Gabe Molina

July 31, 2000: The Orioles traded B.J. Surhoff and Gabe Molina to the Braves for three players.

July 31, 2000: The Orioles traded B.J. Surhoff and Gabe Molina to the Braves for three players.

Rocky Coppinger was back in the Orioles clubhouse yesterday after being recalled from Triple-A Rochester. Unlike his last stop here, when he made two starts and compiled a 13.50 ERA, Coppinger will be used out of the bullpen. Five of his six appearances with the Orioles last season came in relief."I think it will help him because Rocky is a pretty fierce competitor who builds himself up with a lot of emotion," manager Ray Miller said. "When you call him up with all he's been through and say, `You're starting Thursday,' he sits around and puts a lot of undo pressure on himself."

BOSTON - Still searching for some consistency in their bullpen, the Orioles have turned to a 34-year-old pitcher with a World Series ring, experience in a variety of roles and an eagerness to prove he's still got something left. Darren Holmes, acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals' organization for future considerations on Wednesday, never made it to Triple-A Rochester. He joined the Orioles in Boston yesterday, with reliever Gabe Molina being sent down to clear room. This will be Holmes' third team since spring training.

There was a preseason question about the Delmarva Shorebirds, who had a tough act to follow.Could they match their first year, when, as a Montreal Expos affiliate, they went all the way to the South Atlantic League championship series?The question was answered resoundingly. Now aligned with the Orioles, Delmarva went all the way, period. Kingpins of the league."It was kind of unbelievable that so many good things could happen in one season," said general manager Keith Lupton. "We're looking forward to next year, but this is something that will be hard for us to duplicate."

The rotation -- DOWN -- Just when you thought it was safe to watch them for six innings, the Orioles' starters can't hold a lead. They have lost seven of them in the six losses of this road trip, including an 8-1 whopper behind Pat Rapp on Monday in Oakland. The road -- DOWN -- The Orioles were 20-61 (.247) away from Memorial Stadium in 1988. They are an inexplicable 10-30 (.250) on the road this season. Mike Mussina's ERA away is more than three runs higher than at home. The staff ERA is nearly two runs higher.

Scouting report: Twins vs. OriolesAt Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay Time TV StartersTonight 7: 35 13, 50 Joe Mays (5-4, 3.68) vs. Mike Mussina (14-7, 3.62)Tomorrow 7: 35 HTS LaTroy Hawkins (8-9, 6.98) vs. Scott Erickson (8-10, 5.76)Thursday 3: 05 HTS Dan Perkins (1-5, 6.82) vs. Jason Johnson (3-7, 6.69)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Twins updateMinnesota began yesterday in third place in the weak AL Central, winners of two straight and six of 10 but still miles from playoff contention.

Orioles affiliates did not challenge for any league titles this season, but that doesn't mean the farm system had a down year."I think a lot of players made tremendous progress to advance to higher leagues," said Syd Thrift, Orioles director of player development."

Andy Morales flailed his arms, leaping around the bases in celebration of his ninth inning, three-run homer. Danel Castro sprinted out two triples, pumping his fist to the Cuban fans behind the third-base dugout after his first hit.So try telling the Cuban players that last night's 12-6 win over the Orioles was merely an exhibition."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The fractious relationship between the Orioles and pitcher Rocky Coppinger suffered further strain yesterday when the club optioned the right-hander to Double-A Bowie, prompting Coppinger to press the team for a trade."

The rotation -- DOWN -- Just when you thought it was safe to watch them for six innings, the Orioles' starters can't hold a lead. They have lost seven of them in the six losses of this road trip, including an 8-1 whopper behind Pat Rapp on Monday in Oakland. The road -- DOWN -- The Orioles were 20-61 (.247) away from Memorial Stadium in 1988. They are an inexplicable 10-30 (.250) on the road this season. Mike Mussina's ERA away is more than three runs higher than at home. The staff ERA is nearly two runs higher.

Scouting report: Twins vs. OriolesAt Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay Time TV StartersTonight 7: 35 13, 50 Joe Mays (5-4, 3.68) vs. Mike Mussina (14-7, 3.62)Tomorrow 7: 35 HTS LaTroy Hawkins (8-9, 6.98) vs. Scott Erickson (8-10, 5.76)Thursday 3: 05 HTS Dan Perkins (1-5, 6.82) vs. Jason Johnson (3-7, 6.69)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Twins updateMinnesota began yesterday in third place in the weak AL Central, winners of two straight and six of 10 but still miles from playoff contention.

The Orioles search for a reliable closer brought them to rookie Gabe Molina last night. The search continues. Willie Greene crushed a two-run homer off Molina in the ninth inning to carry the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-6 victory over the Orioles before 42,275 at Camden Yards. Molina had struck out Jacob Brumfield to end the eighth inning and strand the tying run at second. He retired Homer Bush to open the ninth and got ahead of Shannon Stewart, 0-2, before allowing a single.

NEW YORK -- Orioles manager Ray Miller held a decidedly one-sided clubhouse meeting before last night's game to address concerns he only touched upon after Thursday's upsetting 8-6 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Perhaps to reinforce the point, the Orioles announced a flurry of moves. They signed veteran reliever Jim Corsi to a minor-league contract hours before placing Ricky Bones on the disabled list due to "arm fatigue" and promoting Gabe Molina from Triple-A Rochester. The meeting did not resemble the April 27 session in which players were asked to provide input.

Rocky Coppinger was back in the Orioles clubhouse yesterday after being recalled from Triple-A Rochester. Unlike his last stop here, when he made two starts and compiled a 13.50 ERA, Coppinger will be used out of the bullpen. Five of his six appearances with the Orioles last season came in relief."I think it will help him because Rocky is a pretty fierce competitor who builds himself up with a lot of emotion," manager Ray Miller said. "When you call him up with all he's been through and say, `You're starting Thursday,' he sits around and puts a lot of undo pressure on himself."

Andy Morales flailed his arms, leaping around the bases in celebration of his ninth inning, three-run homer. Danel Castro sprinted out two triples, pumping his fist to the Cuban fans behind the third-base dugout after his first hit.So try telling the Cuban players that last night's 12-6 win over the Orioles was merely an exhibition."

BOSTON - Still searching for some consistency in their bullpen, the Orioles have turned to a 34-year-old pitcher with a World Series ring, experience in a variety of roles and an eagerness to prove he's still got something left. Darren Holmes, acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals' organization for future considerations on Wednesday, never made it to Triple-A Rochester. He joined the Orioles in Boston yesterday, with reliever Gabe Molina being sent down to clear room. This will be Holmes' third team since spring training.

NEW YORK -- Orioles manager Ray Miller held a decidedly one-sided clubhouse meeting before last night's game to address concerns he only touched upon after Thursday's upsetting 8-6 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Perhaps to reinforce the point, the Orioles announced a flurry of moves. They signed veteran reliever Jim Corsi to a minor-league contract hours before placing Ricky Bones on the disabled list due to "arm fatigue" and promoting Gabe Molina from Triple-A Rochester. The meeting did not resemble the April 27 session in which players were asked to provide input.

The road leading to the top prospects in the Orioles' organization no longer makes a wide detour around Rochester, N.Y., before cutting through the lower levels of the minor-league system. And it no longer is covered with skid marks from all the retreads who traveled to the club's Triple-A affiliate.Five of the Orioles' 10 leading prospects, as chosen last month by Baseball America, are expected to begin the coming season at Rochester. And a sixth, left-hander Matt Riley, could be there by the second half.

Orioles affiliates did not challenge for any league titles this season, but that doesn't mean the farm system had a down year."I think a lot of players made tremendous progress to advance to higher leagues," said Syd Thrift, Orioles director of player development."