Mets top O's 5-1 in series opener
Mets top O's 5-1 in series opener
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Well, this felt like 1969 all over again. R.A. Dickey, reminding one of Tom Seaver or Jerry Koosman, shut down the Orioles Friday night as the Mets beat the Birds 5-1 in the opener of the weekend series, in front of 28,554 at Camden Yards. They were amazin'. Just kidding, although he did shut them down, allowing just a run over seven innings and is now 4-0, 2.78. It's not like the O's didn't have their chances. They had 11 hits and went three for 17 with runners in scoring...
Caps and Bergy
Caps and Bergy
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Let's get the important stuff out of the way first: The O's/Ravens caps will be handed out tomorrow night, as I wrote earlier. Trust me on this one. OK, now about Brad Bergesen... I wrote earlier today that interim manager Juan Samuel wanted to get Bergesen into a game because it had been too long, but he didn't want to use the right-hander in the late innings. Things do change quickly around here. That was Bergesen on the mound in the eighth, giving up a run that increased the Mets'...
Kearns stings former team early on with 2 HRs
Kearns stings former team early on with 2 HRs
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Former Nationals outfielder Austin Kearns is getting some early revenge against his old mates. Kearns smacked a 3-run HR off of Luis Atilano in the 1st inning, giving the Tribe a 3-1 advantage. Then, in the 4th inning, Kearns got a hold of another one, a solo shot to deep left center and the Indians led 4-1. It was home run #s 6 and 7 on the year for Kearns and marked the first time since June 4, 2006 he went deep twice in the same game. His average now up to .311. the only regular Tribe...
Golden grab (updated twice)
Golden grab (updated twice)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Jeremy Guthrie gave up a run in the top of the first inning on a leadoff double by Jose Reyes and one-out single by David Wright. The damage would have increased if not for a spectacular diving catch by Adam Jones in left-center field that robbed Jason Bay. Wright would have scored easily. Bay might have joined him if the ball got past Jones. My second-favorite moment of the game: Tejada making a nice stop on Tejada's grounder in the hole, but Tejada's late throw allows Tejada to reach...
Riggleman puts Pudge in the 2 hole vs. Indians
Riggleman puts Pudge in the 2 hole vs. Indians
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Cleveland, OH -- Nats manager Jim Riggleman puts Ivan Rodriguez in the 2 hole for Game 1 vs. Cleveland. Riggleman said he wanted the 9, 1 and 2 spots to be mixed up a little bit and not all left handed hitters. Riggs also said they thought about putting Rodriguez in the 2 hole as early as spring training. He also said they can hit Ivan in many different places besides his usual 6 spot. It also turns the 3-4-5 power and makes it a lethal 2-3-4-5 barrage for the Indians to face. The...
Samuel says...
Samuel says...
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
I told you earlier that interim manager Juan Samuel will give the ball to David Hernandez tonight if he's confronted with another save situation. Here's more from Samuel: "Of course, of course. Stay with the hot hand," Samuel said. "He showed some poise last night. He came right after those hitters. Hopefully, if we're in the same situation tonight, he'll be the guy. "It's not an easy role. We're talking about a very young guy thrown in the fire. To me, he showed last night that he...
The day after for Jake Arrieta
The day after for Jake Arrieta
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Less than 24 hours after posting his first Major League win and beating the Yankees, Jake Arrieta was concentrating on the TV in the O's clubhouse. His college team, TCU was taking on Texas in the NCAA's Super Regionals. Jake was as calm watching that game as he seemed on the mound Thursday night. Since he got that win, his phone has been blowing up, as they say. "I had 40 or 50 texts and a bunch of calls. You know it's just great to have the support from friends and family throughout...
Quick managerial update
Quick managerial update
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has interviewed two candidates this week for the full-time managerial job: Eric Wedge and Bobby Valentine. He hasn't lined up a third interview. The next one most likely will wait until the Orioles return from next week's interleague excursion in San Francisco and San Diego. MacPhail is making the trip, and it doesn't appear that he'll meet with the next candidate until returning to Baltimore. MacPhail won't discuss specifics of the...
Luke Scott's take on the dugout exchange from last night
Luke Scott's take on the dugout exchange from last night
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Some fans have been wondering about the exchange last night in the O's dugout in the last of the sixth inning. Luke Scott tripled on a ball that hit off the wall in right field. He appeared not to be running hard out of the box and ran harder after he got around first base. After he scored, he was seen talking in the dugout with O's manager Juan Samuel. On the MASN telecast, play-by-play broadcaster Gary Thorne was critical of Scott. Audio: Luke Scott comments on his dugout...
Injury updates
Injury updates
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Second baseman Brian Roberts received an epidural injection in his lower back in St. Petersburg, his third since reporting to spring training, and will be shut down until undergoing a follow-up examination on Tuesday. Michael Gonzalez threw one inning today in an extended spring training game, which amounted to only seven pitches, and his velocity increased slightly. We're told that his fastball was clocked at 87 mph after topping out at 85 mph during his previous trip to the...