Baltimore Orioles defeat Boston as injury concerns creep in

The Baltimore Orioles were once again able to defeat Boston this afternoon, this time at Ed Smith Stadium. Andrew Cashner got the start, and was effective – although he didn’t last long in the game. Cashner’s line: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K. Cashner gave up an RBI-double to Lin in the second inning before being lifted, giving Boston a 1-0 lead.

However the bigger news for the Orioles on the day was a few injury situations that are starting to creep up on the Birds. Chris Davis had an MRI on his hip this morning. Manager Brandon Hyde on Davis:


He is feeling better today, but we’re doing a precautionary MRI this morning. We just want to get it looked at. But he did feel better coming in this morning. It sounded like everything was going well.

Quote Courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Then there’s the issue of Mark Trumbo, who’s trying to rebound from surgery back in September. The target was for Trumbo to get into games next week, but Hyde isn’t sure that’s going to happen:


We’ve talked a lot about Mark. I’m not putting any kind of timeline on Mark. I want to do what’s best for Mark. I want Mark to be healthy during the season and not try to force or rush.

For me, opening day is just a number. It’s a real special day. It’s just one of 162, so I’m not trying to cram in his rehab to try to make it on that day. I want to do what’s best for him. And if that means middle of April or May, whatever it is, I want him to be 100 percent and go forward and not be 80 percent and have it nagging throughout the season.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Nate Karns was able to get into this afternoon’s game and pitch a scoreless inning, however the odds of him starting the season in the rotation are going down. The Orioles could extend him in the end of camp, or he might just have to start out in the bullpen – or on the Injured List. Time will tell.

Renato Nunez came up to hit in the last of the fourth and the Birds trailing Boston 1-0, and brought the Orioles even with a solo home run. Two innings later Hanser Alberto‘s RBI-double gave the Birds the lead at 2-1. Tack on Chance Sisco‘s RBI-single, and the Orioles had a 3-1 lead over Boston.

This continues a great spring thus far for Sisco. He’s currently hitting .417 on the spring, which has been a welcome surprise thus far for the Orioles. My personal opinion is that Sisco was already going to be on the roster, however his play this spring has probably cemented that. I suspect he’ll be the starting catcher for the Orioles on Opening Day.

Anthony Santander would add an RBI-double in the seventh, which ended up being semi-big because Boston would tack on a run in the ninth on an error. End of the day, Boston had the tying run at the plate when they made the game’s final out. Those add-on runs late do come in handy, and can often be the difference between winning and losing.

The Birds will have another split squad day tomorrow, with the A team taking on New York at Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow night (the B team will journey to Port Charlotte to take on Tampa in the afternoon). David Hess gets the start for the Orioles, with New York yet to announce a starter as this is being written. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles fall despite finding some Wright things

One of the more unsung stories of camp thus far for the Baltimore Orioles might be Mike Wright Jr. Wright got the start today against Pittsburgh, and turned in another great effort. Wright’s line: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

Mike Wright’s appeared in four games this spring. He’s yet to give up a run, and has seven strikeouts. Needless to say, he’s been pretty darned impressive. However as he said after the game, he’s unsure of which role (reliever or starter) for which he’s auditioning (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

I’m still in the (mode of) whatever role is what it is. Right now I was on four days’ rest, so the fifth day, that’s exciting. But moving forward I’m going to continue doing the same thing I’ve been doing and try to make the team.

Again needless to say, he’s been doing all the right things. Or the Wright things.

The O’s took the lead in the second inning this afternoon on Alcides Escobar‘s RBI-single. One inning later it was 2-0 on an RBI-single by Rio Ruiz. Toss in Steve Wilkerson‘s fifth inning solo homer, and the O’s led 3-0.

However Pittsburgh would put up two solo homers in the fifth, and and two in the seventh. That gave them a 4-3 lead, once again proving the idea that solo homers won’t beat you. The Orioles has to lead the league in defensive games which ended up being losses, highlighted by the opponent’s solo homers last year.

However in this instance it wasn’t truly the solo homers that beat the Orioles. Because the Birds came back and tied the game in the top of the eighth on Anthony Santander‘s RBI-single. So to their credit, they didn’t allow that flurry of solo home runs to beat them.

The walk off home run in the last of the ninth by Tucker did that. Granted, it was a solo homer. However a walk off’s a walk off. It’s a luxury afforded to the home team.

But that doesn’t take away from Mike Wright and his prowess this spring. No runs and seven strike out’s in four appearances is impressive. That said, we’re not quite halfway through camp. He has to keep it up if he wants that roster spot.

The Orioles will return to home play at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota tomorrow as Boston comes to visit for the first time this spring. Andrew Cashner gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Darwinzon Hernandez. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Late rally lifts Birds over Tampa

The Baltimore Orioles made their first visit to Port Charlotte this afternoon to take on the Tampa Rays. John Means got the start for the Birds, and with decent numbers at that. Means’ line: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB. 5 K.

However in Means’ opinion that stat line is deceiving. He said after concluding his day of game work that his last outing was better:


I think I probably felt a little better last outing, actually. This outing is one of those where you see the box score, you see the strikeouts and you think it’s a good outing. I just didn’t really have as much feel for my curveball. I couldn’t really dump that in for a strike, but I still felt good, I still feel strong.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

I’d be careful if I were Means. There are potentially a couple of roster spots on the line, and he turned in a great stat line this afternoon. His “honesty” could be just the thing that plays him out of one of those slots if he isn’t careful!

The scoring in the game didn’t commence until after Means had exited the game. Tampa scored in the last of the fourth on a HBP, a walk with the bases loaded, and an RBI-groundout by Wong. Your typical Tampa ways of scoring against the Orioles. Both in the past and here in spring of 2019.

However the O’s fought back. Anthony Santander smacked a solo homer in the fifth, in a harbinger of what was to come for the O’s. Later in the inning Cedric Mullins would also smack a two-run homer, tying the game at three. Today’s game was very much about power for the Birds.

However two sac fly-RBI in the last of the fifth gave Tampa the lead back. Not only did they get the lead back, but they got a two-run lead back. Which obviously is harder to overcome from the Orioles’ perspective. But…

…the O’s were up to the challenge. The Birds opened up the eighth inning with a single and two walks to load the bases. That brought Yusniel Diaz to the plate, and he smacked a two-RBI double to give the Orioles a 7-5 lead. If the spring that Diaz is having is any indication, the Birds were right to include him in last year’s Machado trade. Diaz is hitting .409 with a homer – pretty good as far as spring stats go. The O’s would tack on two more in the ninth on a two-run homer by Mike Yastremski, and Tampa would score a run in garbage time (in the last of the ninth) on an errant throw on a steal attempt. Ultimately the Birds took this one, 9-6.

The Birds will head to Bradenton tomorrow to take on Pittsburgh. Mike Wright Jr. gets the start for the O’s, with Pittsburgh yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Alex Cobb better in Birds loss

Alex Cobb got the start this afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota against Pittsburgh. Cobb himself showed marked improvement from his last outing, although the O’s fell to Pittsburgh. Cobb’s line: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K.

The lone run Cobb surrendered was on an RBI-double by Frazier in the third inning. Again, this was a much better outing than what he turned in last time out. That should give Orioles fans hope.

Stevie Wilkerson‘s sac fly-RBI in the last of the fourth tied the game at one. Later in the inning Jace Peterson‘s RBI-single gave the O’s the lead at 2-1. However Pittsburgh turned in a big inning in the fifth, and when the smoke cleared they held a 6-2 lead.

In effect, Pittsburgh kept the pressure on the Orioles, which is why they won this afternoon.’a game at Ed Smith Stadium. Most of that cake well after the starters had exited the game. But the Orioles are going to need to stay out of the big inning this year if they’re going to compete.

Alex Cobb said after coming out that he felt better on the mound, which was obvious by the results (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

First time out there it’s really difficult to prepare for. You throw as many bullpens and sim games and whatever, but once you get on the mound the game speeds up on you. I feel like I’m old enough now to where it shouldn’t be speeding up on me, but it did a little bit in that first game. You tend to leave some balls up and over the plate and they get hit.

The Orioles has to scratch Chris Davis from the lineup today, as he apparently strained a hip flexor on Sunday against Detroit. It doesn’t appear to be a serious injury7, but just precautionary to keep him out of the lineup. He could be available for tomorrow’s trip to Port Charlotte to take on the Tampa Rays.

The Orioles will in fact head to Port Charlotte tomorrow to take on Tampa. John Means gets the start for the Birds, and at this moment Tampa is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Dylan Bundy struggles as Birds fly over Minnesota

Dylan Bundy got the start this afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles against Minnesota, and appeared to still need to shake some rust off. Bundy’s line: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 3 K. Bundy did have those three strikeouts which were good, but it seems he needs to focus on keeping guys off base. Bundy on his outing:


Overall pitch-wise, I thought all of my pitches were better today. Now, the location of it, the fastballs weren’t so good to Cron in both at-bats. Just trying to get a fastball down and away for a strike and it was more thigh-high than it was down in the zone. And then trying to go up and in on him and it wasn’t up or in.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

The aforementioned Cron smacked a solo homer in the last of the first. However the Orioles seized the lead in the third inning. Renato Nunez hit a grand slam, giving the Birds a 4-1 lead. Hanser Alberto would add on a sac fly-RBI, and the Birds held a 5-1 lead. Cron would smack a second homer in the last of the third, cutting the Orioles’ lead to 5-3.

Anthony Santander would score on a wild pitch in the last of the eighth to run the score to 6-3. However in garbage time, the top of the ninth, the Birds escalated things a bit further. Martin Cervenka, of the Czech Republic, smacked a three-run homer in the top of the ninth, giving the Birds a 9-3 lead, which after a throwaway homer by Minnesota in the ninth, turned into a 9-4 victory.

David Hess was a huge bright spot for the Orioles today, pitching three full perfect innings – nine up and nine down. Fans shouldn’t worry about Bundy, as he’s going to be on the roster. And he’s going to be ready to go come Opening Day. However Hess didn’t make things easy on the Orioles’ coaches with his outing today. And that’s precisely how they’d like it.

I wouldn’t put too much concern into Bundy at this point. As I’ve said, pitchers can often look to work on certain pitches in these spring outings. That isn’t to say that’s what Bundy was doing today, however it’s something to consider. As I said above, odds are that come the regular season he’s ready to go.

What is promising is that the O’s are adding runs on. That late tack-on run by Santander came on a wild pitch. And when you have traffic on the base paths you can score runs when that happens. Not to mention the three-run homer in the ninth, although I see no scenario in which Cervenka makes the big league team. But if the current team can find ways to tack on runs like that late in games, perhaps we won’t see as many late losses this season.

The Orioles return to Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow as Pittsburgh comes to town. Alex Cobb gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Chris Archer. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles squeak out a win in the eighth after Andrew Cashner’s struggles

Andrew Cashner made his maiden Grapefruit League start of 2019 for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Cashner deposited a few really strong breaking pitches into the strike zone for strikes. However his fastballs also caught a bit too much of the plate. Cashner’s line: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

I wrote several times this past off-season that Cashner should be better this year as opposed to out of the gate last season. He’s getting the benefit of a full slate of spring workouts and games. Point being that Cashner will be able to get his wiggles out in the spring this year, as opposed to in the regular season. Cashner on his outing (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

I thought, you definitely get excited back out, first time out. I thought I spun the ball really well. Something I’ve been working on, more slider strikes instead of balls. Changeup had good depth. I’ve just got to get my four-seam, get more extension.

And that quote illustrates another reason you can’t put too much stock in these spring results. Cashner’s words indicate that he was really working on his sliders this afternoon. (And as I said above, I noticed that his breaking pitches were falling in for strikes.) The pitches that were thrown to certain hitters in certain counts were probably not what we would have seen in a regular season game. Cashner’s a veteran, and in general vets will progress or regress to their career means.

Cashner started out with a hit batsman and a base hit, prompting Goodrum to smack a three-run homer in the first inning. Cashner appeared to settle down, however he did allow one last run before leaving. Dustin Peterson’s RBI-double tan the score to 4-0. However the Birds weren’t about to be shut out early in their home spring yard. Austin Hays‘ solo homer in the last of the third cut the Detroit lead to 4-1.

In fact, the Orioles weren’t about to go down in their home spring yard without a fight. Anthony Santander smacked a three-run homer in the last of the fourth to tie the game at four. However Goodrum haunted the Orioles again an inning later with an RBI-single that gave Detroit the lead back at 5-4. However the Birds came back again, tying the game at five on Joey Rickard‘s seventh inning RBI-single.

At the end of the day however, it was the Orioles who ended up in the sun. They loaded the bases in the last of the eight, and took a 6-5 lead on Drew Jackson‘s sac fly-RBI. TJ Nichting followed suit with an RBI-single, running the final to 7-5. That said, the inning was set up by DJ Stewart‘s very professional at-bar, walking to lead off the inning. And the Birds were able to take advantage of a struggling Detroit reliever, and like a couple of runs on late to win the game. All good signs, even though the ends of these games are featuring mainly minor leaguers (with the exception perhaps of Stewart).

The Orioles head down to Ft. Myers yet again tomorrow to take on Minnesota at CenturyLink Sports Complex. Dylan Bundy gets the start for the O’s, and as this is being written Minnesota is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles manufacture runs and a win behind Mike Wright Jr.

The Baltimore Orioles defeated Boston for the second time in a week this afternoon at JetBlue Lark in Ft. Myers. If Tampa’s had the Orioles’ number thus far, the Birds have had Boston’s. Again, not that it matters. Mike Wright Jr. got the start, and again pitched very well. Wright’s line: 3.0 IP, 3, H, 0 R, 1, BB, 2 K.

Stevie Wilkerson got the Orioles on the board in the top of the second with a two-RBI single. The message of this game once again is to get guys on base and good things will happen. Boston did get a homer in the fourth by Bogaerts, however it was a solo shot.

That 2-1 score held up for awhile, but the O’s broke it open in the fifth when Carlos Perez smacked a two-RBI double. One inning later Richie Martin and Drew Jackson added RBI-singles. And before you knew it the Orioles were piling on.

DJ Stewart would add a two-RBI double in the seventh and Zach Vincej an RBI-single in the ninth, giving the O’s a 9-1 victory. As I alluded above, the O’s haven’t seemingly been hitting as many homers in this spring. And that’s actually being done by design. The power will still be there eventually in some manner. However as I said above, if you get guys on base, good things can happen.

Regarding Mike Wright, you might notice he’s the first Orioles’ starter to go longer than two innings in this camp. Interpret as you wish; Wright’s in the competition to get into the back end of the rotation. Wright on the multiple innings (all quotes courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):

A lot of times I feel better as the game goes on. It was pretty warm, so I was pretty loose, even in the first, and it feels good to go multiple innings and really get out there.

Wright went on about trying to make the team:

I’m trying to make a spot on the team, so I think the intensity is there regardless of who steps up to the plate. And honestly, there’s a lot of guys behind me trying to make the team, too. You saw Richie (Martin), the way he was playing. If I didn’t bring the intensity the way they’re bringing it, it wouldn’t be fair.

It’s good to see Wright bringing that intensity. His focus appears to be on making the team. This as opposed to being in the rotation. However make no mistake, he wants to be a starting pitcher. And to this point, he’s making a great case to have that spot on the roster.

The Orioles return home to Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow afternoon to take on the Detroit Tigers. Andrew Cashner makes his first start of the spring for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Matthew Boyd. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Alex Cobb smacked around in loss to Tampa

Alex Cobb made his maiden start this spring for the Baltimore Orioles, and without much success. Cobb’s line: .02 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Cobb was lifted after only two outs presumably because the coaching staff didn’t want to have him flailing in the wind out there. He finished his work in the bullpen.

Cobb started putting runners on base almost immediately, and gave up an RBI-single to Choi in the first inning. Kiermaier would also plate a run on a fielder’s choice-RBI, which was followed by Heredia’s two-run homer. That chased Cobb from the game, with the Orioles trailing 4-0.

It’s exactly what we saw in this game which is why I personally believe that the O’s will be slightly better out of the gate this year as opposed to last year. Cobb and Andrew Cashner (who we should see this weekend) didn’t sign until late in camp last year. Between the two of them, they had one spring start.

And both pitchers had a poor April. Mainly because they hadn’t had their reps in the spring. This year both will get those reps. Cobb will be able to work out his kinks in Sarasota this year, as opposed to doing so when the games really matter. Cobb on his outing this afternoon:


I felt like some of those balls were over the plate, the first batter,” he said. “They got a little jam job into right field and before I know it I’ve got runners on first and second and got a couple ground balls that I was trying to get and they found holes, and obviously the two-run home run was a big blow.


Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

The Orioles did battle back into the game a bit. In the second Chance Sisco smacked a solo home run, adding to his valiant effort this spring. Eric Young Jr. also smacked an RBI-single. This cut the lead to 4-2. However Heredia would tack on an RBI-single, and Meadows a solo home run , both in the third, running the score to 6-2.

Richie Martin would smack an RBI-double in the last of the fifth, and he would later score on a wild pitch, which cut the Tampa lead to 6-4. Jomar Reyes would walk with the bases loaded in the last of the sixth to pull the Birds to within 6-5. However Tampa would get a two-RBI-double by Velasquez in the eighth, extending the score to 8-5. The final would be 10-5, after Bemboom’s two-run homer in the ninth. In typical Tampa fashion, these guys just don’t quit.

The O’s tagged a few balls deep in the last of the seventh, however they either faded foul or were knocked down by the wind. Sometimes the spring training wind helps you, and sometimes it hurts. Ultimately, the Orioles are still 0-0 for 2019 regardless of whether they win or lose these games.

The Orioles’ “B squad” will head to George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa this evening to take on the New York Yankees. John Means gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by NY’s James Paxton. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles play Philadelphia to a tie

The Baltimore Orioles headed north to Clearwater for the first time this spring to take on Philadelphia. Dylan Bundy got his first start of the spring, and he put up some halfway decent results. Bundy’s line: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K.

The four hits over two innings might be a bit concerning, but you have to remember that this was Bundy’s first start of the spring. However the Orioles (and Bundy) were able to minimize the damage, which in my view is as big a deal as anything else. Pitchers are going to get themselves in trouble. The good ones will find ways out of it. Bundy addressed the hits he surrendered following the game:


You don’t want that to happen during the season, so yeah, get them out of the way when you can.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Joey Rickart scored on a fielder’s choice in the second inning, which gave the Birds an early lead. Austin Wynns would add a sac fly-RBI later in the inning, and the Orioles handed Bundy a 2-0 lead. However Bundy’s one surrendered run came on the heels of this, and on a sac fly-RBI by Listi. Again, you get guys on base and things can happen.

However the Orioles weren’t about to be outdone. Alcides Escobar added an RBI-single in the third. The teams would swap runs in that third with Gosselin’s RBI-double in the last of the inning. However Yusniel Diaz’s RBI-double in the fifth would extend their lead to 4-2. A moment later Rickart would add an RBI-single, giving the O’s a 5-2 lead.

Unfortunately for the Orioles, this will go down as another spring game blown by the bullpen. Hall’s two-run homer in the last of the ninth tied the game at 5. And that’s how it ended. So not a loss, but certainly not a win.

The O’s will be in a split squad situation tomorrow, with game one at Ed Smith Stadium against Tampa. Alex Cobb gets the start for the O’s (his maiden voyage of the spring), and Tampa is yet to name a starter. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Chance Sisco with two homers in Birds’ victory over Boston

The Baltimore Orioles this afternoon went down to JetBlue Park, otherwise known as Fenway South, and defeated the World Champion Boston Red Sox. Relax folks, it’s still only spring training. But behind a solid effort by started Gabriel Ynoa, the O’s prevailed. Ynoa’s line: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K.

The lone run that Ynoa surrendered was a lead off homer by Bradley Jr. However he immediately settled down over the course of his two innings. I would remind folks that solo home runs aren’t going to hurt you. Especially when they occur in the lead off spot of the game.

The Orioles however immediately started to battle. Chance Sisco smacked a long two-run homer to center in the top of the second, giving the Birds a 2-1 lead. Two innings later Sisco came up to bat again. And the result was exactly the same – a two-run homer to center. Through five games, Sisco now has three home runs. My personal opinion is that Sisco’s spot on the roster was always going to be fairly safe. But he’s doing everything he can to make it tough for them to send him down.

But Boston aren’t the defending champions for nothing. These guys are pretty good – especially in their (spring) home yard. Chavis smacked a three-run homer, tying the game at three. Last year, that would have been a death blow for the Orioles. Boston would have had the momentum, and it would have been a foregone conclusion that Boston would have at some point taken the lead.

Only that didn’t happen. At the end of the day, it was the Orioles who rallied. Richie Martin smacked a two-RBI double in the fifth, giving the Birds the lead back at 6-4. Just to show that he wasn’t kidding with the two homers, Sisco added an RBI-single in that fifth inning as well, running the Orioles’ lead to 7-4. Boston would get back-to-back RBI-doubles in the last of the ninth to run the final to 7-6.

You really have to hand it to Sisco; he’s hit very well thus far this spring. The Orioles also got another superb outing out of Branden Kline, who struck out the side to end the game in the ninth inning on Sunday against Chicago. Kline pitched the sixth inning, walked one hitter and struck out two. Is Klein making a play to perhaps be in the bullpen once camp breaks? Time will tell. If he continues to play well he might be tough to keep in the minors.

This victory runs the Orioles’ spring record to 3-2. Again however, keeping tabs on wins and losses in spring training is like being convicted in a kangaroo court. The takeaway today was Chance Sisco. His homers were timely, they showed his power, and had this been a real game they would have won the game for the Birds.

The Orioles remain on the road tomorrow and head up to Clearwater to take on Philadelphia at Spectrum Field. Dylan Bundy will make his maiden start this spring for the O’s, and Philadelphia is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.