Lannan allows one earned run, but H'Burg falls
Lannan allows one earned run, but H'Burg falls
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Nationals pitcher John Lannan struggled in the fifth inning of the Harrisburg Senators' 18-15 loss to the Altoona Curve. Most of the offense occurred after the left-hander exited the game. Lannan allowed just one earned run in 4 2/3 innings, leaving the game leading 4-3. The Curve scored three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game 4-4. The Curve made a dramatic comeback in the ninth inning. With Harrisburg leading 14-8, Altoona scored 10 runs in the ninth inning and won 18-15. Lannan...
Post-game Samuel
Post-game Samuel
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Interim manager Juan Samuel was asked about the Orioles' failure to twice lay down sacrifice bunts tonight. They came up small in the small-ball department. "We need to do that if we are going to win some close ballgames," Samuel said. "We need to play good defense and do the little things. A little bit disappointed that we didn't get those down, so we've just got to continue to work on those little things. But if we are going to win the close ones, we need to do the little...
Britton dazzles again
Britton dazzles again
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Another brilliant night for left-hander Zach Britton, who registered his first Triple-A victory by holding Columbus scoreless on five hits over 7 1/3 innings in Norfolk's 4-0 win. Britton's ERA is 1.50 in three starts since moving up from Double-A Bowie. He threw a scoreless inning for Team USA in the Futures Game before making tonight's start. Britton struck out three and walked one. How much longer before we're watching his major league debut? Columbus led the International League in...
Jays top Birds to improve to 8-0 vs. the Orioles
Jays top Birds to improve to 8-0 vs. the Orioles
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Toronto Blue Jays did two things Saturday night that they have been doing a lot this season. They hit two more home runs and once again, they beat the Orioles, as their pitching staff, as usual this season, held the O's hitters in check. Toronto is now 8-0 vs. the Orioles on the year after their 3-2 win in front of 28,518 at the Yard. Juan Samuel talks with the media after the O's 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays Major League homer leader Jose Bautista hit number 25, a two-run shot off Jason...
More frustration (updated)
More frustration (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Corey Patterson joined Craig Tatum tonight as players who were instructed to lay down a sacrifice bunt and couldn't do it. Tatum walked in the fifth to load the bases with no outs, and Cesar Izturis singled in two runs to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead. No real harm. But Patterson struck out in the eighth after Izturis' leadoff single. Miguel Tejada singled to put runners on the corners with one out, but Nick Markakis grounded into a routine 6-3 double play. Markakis took a pitch that he...
That's more like it (updated)
That's more like it (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Jeremy Guthrie left tonight's game with a chance to post his first victory since May 25. Guthrie gave up a home run to leadoff hitter Fred Lewis on his first pitch of the night, but that was it. He allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out six in 6 2/3 innings. Guthrie hadn't made it through the fifth in his two previous starts, surrendering 10 earned runs and 16 hits in a combined 8 2/3 innings. He also issued eight walks in those two games. Interim manager Juan Samuel removed Guthrie...
Sloppy Saturday (updated)
Sloppy Saturday (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles drew a walk and collected a hit off Toronto starter Brandon Morrow over the first three innings, but he faced the minimum number of batters. And he didn't need a double play. How is this possible? Corey Patterson broke too soon for second and was caught stealing after his leadoff walk in the first. Julio Lugo reached on a fielder's choice in the third, but he was caught stealing after getting a late jump and glancing back at the plate as if he expected Cesar Izturis to chase the...
Bundy and Britton putting up zeroes
Bundy and Britton putting up zeroes
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Surely, I will jinx them by writing this once again, but the Delmarva Shorebirds are getting good starting pitching again tonight, so far. Righty Bobby Bundy has put up four scoreless this evening vs. West Virginia. Delmarva starting pitchers have now allowed just 3 ER over 63 2/3 innings over the last 11 games. In his last start, Bundy gave up just two hits and two runs that were unearned over six frames. Meanwhile, Zach Britton is making his third Triple-A start for Norfolk tonight. He...
MacPhail's Q&A with the season ticket holders
MacPhail's Q&A with the season ticket holders
Steve Melewski
Orioles
O's president Andy MacPhail had his latest "state of the Orioles" address for the club's season ticket holders at the ballpark on Saturday afternoon. Here is an excerpt of some of the questions he got, topics that were addressed and his answers. MacPhail was asked about the plan to rebuild with youth. Is he staying the course with that or does he now have to go in a different direction? "I think you have tried the band aid approach here. I just don't see anyway in the American League...
If you blinked...
If you blinked...
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
...you missed the first run of the game. Toronto leadoff hitter Fred Lewis swung at the first pitch from Jeremy Guthrie, a fastball, and drove it 405 feet over the center field fence to give the Blue Jays a quick 1-0 lead. Adam Jones made a nice leaping attempt, but couldn't bring down the ball. Lewis has hit four leadoff homers this year, and five in his career. Guthrie has allowed 16 homers this season, including one in each of his last four starts. The Blue Jays added a two-out...