SPORTS
By Peter Schmuck and The Baltimore Sun | September 3, 2014
Maybe we've all gotten spoiled by the terrific relief that has been provided by the Orioles bullpen this year, but the past few days have been - to say the least - unsettling. The Orioles won two of the past three games, but the bullpen has faltered in all three, and two of the top relievers in the league struggled in the last two games. It's probably fair to throw out Sunday's game, since it took a three-run meltdown in a tuneup appearance by Ubaldo Jimenez to make things interesting, but Brad Brach had a rare rocky outing that day, too. Monday's loss to the Twins featured an exciting three-run comeback by the O's, which was immediately followed by a defensive breakdown behind starter Kevin Gausman and two quick run-scoring hits off highly reliable left-hander Andrew Miller.
SPORTS
By Dan Connolly and The Baltimore Sun | September 1, 2014
The Orioles would like to have started their final month of the regular season with a better showing instead of missing a chance at a sweep and losing, 6-4, to the inferior Minnesota Twins on Monday afternoon. This club, though, has been about the big picture all season, and that's not going to stop now that September has arrived. The first-place Orioles (79-57) went 3-1 in consecutive four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Twins this past week and hold an 8 1/2-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East.
SPORTS
By Eduardo A. Encina and The Baltimore Sun | August 31, 2014
As the Orioles enter the final month of the regular season, their accomplishments are starting to mount along with their win total. They currently have the second-best record in baseball and a nine-game lead in the American League East division. And as the calendar turns to September, they even can claim a magic number of 19 to clinch their first division title in 17 years. Meanwhile, the Orioles continue to let their bats lead the way, hitting three homers - including a grand slam from shortstop J.J. Hardy that capped a seven-run sixth inning - in a 12-8 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon in front of an announced 40,905 at Camden Yards.
SPORTS
By Eduardo A. Encina and The Baltimore Sun | August 31, 2014
The Orioles will make a number of moves when rosters expand Monday, including recalling at least two pitchers from Triple-A Norfolk. The club is expected to add right-hander Ryan Webb and left-hander Joe Saunders from the Tides to give the team additional bullpen depth. Despite being a key part of the Orioles bullpen all season, Webb was optioned to Norfolk on Aug. 1. He was 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 11 games (11 1/3 innings) at Norfolk. In 42 2/3 innings with the Orioles this year, Webb has a 3-2 record and a 3.80 ERA. Saunders, a former Orioles starter who was signed to a minor league deal Aug. 5, had a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings for Norfolk while working as a multiple-inning reliever.
SPORTS
By Eduardo A. Encina and The Baltimore Sun | August 29, 2014
While Chris Davis' season has been a struggle at the plate, there's no question the Orioles first baseman still can change a game with one swing of his bat. Davis is hitting just .189 this season, but regardless of his place in the club's lineup, he still gets respect at the plate - so much so that opponents recently have chosen to make his teammates beat them rather than keep the bat in Davis' hands. The Minnesota Twins, however, had no choice but to pitch to Davis with the bases loaded in the fourth inning Friday night, and Davis made them pay by crushing a grand slam off Twins right-hander Trevor May, the pivotal blast in a 9-1 drubbing before an announced 27,464 at Camden Yards.
SPORTS
By Jon Meoli and The Baltimore Sun | July 2, 2014
The MLB All-Star Game has typically featured players in normal game uniforms, but this year's game will feature special-edition hats that are, sadly, anything but special for the Orioles. MLB has never been ashamed of charging extra for a traditional hat with a patch on it. This year's players will be given special-edition lids that honor the legacy of the host Twins for the July 15 game and, presumably, give fans a bit more bang for their $36.99. For The Win first reported about the hats and has images of several of them, including the Orioles'.