1st Orioles Game of 2018

Mom and Karen and Natalie and I went to the Orioles game today - Mother's Day 2018. Natalie got the tickets  from work. We beat Tampa Bay 17 - 1.

NInth and Last Orioles Game of 2017

A large group of us went to the Orioles game last night. We lost, 9 to 6, to the Tampa Bay Rays. My loosing record for the year, 4 and 5.The Orioles just fell apart and returned to their old September ways, doormat of the division.

Eighth Orioles Game of 2017 - Camden Yards 25th Anniversary

I went to the Orioles game tonight with Karen and Mom. It was the 25th Anniversary of Camden Yards opening. They were giving away replicas of the stadium, there was a home run derby (Brady Anderson won), and a bunch of Oriole players from opening day 1992. It was extremely hot and humid. There was a quick storm and 30-minute rain delay at the top of the 8th inning. We lost to the Los Angeles Angels 5 - 1. I think our only run was on a passed ball or wild pitch. My record so far this year has sunk to .500, 4 and 4.

Photos from The Baltimore Sun

Photographer - Ulysses Munoz

Orioles Triple Play - August 3rd, 2017.

5-4-3 triple play!

The Orioles 2nd triple play of the season. (Also May 2 at Boston). #Birdland pic.twitter.com/ZRdAnniukW

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 4, 2017

Seventh Orioles Game of 2017 - Double Rain Delay & Triple Play

Mom, Karen, Barbara and I went to the Orioles-Tigers game tonight. It was another stinker. There was a 43-minute rain delay before the game started. When it did start, Tillman promptly gave up two home runs before another rain delay of 59-minutes. This was all before the end of the first half of the first inning. The high point of the game was a triple play in the second inning. It was so fast I didn't realize what was happening. I thought it was a double play until the Orioles started walking off the field. We left before the game was over, around 11:30. The Orioles ended up loosing 7-5. My record so far this year, Oriole 4 - Opponents 3.

From the Baltimore Sun.
Written by Eduardo A. Encina.

Now that the Orioles acquired a sixth starting pitcher in their trade deadline deal for Jeremy Hellickson, the team’s suddenly striving starting rotation is a crowded one. And even though manager Buck Showalter has said that each member isn’t competing for the right to remain among the starting five, right-hander Chris Tillman might be pitching his way out of it.

Tillman suffered through his second straight ugly outing in Thursday night’s 7-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Camden Yards, again raising concerns over what has led a pitcher who won 16 games last year to labor so regularly.

“Yeah, it’s killing me right now,” Tillman said. “It really is. But you can’t dwell on that. You’ve got to take the positives and run with it. I saw a lot tonight, I know the scoreboard won’t show it and most people won’t see it, but there were a lot of good things that happened tonight. And if you’re going to take anything good away from this, that was a pretty horrible start and we almost came back and won that game.”

The loss snapped the Orioles’ five-game winning streak as they fell to 53-55 and slipped to 3½ games out of the second wild-card spot.

After serving as the rock of the Orioles starting rotation for the past four seasons, Tillman (1-7) hasn’t been the same pitcher this year. He missed the first month with a shoulder injury that dated to late last season, and since then, he has an 8.10 ERA in 15 starts. He has just three quality starts, and in his past two starts, he allowed 13 earned runs over 6 1/3 innings.

On Thursday, Tillman struggled to find the strike zone, especially with his four-seam and two-seam fastballs, forcing him to mostly abandon his curveball and changeup. The back-to-back walks he issued in the third opened the gates for a five-run inning he wouldn’t survive.

“Command,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said when asked about Tillman’s struggles Thursday. “He came out there after the short rain delay, or long, or about medium I guess, got a quick out and went out and put up a zero after that and command just wasn’t there. You keep waiting for him. It’s tough because you’ve got a guy who’s really got a track record of pitching well for us over an extended period of time and he’s just not doing it right now.”

Tillman allowed a pair of solo homers within the first three batters of the game, before the skies opened with two outs and forced a 59-minute rain delay. When Tillman returned after the delay, he struggled even more.

Tillman failed to get an out in the third inning, and nine of the 13 batters he faced reach base. He yielded seven runs (five earned) on six hits and two walks.

Before the second rain delay of the night — the start of Thursday’s game was delayed 43 minutes by storms — Tillman fell behind 2-0, allowing a leadoff homer to Ian Kinsler and then gave up Justin Upton’s mammoth shot to straightaway center.

Tillman was coming off one of his worst outings of the season, allowing eight runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings last Friday in Texas. He fell into trouble early again, leaving a 1-2 fastball over the plate that Kinsler turned on for his 10th homer of the season. Tillman then left a 1-1 slider that didn’t break and Upton launched it an estimated 452 feet, hitting off the base of the batter’s eye beyond the center-field fence.

Tillman put the first two batters on base in the second, but benefited from a rare 5-4-3 triple play to escape that inning. But he wouldn’t get out of the third.

“It just kinda sped up real quick,” Tillman said. “Those plays normally change the momentum for you. It didn’t happen tonight.”

Tillman loaded the bases, allowing a single to José Iglesias before walking Kinsler and Jim Adduci. He induced a potential double-play ball from Upton that would have limited the damage, but the grounder went between new shortstop Tim Beckham’s legs into left field, allowing two runs to score. Miguel Cabrera’s ensuing two-run double chased Tillman from the game to a smattering of boos from the Camden Yards crowd.

“I think execution for me,” Tillman said. “Going back and watching it with some guys, I think that game comes down to those two walks there. Back to back walks. You’ve got those two outs there, get the guys back to the plate and it’s a different story. But those back-to-back walks killed me. Some below-average pitches.”

Orioles turn triple play

Tillman received the ultimate gift from his defense in the second inning, getting out of trouble with the help of the 5-4-3 triple play.

He put the first two batters on base — Victor Martinez doubled and Mikie Mahtook reached on an infield single — but Tillman induced a ground ball to third from catcher James McCann.

Third baseman Manny Machado touched third for the force play there, threw to Jonathan Schoop at second base and Schoop threw to first to get the slow-footed McCann to complete the triple play.

It was the Orioles’ second triple play of the season and 14th all time. They turned a 6-4-3 triple play on May 2 in Boston. It marks just the second time in club history — and first since 1973 — that the Orioles converted two triple plays in one season.

Schoop adds to RBI count

Schoop’s third-inning RBI double off Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd gave him 79 RBIs on the season, putting him just one behind American League leader and former Oriole Nelson Cruz of the Seattle Mariners.

Schoop went the opposite way on a ball that Adduci couldn’t come up with in right field, allowing Adam Jones to score from first base.

With the RBI, Schoop had 25 RBIs in his past 17 games.

Through six innings, the Orioles scored their other runs on sacrifice flies by Machado and Welington Castillo.

Beckham hits first Orioles homer

Beckham, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the nonwaiver trade deadline Monday, capped a three-hit night with his first home run with his new team, a solo homer off right-hander Edward Mujica in the eighth inning.

He took an 0-2 four-seam fastball the opposite way just over the scoreboard in right field for his 13th homer of the season to cut the Tigers’ lead to 7-5.

Beckham has multiple hits in all three of his games with the Orioles and is 7-for-12 with three doubles, a triple and a homer since coming to Baltimore.

Beckham's homer was the 2,500 home run by an Oriole at Camden Yards.

Castro provides length

Right-hander Miguel Castro saved the Orioles bullpen after Tillman’s early exit, throwing a career-high six scoreless innings of relief.

Castro allowed one inherited base runner to score in the third inning, but allowed just one hit and issued one walk otherwise.

Castro’s longest outing before Thursday was a 3 1/3-inning outing on July 15 against the Chicago Cubs. But he was well-rested entering Thursday, throwing just one-third of an inning over the previous eight days.

Photos from the Baltimore Sun.
Photographer Lloyd Fox

Sixth Orioles Game of 2017 - el Stinko

I went to the Orioles game against the Indians last night with Karen, Amanda and Mom. What a lousy game. First, a 45-minute rain delay and then a blowout  not really reflected in the score. The Orioles set the American League record at 16 games in which their opponent has scored at least 5 runs two days ago. They have been busy adding to their new record since. If they continue this way for 3 more games, they will have the record for all of baseball, passing the 1924 Philadelphia Phillies record of 20. Go O's!

My record so far this year - Orioles 4, Opponents 2.

Update - They tied the Phillies record on June 23rd but didn't give up 5 runs on the 24th. Darn.

Fifth Orioles Game of 2017 - The Trey Mancini Show

I went to the Orioles game against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight with Karen, Mom and John. It was the bottom of the ninth and we were down 6 - 2. First, Adam Jones hit a 2 run homer to make it 6 - 4.  Then, with 2 outs, Trey Mancini came up as a pinch hitter. He took the count to 2 - 2 then hit a two run homer to tie the game. In the bottom of the eleventh he did it again, hitting a 3 run homer to win the game. Exciting stuff. My record so far this year, Orioles 4 - Opponents 1.

Photos from the Sun by Patrick Semansky.

Fourth Orioles Game of 2017

Went to my fourth Orioles game of the year tonight with Natalie, Karen and Jocelyn. The Orioles beat the Yankees  10 - 4. My record so far - Orioles 3, Opponents 1.

From the Sunpapers
Article by Eduardo A. Encina, photos by Michael Ares and Patrick Semansky.

Adam Jones returns to lineup with five-RBI night, sparks Orioles' 10-4 win over Yankees

Adam Jones’ absence from the Orioles’ starting lineup for four games was noticeable, and when the team’s starting center fielder finally returned for the series finale against the New York Yankees, he didn’t waste time making his presence felt.

The Orioles handled Jones with care — allowing him three days off to nurse a sore left ankle and hip and then scratching him from Tuesday night’s game as a precaution because of a forecast that called for rain throughout — as the lineup managed just three runs a game without him.

Jones was quick to make up for lost time, and there’s no coincidence that his return coincided with a revival of the team’s middle-of-the-order bats behind him for the Orioles' largest offensive output in more than two weeks.

From the No. 2 spot in the order - a place he’s settled into this season - Jones served as the Orioles’ offensive catalyst, driving in five runs in a 10-4 win over Yankees at Camden Yards. Jones provided the biggest hit of the game, a three-run homer off Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka in the fourth, one inning after lacing an RBI double off the left-center-field wall to open the scoring for the Orioles. He added a run-scoring infield single in the eighth.

The victory gave the Orioles (27-24) a series win over the first-place Yankees (30-20) after returning home reeling from a season-high seven-game losing streak.

"I think it was good that we got the series win," Jones said. "We haven't been playing as well of late. The last three weeks haven't been too fun. But it was a good series win. Glad I was able to come back out there, add some more energy, and the guys followed suit. So, good series win."

After Jones put the Orioles on the board in the third, cleanup hitter Mark Trumbo followed with a two-run double on an opposite-field line drive over right fielder Aaron Judge’s head. Struggling first baseman Chris Davis then got in on the act with an RBI single to put the Orioles up 4-0.

"Adam is a big part of our team," manager Buck Showalter said. "That's obvious. But we've had some stretches without people like all clubs do. Our guys have found a way. But it's a lot easier with him there. You could tell he was pretty fresh. ... Adam is always on. The way he approaches competition, he doesn't have a day like, 'What's wrong with Adam today?' You don't have to worry about the mood."

Even though No. 3 hitter Manny Machado's struggles continued Wednesday — he was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts — Trumbo and Davis combined for five RBIs on the night after Davis' two-run homer in the eighth put the Orioles up 9-3.

"Yeah, I think he definitely gave us a jolt," Trumbo said. "It’s reflective in the score, but it’s inspiring to see a guy go up there and get the job done like that."

The Orioles’ nine runs were their most since a 13-11 win May 16 in Detroit.

Jones capped a two-out rally in the fourth - J.J. Hardy doubled and Seth Smith walked - with a three-run homer off Tanaka, his third home run in his past six games, to put the Orioles up 7-1.

Both hits came on first-pitch deliveries from Tanaka. Jones jumped on an 85-mph slider over the heart of the plate and laced it to left-center in the third, then hit a first-pitch sinker located nearly at the same spot for the home run to right-center. Four of Jones’ nine homers have come on the first pitch.

"I mean I think just, sometimes, I do inject some energy in the guys just the way I play and the style," Jones said. "Been out some days, but came back and the guys just fed off the energy. Obviously we feed off the energy of the starting pitcher, and [Kevin] Gausman went out there and worked his tail off. I know he wanted to go out there and go longer, but we appreciate his efforts, and he kept us in the game, and we were able to go out there and put some runs up against Tanaka."

Nine of the Orioles 10 runs on the night - and four of Jones' five RBIs - were driven in with two outs in the inning. 

“I was put in a situation by Seth Smith," Jones said, referring to the table-setting before his homer. "He got a single and then he got a walk to allow me to come up with men in scoring position. So, you eliminate those, I’m not coming up in that situation. So, thank Seth Smith for giving me an opportunity three times actually, the last inning also, he battled and battled and battled with two outs to get me another at-bat. So, it’s just feeding off of the guy in front of you. He had some great at-bats. It was just, like I said, fun having guys on base. That’s where you’re making money.”

Jones’ absence was felt his first two games in Houston, with Joey Rickard the team’s only other option in center field. And Rickard struggled in center, misplaying a first-inning line drive that sailed over his head for a double on Saturday, when failed to come up with a ball cleanly that cost another run.

And offensively, with the Orioles floundering through their worst stretch of the season, Jones’ return to the lineup gave the club an offensive spark. And his aggressiveness at the plate spoke volumes about the need to keep swinging.

Around this time last season, Showalter placed Jones atop the batting order in an effort to inject life into struggling the lineup and to get him going.

After Jones was moved to the leadoff spot May 27 last season, he had a .282 average and a .791 OPS over the next 108 games.

It might have been the best move Showalter made - and undoubtedly the most unconventional - in his lineup all season.

Going into this season, Showalter was determined to drop Jones into a spot where he’s better suited, and heading into this year, there seemed to be better options. He’s settled into the No. 2 hole, and the Orioles are 26-19 in the 45 games in which Jones bats second.

And obviously it was just one game, but there was no question that the lineup lacked life without him in it, and it broke out in his first game back.

The series win was the Orioles' 11th straight against the Yankees at Camden Yards dating to September 2013, and they've won 32 of 47 over that span. 

“We’ve gotten better as a franchise over the last four years," Jones said. "We’ve gotten better against them the last four years and we’ve been a pretty good team over the last five years. Sixth this year.”

Third Orioles Game of 2017

I went to the Orioles-Twins game last night with Mom, Karen and Jocelyn. It started out well but ended badly - very badly. They even balked in a run when Chrichton dropped the ball on the mound. The Orioles ended up loosing 14 - 7 after being up 5 - 0. My record for the year so far - Orioles 2, Opponents 1.

From the Sunpapers
Article by Peter Schmuck, Photos by Patrick Semansky

No Lead Is Safe Enough For The Orioles

The Orioles jumped out to another big lead Monday night, but that has not been a source of great comfort for the team or its fans.

Apparently, it’s a lot easier to get way ahead than to stay there, as starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez proved again after a three-run home run by Adam Jones gave the Orioles a five-run advantage in the second inning of their series opener against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards.

The Twins answered by scoring in each of the next three innings and knocking Jimenez out of the game with a four-run fifth that tied the score and left room to wonder whether any early-inning advantage would be big enough for him.

Then Minnesota scored six runs in the sixth to turn a potential Orioles  blowout into a real embarrassment. By the time it was over, the Twins would win by a football score, 14-7, before what was left of an announced crowd of 12,882.

Lest anyone forget, the Orioles were riding a six-game winning streak two weeks ago when the Washington Nationals rallied with five runs in the final two innings to score a dramatic comeback victory at Nationals Park. Four days later, Kevin Gausman could not hold a 5-0 lead against the Kansas City Royals and two days after that, both Wade Miley and the bullpen allowed big innings to blow a 7-1 lead over the Detroit Tigers in a game the Orioles won in extra innings.

Of course the biggest blowup came in late April, when the Orioles lost a game in New York in which they held a 9-1 lead in the sixth inning.

Still, it probably doesn’t get any worse than this.

Adam’s All Alone

Jones’ towering home run into the left-field bleachers in the second inning was his eighth of the year and his record-breaking 125th home run at Oriole Park.

He tied Rafael Palmeiro for the career lead Sunday. Palmeiro’s total of 124 includes those hit while he was a member of the Texas Rangers, but he reached that number in significantly fewer at-bats than Jones.

Hardy’s Hacking

Shortstop J.J. Hardy came back from most of a day off Sunday to hit safely in each of his first two at-bats.

He singled home the second run of the game in the second inning and bounced a double off third base to lead off the fourth. Manny Machado eventually doubled him home for the Orioles’ sixth run.

Video Follies

Buck Showalter used up his manager’s challenge in a hurry Monday night.

He challenged a fair call on a leadoff double by Brian Dozier after replays seemed to show that the hooking liner down the left-field line landed about an inch foul.

Third base umpire Stu Scheurwater’s call was upheld and Dozier eventually came around to score the Twins’ first run.