have been out 3-unassisted, which is what I wrote on my sheet. I'm not sure if it...
Now that's more like it
Now that's more like it
Steve Melewski
Orioles
In Bull Durham, didn't Annie Savoy say something like, "For one glorious week, our Durham Bulls played like champions." O's fans can relate this morning. When Brian Roberts made like Crash Davis last night, the O's walked-off jubilantly with another win, and in just a week's time, you get the feeling watching this team now that something good, not bad, will happen. For one glorious homestand, the Birds put it all together. They swept a good team and took three of four from the...
Sorting through the sixth (w/Showalter quotes)
Sorting through the sixth (w/Showalter quotes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
As it turns out, what transpired in the bottom of the sixth inning isn't quite what we believed. I'll start by saying that the Orioles' run still counts. They're not resuming play with the score tied or awarding Chicago the win. But Paul Konerko never stepped on first base after fielding Matt Wieters' ground ball. He stopped short and threw home, but Luke Scott was ruled safe because catcher A.J. Pierzynski didn't make contact with the plate - eliminating the force - and didn't tag the...
Roberts talks about his game-winning homer
Roberts talks about his game-winning homer
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As Brian Roberts remembers, this was just his second Major League walk-off homer. He hit one on June 28, 2005 in the tenth inning vs. the Yankees and he connected for the win in the tenth tonight vs. the first-place White Sox. "Just got a 1-0 fastball and, at that time of the game, I was trying to figure out whether to take a strike or not. But I was pretty sure I would get a heater at that point, 1-0 and leading off the inning. I was just fortunate enough to get a pitch to hit." He...
Mock remains optimistic despite loss in second rehab start
Mock remains optimistic despite loss in second rehab start
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock had a rough second rehab start Monday night in Woodbridge, taking the loss in Game Two of the doubleheader with Lynchburg, 5-2. Mock allowed three runs on eight hits in four innings, hit two batters, did not issue a walk and struck out two. He threw 52 pitches, 37 for strikes. "It went okay," Mock said. "I was up in the zone early, got settled after the first inning. I threw all my pitches for strikes and finished the four innings in one piece. It...
Strasburg back for big series against the Fish
Strasburg back for big series against the Fish
Byron Kerr
Nationals
It's a big game tonight for the Nationals and their young star Stephen Strasburg as he is scheduled to make his first start since July 27 when he was scratched prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves. If he is able to return from the shoulder inflammation, it will be Strasburg's first game since July 21 at Cincinnati. Strasburg has a 5-2 record with a 2.32 ERA, the best among NL rookie starters. Anibal Sanchez gets the nod for the Fish, who arrive six games in front of the Nats in the...
The decision (w/Tillman update and B-Rob walk-off)
The decision (w/Tillman update and B-Rob walk-off)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
B-Rob walk-off: Brian Roberts just hit his first home run of the season, leading off the bottom of the 10th with a drive onto the flagcourt in right against J.J. Putz. That's the Orioles' first walk-off homer of the year, and the first since Matt Wieters on Sept. 16, 2009 vs. Tampa Bay. Manager Buck Showalter pulled Koji Uehara after two perfect innings and gave the ball to Alfredo Simon. One pitch, and we're tied. Paul Konerko crushed a 95 mph fastball for his 28th home run. Brian...
A Roberts walk-off blast for the win
A Roberts walk-off blast for the win
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Even when the Orioles get deflated, they seem to win these days. The Birds completed their best homestand of the year tonight when Brian Roberts hit a booming homer over the right-field scoreboard on a 1-0 pitch leading off the last of the tenth. It gave the O's a 3-2 win over the AL Central-leading White Sox. It was the O's first walk-off homer of the year as the team concluded a 6-1 homestand for new skipper Buck Showalter. The last four wins all came by one run and the Orioles improved...