Villar joins 20/20 club and Alberto is injured in 8-3 win (updated)
Villar joins 20/20 club and Alberto is injured in 8-3 win (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Jonathan Villar walked up the first base line in the fourth inning and chucked his bat as if disgusted by what he had done with it. The truth sat on the opposite side. Guys who join the 20/20 club have no complaints. Villar hit his 20th home run to go with his 28 steals, becoming the sixth Orioles player to achieve the milestone in an 8-3 victory over the Rays before an announced crowd of 13,287 at Camden Yards. The second of two changeups thrown by Rays left-hander Jalen Beeks landed in the...
Cabrera debuts at first base, Robles set HBP record (Nats win 7-5)
Cabrera debuts at first base, Robles set HBP record (Nats win 7-5)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
CHICAGO - The Nationals are playing their fourth straight game against a left-handed starter, an extremely rare occurrence during the course of a season. Howie Kendrick, who has battled hamstring issues all year, already started the first three games, including the day game in Chicago following a night game in Pittsburgh. So Davey Martinez faced a dilemma when filling out his lineup card for the series finale against Cubs southpaw Cole Hamels: Start Kendrick a fourth straight day, start Matt...
Hyde on Means' departure from the Orioles (O's lead 8-3)
Hyde on Means' departure from the Orioles (O's lead 8-3)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles aren't releasing much information regarding pitcher John Means, who left the team and has been placed on the family medical emergency list. Means started last night and worked seven innings in a 7-1 victory over the Rays, easily his finest outing since the All-Star break. Because of the delicate nature of the situation, the Orioles are allowing Means to address it upon his return to the club. Manager Brandon Hyde responded with "not much" when asked what information he could...
Game 130 lineups: Nats at Cubs
Game 130 lineups: Nats at Cubs
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
CHICAGO - The Cubs have been lights-out at home this season. They entered the weekend a staggering 14-1-4 in home series, the lone loss coming in late May when they dropped two of three to the Reds. And then the Nationals came to town and blew that narrative out of the water. With back-to-back lopsided wins the last two days, the Nats already have won this series. Now they have a chance to pull off an impressive three-game sweep with another win this afternoon. The Nationals have Stephen...
Means removed from active roster (plus Orioles lineup)
Means removed from active roster (plus Orioles lineup)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles made an unexpected roster move this morning, placing left-hander John Means on the family medical emergency list and recalling right-hander Tayler Scott from Triple-A Norfolk. Means started last night and held the Rays to one run in seven innings. A player must remain inactive for a minimum of three days and no more than seven. No details have been provided. The Orioles have two off-days this week and Means will start again next weekend in Kansas City. He attended high school in...
O's game blog: Dylan Bundy pitches series finale against Rays
O's game blog: Dylan Bundy pitches series finale against Rays
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays have exchanged 7-1 results the last two games, with the Orioles winning last night. A Baltimore win today would give the Orioles a 2-2 split in this series and a 4-3 homestand before they play two games in Washington starting Tuesday night. Pedro Severino hit his first career grand slam last night, and Hanser Alberto and Jonathan Villar added back-to-back homers in the O's fourth inning. Severino connected for his slam with two outs in the third inning, producing...
The Stewart/Mountcastle connection and Villar's shot for 20/20
The Stewart/Mountcastle connection and Villar's shot for 20/20
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Current Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart and Ryan Mountcastle, very likely a future Oriole, have played together as teammates in the minor leagues. But they have ties beyond that. Not only were they the O's top two picks in the 2015 draft - Stewart taken No. 25 overall and Mountcastle No. 36 - but both have strong relationships with Jered Goodwin, who was Mountcastle's head coach at Hagerty High School in Florida. He later coached Stewart with the FTB Mizuno premier travel team in Florida....
How Turner has reached base in 31 straight games
How Turner has reached base in 31 straight games
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
CHICAGO - Trea Turner legged out an infield single to open Saturday's game at Wrigley Field. In doing so, he extended his career-high streak of games reaching base to 31. And then he went and reached base three more times, scored two runs and stole a base a help lead the Nationals to a 7-2 win over the Cubs. "It's just fun scoring runs," he said. "It's fun winning, too." Yes, it is. And Turner has done just as much to help the Nationals win a lot of games this summer as anyone else on...
Mancini sits, Villar swings and steals, Severino sets target
Mancini sits, Villar swings and steals, Severino sets target
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles are wrapping up their series against the Rays today, and trying to win it, with Trey Mancini returning to the lineup. Could be first base, right field or as the designated hitter. But he's going to play. Manager Brandon Hyde has been wanting to sit Mancini, but he needed to find the right moment. Mancini is such an integral part of the lineup and Hyde is trying to win games. Mancini stayed on the bench against Rays opener José Alvarado, who retired only one batter, and the three...
Severino with a slam, Means with a gem as O's top Tampa Bay
Severino with a slam, Means with a gem as O's top Tampa Bay
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After scoring just three runs in the first two games of this series - and going 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position - the Orioles offense turned to the longball to get it done tonight. The Orioles got three homers, including a grand slam from catcher Pedro Severino, to back a strong John Means outing. They beat Tampa Bay 7-1 after losing the first two in this series. But it took a few innings for the offense to get going. The Orioles spoiled a bases-loaded chance in the first, getting...