Tonight's pitchers:  Berken vs. Sowers
Tonight's pitchers: Berken vs. Sowers
Steve Melewski
Orioles
RHP Jason Berken (5-12, 6.41) tonight makes his 23rd start of the year, his 10th on the road and his 2nd vs. Cleveland. After a five-start stretch where Berken went 3-0, 4.23, the right hander took the loss Sunday vs. Boston. In three innings, he allowed ten hits and six runs. Right-handed hitters are batting .312 against him and lefties hit .337. The O's are 6-16 when Berken starts, but are 3-3 over the last six games. Berken, 2009 season: First half: 1-6, 5.87, 9 starts Second half: ...
Tribe with a walk-off win, 9-8 over O's
Tribe with a walk-off win, 9-8 over O's
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Jhonny Peralta's RBI single in the last of the 9th gave Cleveland a 9-8 walk-off win over the Orioles Saturday night, after the Birds had rallied to tie it in the top of the ninth. Luis Valbuena singled off Jim Johnson leading off the 9th and advanced to second on a grounder. Peralta's 2nd RBI of the night was the game winner. The Orioles have now lost nine games in a row. Gary and Jim ask Dave Trembley about the O's 9-8 loss to Cleveland The O's went to the 9th down 8-6, but the first...
Post-game Notes:  Tribe walks off to victory
Post-game Notes: Tribe walks off to victory
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The pen was not mightier - The O's struggling bullpen continue in that fashion on Saturday night. The Tribe rallied for four runs in the 7th vs. Sean Henn and Chris Ray and scored in the 9th to beat Jim Johnson. The O's pen tonight allowed seven hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings. The bullpen ERA is 7.99 over the last seven games. The O's losing streak has reached nine in a row since a 4-2 win over Tampa on September 16th. For the second time in four games, the O's opponent won in...
Series finale:  Orioles at Cleveland
Series finale: Orioles at Cleveland
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Game Preview Orioles (60-94) at Cleveland (63-91) After 4-2 and 9-8 losses the past two nights vs. Cleveland, the Orioles will need to win this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. to avoid a three-game sweep. Chris Tillman (2-4, 4.71) pitches for the O's vs. Cleveland's David Huff (10-8, 5.98). The Orioles are 0-5 on this ten-game road trip and are 24-52 in road games on the season. The Orioles have now lost nine games in a row since beating Tampa on September 16th. Four of the nine losses have come...
Today's pitchers:  Tillman vs. Huff
Today's pitchers: Tillman vs. Huff
Steve Melewski
Orioles
RHP Chris Tillman (2-4, 4.71) today makes his 12th start of the season, his 7th on the road and his 2nd this year vs. Cleveland. Two starts ago, Tillman gave up just one run over 6 2/3 vs. Tampa. In his last start he gave up four runs and six hits in five innings Monday, in taking the loss at Toronto. In four September starts, Tillman is 1-2, 5.56. Right-handed batters are hitting .336 against him while lefties bat just .242. The Orioles are 4-7 when Tillman starts, 2-2 this...
Not Tillman's time
Not Tillman's time
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Chris Tillman gave up six runs in the first inning today at Cleveland and lasted just two innings. His previous shortest start this year was his first start, July 29 vs. KC, when he went 4 2/3 innings. Tillman may have tired here at the end of the year. His ERA in September is 7.30 after it was 5.79 in July and 4.04 in August. Tillman today: 2IP, 6H, 6R-ER, 1B, 2K, 1HR......53 pitches. Brian Bass came on in the third. Meanwhile, David Huff has sailed through four innings for Cleveland on...
Tribe blanks O's to complete three-game sweep
Tribe blanks O's to complete three-game sweep
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Cleveland Indians scored six runs in the first inning Sunday off Chris Tillman, on their way to 9-0 win over the Orioles and a sweep of the three-game series. The Orioles have lost ten in a row, matching their longest losing stretch since September of 2008. Asdrubal Cabrera had a two-run double in the 1st and Kelly Shoppach's three-run homer capped the inning. Cabrera went 4 for 5 with three RBI. Tillman lasted just two innings, allowing six runs and six hits. He falls to 2-5,...
Post-game Notes:  The losing skid reaches ten
Post-game Notes: The losing skid reaches ten
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Tough time for Tillman - Chris Tillman took the loss Sunday, pitching just two innings, in his shortest start of the year. His previous shortest start was 4 2/3 vs. Kansas City in his Major League debut July 29th. Today he allowed six runs in the first inning and threw just 53 pitches in falling to 2-5, 5.40. Tillman has allowed 10ER in seven innings over his last two starts. In five September starts, he is 1-3, 7.30. Dave Trembley talks with the media after the O's 9-0 loss to the...
Taking a guess at the minor league rotations
Taking a guess at the minor league rotations
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles have not yet announced their pitching rotations for three of their four full-season minor league clubs. But at this point, it's worth taking an educated guess at what we might see on the mound starting next Thursday. A few days ago, O's skipper Dave Trembley told reporters that Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brandon Erbe, Troy Patton and Alfredo Simon would begin the year in the Norfolk Triple-A rotation. The order of the rotation has not been announced. Here are some guesses at...
Will there be another change for Rowell?
Will there be another change for Rowell?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles are not confirming anything yet, but it appears there have been internal discussions about moving Billy Rowell from outfield back to the infield. Rowell, who played third base his first three seasons in the organization, played right field last year for the Class-A Frederick Keys. The 21-year-old Rowell struggled at bat the last two years with Frederick, but also had a tough time last season adjusting to right field. The O's 2006 first-round draft pick, he made 15 errors with a...