Fast start, strong finish, final day win leads Bowie to playoffs
Fast start, strong finish, final day win leads Bowie to playoffs
Steve Melewski
Orioles
As they get ready to play for a league championship for the third time in the team's 28-year history, the Double-A Bowie Baysox can look back on a special regular season where they got off to a sizzling start and produced a strong finish. The Baysox were 21-5 on June 4 and were about the best team in all of Minor League Baseball to that point. Late in the year, as they pushed for a postseason spot, Bowie won 12 of 14 in the last two series, going 7-0 versus Harrisburg and 5-2 against...
The Bowie Baysox win to reach the playoffs
The Bowie Baysox win to reach the playoffs
Steve Melewski
Orioles
They took an early lead but then fell behind. But the Double-A Bowie Baysox put together a dramatic rally in the last of the eighth this afternoon and pulled out their must-win game today. Bowie entered the final day of the regular season needing a win to advance to the playoffs. A loss and the season would be over. The Baysox entered the last of the eighth down 5-4 but scored three times to beat Altoona 7-5. The Baysox end the regular season 73-47 (.608), winning 12 of their final 14 games, to...
Hanhold back in majors and working to stay there
Hanhold back in majors and working to stay there
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BOSTON - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde expressed his opinion of reliever Eric Hanhold by getting the right-hander out of Friday night's game after only two batters. Sounds bad until Hyde explains why. Hanhold retired both batters in the sixth after replacing Dusten Knight, snagging a comebacker to get Hunter Renfroe in a rundown between second and third base and striking out Rafael Devers on a 95 mph fastball, and made such an impression on Hyde that he was removed to keep him available the...
Espino shines again, bullpen closes out 3-0 win (updated)
Espino shines again, bullpen closes out 3-0 win (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
If their collective motivations at this point have dwindled to trying to avoid a 100-loss season, several Nationals nonetheless have ample motivation over the season's final two weeks on a personal level. For Juan Soto, there's a potential second straight batting title to chase, not to mention a 1.000 OPS that would've sounded unthinkable three months ago. For Tanner Rainey, there's a chance to re-establish some credibility as a big league reliever at the end of a lost season. And for Paolo...
Wells retires 11 of 12, but O's lose 8-6 to complete sweep (updated)
Wells retires 11 of 12, but O's lose 8-6 to complete sweep (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BOSTON - The last of the three young starters for the Orioles took his lumps today just like everyone else. With the Red Sox showing no mercy early in their quest to earn a wild card spot in the playoffs. Go easy and you might be going home, and not to host a game in the postseason. Alexander Wells stepped into traffic this afternoon, knowing the risks and hoping to come out fine on the other side. Whether he did is open to interpretation, but it sure felt that way. He loaded the bases with no...
Avila will retire at season's end, plans to work in baseball
Avila will retire at season's end, plans to work in baseball
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Alex Avila came to his decision several months ago, before those double calf strains that threw a complete wrench into what he already knew would be the final season of his career. So the 34-year-old catcher has had plenty of time to contemplate what life will be like in retirement, a decision he chose to publicly announce today. "I went through that back-and-forth in my head, as far as if I wanted to play for another year," he said in a group interview in the Nationals dugout prior to...
Urías scratched from lineup, Mancini and Severino return
Urías scratched from lineup, Mancini and Severino return
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BOSTON - Ramón Urías worked out at third base this morning and has been scratched from the original lineup. Kelvin Gutiérrez is starting at third base. Urías has been bothered by soreness in his right leg, which takes him in and out of the lineup. "He went and tried to run this morning and it didn't feel great," said manager Brandon Hyde. Anthony Santander is in left field again, a Fenway Park maneuver, with Austin Hays in right. Trey Mancini returns to the lineup as the...
O's game blog: Alexander Wells on mound in series finale
O's game blog: Alexander Wells on mound in series finale
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles need a win this afternoon to salvage the finale of their three-game series at Boston before their current road trip moves on to Philadelphia beginning Monday night. The Birds have lost by 7-1 and 9-3 the last two days at Fenway Park. The Orioles (47-101) have lost seven of their last eight games and have dropped their past three series. They have a 24-50 road record and are 6-11 in September after going 4-24 in August. Baltimore pitching has allowed 16 runs in this series and 73...
Orioles add relievers Eshelman and Kriske to active roster
Orioles add relievers Eshelman and Kriske to active roster
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BOSTON - The Orioles shook up their bullpen again this morning by selecting the contract of Thomas Eshelman from Triple-A Norfolk and recalling Brooks Kriske from the Tides. In corresponding moves, the club has optioned Spenser Watkins to Norfolk and designated Dusten Knight for assignment. Knight had to be moved in order to create space for Eshelman on the 40-man roster. Kriske, claimed off waivers from the Yankees, joined the Orioles over the weekend and went through the intake process after...
Game 149 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies
Game 149 lineups: Nats vs. Rockies
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals are not a good baseball team. Sorry to put it so harshly, but it's impossible to ignore that fact at this point. And they haven't just been bad since the trade deadline; they already were headed well in that direction a month prior to it. They've now played 70 games since July 1, and their record across that span is a dismal 20-50, worst in the majors. It also matches the worst 70-game stretch in club history, previously achieved only by the 2008 and 2009 teams. Those two...