Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Orioles get to Ervin Santana in his return

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July 4

Los Angeles Times

"Ervin Santana's mandate Friday night was straightforward in the eyes of Angels Manager Mike Scioscia. "We want him to go as hard as he can for as long as he can," Scioscia said ahead of Santana's first start -- against the Baltimore Orioles -- since the right-handed pitcher came off the disabled list. Unfortunately for Santana and the Angels, it wasn't as long as they had hoped. Led by Aubrey Huff's three-run home run in the third inning, Baltimore pummeled Santana for six runs in five innings on its way to a 6-4 win at Angel Stadium. Baltimore starter David Hernandez (2-2) largely handcuffed the Angels' hitters in 6 2/3 innings to earn the win. Combined with the Texas Rangers' win Friday, ..."

Bobby Abreu homers twice in Angels' victory

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July 4

Los Angeles Times

"Bobby Abreu is not a home run hitter and John Lackey is not an overpowering pitcher. That's the Angels' story and they're sticking to it. But just try convincing the Baltimore Orioles, who watched Abreu drive in four runs with a pair of homers and saw Lackey scatter four hits over eight innings to lift the Angels to a 5-2 victory Thursday at Angel Stadium. "You know what kind of player you are," Abreu said. "My game is a line-drive hitter. I don't really try to hit homers. But whenever they come, very well." They came in consecutive at-bats Thursday, giving Abreu 31 RBIs in his last 30 games. And that proved to be more than enough support for Lackey, who relied heavily on his fastball to ..."

Bobby Abreu homers twice in Angels' victory Bobby Abreu homers twice in Angels' victory

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July 3

Los Angeles Times

"Bobby Abreu is not a home run hitter and John Lackey is not an overpowering pitcher. That's the Angels' story and they're sticking to it. But just try convincing the Baltimore Orioles, who watched Abreu drive in four runs with a pair of homers and saw Lackey scatter four hits over eight innings to lift the Angels to a 5-2 victory Thursday at Angel Stadium. "You know what kind of player you are," Abreu said. "My game is a line-drive hitter. I don't really try to hit homers. But whenever they come, very well." They came in consecutive at-bats Thursday, giving Abreu 31 RBIs in his last 30 games. And that proved to be more than enough support for Lackey, who relied heavily on his fastball to ..."

Red Sox turn tables on O's

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July 2

Minneapolis Star Tribune

"The momentum from Tuesday's improbable Baltimore Orioles comeback undoubtedly had legs for most of Wednesday afternoon. Key hits were falling in, Boston's ace was falling apart and Orioles rookie pitching sensation Brad Bergesen was mowing down Red Sox hitters. But just when it was reasonable to believe the plucky Orioles had stolen two of three from the mighty Red Sox, the home team re-gifted Tuesday's historic victory, presenting it back to Boston in the form of a four-run ninth inning collapse and a 6-5 Red Sox victory in 11 innings. "We had them on the ropes," said Baltimore reliever Jim Johnson, who gave up a two-run homer to Kevin Youkilis to ignite Boston's ninth-inning rally. "The ..."

Bay bloodied (a cut) and battered (5 whiffs)

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July 2

Boston Globe

"Jason Bay took his hand from the side of his face and his fingers were covered in blood. He looked, confused for a second, then located a cut in his left ear. No, it wasn't the five strikeouts that left him battered and bloody, but it certainly didn't help. "I strike out a lot,'' said Bay, who has a team-high 76 this season. "Five times in a game is a first for me, but a win's a win. "Every time you open up the paper and have the box scores from the day before, every time you see one of those, I usually feel the guy's pain. This one's for myself.'' Bay has watched his slump deepen by the day. Bay was 0 for 15 in the Baltimore series and is now 2 for 30 over the last seven games with 14 ..."

Papelbon adds to savings account

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July 2

Boston Globe

"Jonathan Papelbon, off the top of his head, doesn't know the precise contents of the trophy case he keeps at home. The case displays the baseballs he used to notch milestones, the tokens of his increasingly historic career. He does not know how many. "I got a bunch of them, man,'' Papelbon said. Papelbon tossed two more balls into his suitcase, the one he carries on to the Red Sox team charter, because he wanted to make certain they arrive safely in Boston. The balls will move into his case alongside the others, the most recent earned yesterday in a thrilling 6-5 win. With a perfect 11th inning, Papelbon redeemed his second blown save of the season Tuesday and, two games after tying him, ..."

Cruel twist

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July 2

Boston Globe

"The word came up again and again: character. Jason Varitek and Josh Beckett both used it, describing the way the Red Sox had come back yesterday, the way they had not given up, the way working a walk had led to a home run, and the way it had spiraled from there. Like the night before, only this time spiraling the Sox' way, yet in a way they couldn't have expected. "That was a good character win for us,'' Beckett said. "I wish I could say I had a lot to do with it.'' "It was a big character win for us,'' Varitek echoed. Beckett had a lot to do with putting the Sox in the position they found themselves heading into the ninth inning. One day after the team had left shards of dignity on the ..."

Red Sox come back to life

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July 2

Boston Herald

"Turnabout being fair play and all, it was the Red Sox' time to bask in the glory of a comeback win Wednesday, staged less than 18 hours after a soul-crushing loss in which they spit up a nine-run lead with nine outs to go. "Obviously, we thought we should have won (Tuesday) night's game," said Rocco Baldelli, who helped key the 6-5 comeback victory against the Baltimore Orioles in 11 innings with a two-out, two-run, game-tying, pinch-hit single in the ninth. "They obviously are in their clubhouse thinking they should have won this game. It was nice to come back and get that one." Said manager Terry Francona: "I guess, at the end of the year, they sort of seem like they even out - and they ..."

Jason Bay hits slump

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July 2

Boston Herald

"A month shy of the one-year anniversary of his arrival in Boston, Jason Bay finds himself in the midst of his first actual slump as a member of the Red Sox. Bay set a career high with five strikeouts yesterday, leaving him 0-for-15 with nine strikeouts for the series and capping a forgettable three-city road trip that saw him go 6-for-36, dropping his average to .262 - the lowest since the fourth game of the season, when he was at .250. "It's not that I'm getting pitched any different or any tougher," said Bay. "I'm completely getting myself out now. Timing-wise, I'm kind of in between - I can't hit the fastball, can't hit the breaking ball. It's just one of those situations where ..."

O's come from 9 down to beat Boston

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July 2

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Nick Markakis hit a two-run double off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon to complete the biggest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history in an 11-10 win last night before a mix of delirious hometown fans and stunned Red Sox backers. Baltimore trailed, 10-1, before scoring five runs in the seventh inning and five more in the eighth. Boston had defeated the Orioles eight straight times, including five this season. Up by nine runs in the seventh, the Red Sox probably figured the only lamentable aspect of the night was that John Smoltz would not get his long-awaited"

As precaution, O's sit Jones in finale

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July 1

MLB.com

"Manager Dave Trembley announced on Wednesday that outfielder Adam Jones would not be in the starting lineup for the Orioles' series finale against the Red Sox.Trembley said Jones' right side is sore where he ran into the fence during Tuesday's game, and the manager "didn't want to take a chance putting him out there." The skipper said he expects Jones will be fine to return to the lineup for the O's game on Thursday against the Angels."I was going to play Jones," Trembley said, "but his side is sore where he ran into the fence. I'm hoping he'll be fine for tomorrow. I think he's fine with his headaches, and they didn't do any CT scans or anything. He's OK there, but his side's a little ..."

Koji out up to eight weeks

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July 1

Baltimore Sun

"It seemed ominous this week when the Orioles medical staff decided to have Japanese pitcher Koji Uehara undergo an arthrogram on his sore right elbow, and now we know why. The results came back and Uehara is suffering from a partially torn flexor tendon. He'll be shut down for up to five weeks, then embark on a throwing program that could extend his absense up to eight weeks or more. It's probably not out of the question that his season is over. "Koji is going to be out for awhile,'' said manager Dave Trembley. "He has a partial tear in his elbow and will rest for three to five weeks. Surgery is not required...It could be seven or eight weeks before he's in a game again. He's going to get ..."

Working the sell phones

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July 1

MLB.com

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"Indians GM Mark Shapiro has seen this movie before and might be directing it again. The struggling Tribe already shipped out useful vet DeRosa and rumors abound that Shapiro might say goodbye to pitchers Carl Pavano and Kerry Wood and possibly even slugging catcher Victor Martinez if the price is right. The Orioles could dangle Aubrey Huff, Ty Wigginton or Luke Scott, the Pirates and Nationals already have shown a willingness to part with a good portion of their players, the Royals could make available a host of position players and pitchers, the Padres might offer a little hitting (Scott Hairston) while the D-backs could deal pitching (Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Chad Qualls) to the right ..."

Jones exits early after running into wall

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July 1

MLB.com

"Adam Jones saw his athleticism work against him on Tuesday night, when he ran full-tilt attempting to chase down Kevin Youkilis' home run ball in the first inning and leapt at the wall, but the ball eluded his grasp and the impact knocked the wind out of him. Jones stayed in for the second inning before being pulled for precautionary reasons with the Red Sox leading, 4-0. The Orioles replaced him with Felix Pie, who almost immediately made an impact by getting Baltimore on the board with an RBI triple in the bottom of the third. Jones had made a similar play on Monday night, but that time he stole a homer from Youkilis. But Youkilis and the wall got their revenge on Tuesday. Boston's third ..."

Decisions, decisions: Who will be O's All-Star?

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July 1

Baltimore Sun

"Major League Baseball's All-Star rosters will be announced Sunday, and the Orioles are still uncertain about who will represent them. "I'd hate to be the person that has to pick," Orioles infielder Ty Wigginton said. Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon, the American League squad's manager, likely will choose between Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (.306 average, 14 homers) and closer George Sherrill (2.05 ERA, 16 saves), who was the club's lone All-Star in 2008. Setup man Jim Johnson (3-3, 2.39 ERA) and right fielder Nick Markakis (.298 average, 48 RBIs) are long-shot candidates to be in St. Louis on July 14. "I think there are a couple guys who get consideration," said Orioles manager ..."

Old bawl game

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July 1

Boston Globe

"By the time Jonathan Papelbon jogged in from the bullpen, the Red Sox celebratory mood had withered. Where once they were mocking each other for leaving the field with just two outs on the scoreboard, now there was tension on the field and in the dugout. The rain had ruined everything. John Smoltz had been proving himself worthy of a spot in the rotation, a bounce-back from his nerve-filled return to baseball. But 1 hour and 11 minutes of precipitation had forced him out of the game, replaced by a series of arms that could do no right. Justin Masterson tried. Manny Delcarmen tried. Hideki Okajima tried. Takashi Saito tried. And so, with five outs to go in a game that had once had a ..."

Red Sox leveled by Orioles' rally

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July 1

Boston Herald

"The first clue that things were about to go horribly wrong for the Red Sox last night came at the end of the sixth inning, as the entire infield trotted back to the third-base dugout after Felix Pie grounded out. Small problem: There were only two out. But second baseman Dustin Pedroia led the charge to the dugout, and everyone else followed, and an instant YouTube classic was born. It was one of those plays that, on another night, in a different situation, might have made for wonderful postgame banter. But in dropping an 11-10 decision to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, the Red Sox suffered what may well be the worst loss of the Terry Francona era. There they were, leading 10-1, ..."

Red Sox 'pen explodes

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July 1

Boston Herald

"First came the rain. Then came the deluge - one Baltimore runner crossing home plate after another. And when it was over, the Red Sox had suffered their most demoralizing loss of the season. Leading by nine with nine outs to go, the Sox gave up 10 runs on 13 hits in the seventh and eighth innings and dropped an 11-10 decision to the Orioles. "We pretty much imploded," said Jonathan Papelbon [stats], who yielded the game-winning, two-run double to Nick Markakis in the eighth that gave the O's their first lead of the night and their first win in six tries against the Sox this season. "I can't think of any better word to use; it's just what happened." "We just had no answer," manager Terry ..."

Orioles' Historic Rally Stuns Red Sox

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July 1

Washington Post

"Nick Markakis hit a two-run double off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon to complete the biggest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history, an 11-10 win Tuesday night before a mixture of delirious hometown fans and stunned Red Sox backers. Baltimore trailed 10-1 before scoring five runs in the seventh inning and five more in the eighth. The rally was even more shocking because it came against a Boston team that had defeated the Orioles eight straight times, including five this season. Up by nine runs in the seventh, the Red Sox figured the only lamentable aspect of the night was that John Smoltz wouldn't get his long-awaited 211th victory because of a lengthy rain delay. Boston had no idea ..."

Orioles Still Can't Solve The Mystery of Lester

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June 30

Washington Post

"The frustration set in long before the bottom of the sixth inning on Monday when both Manager Dave Trembley and second baseman Brian Roberts took turns yelling at home plate umpire Jerry Layne from the top step of the Baltimore Orioles' dugout. The outbursts were likely triggered by far more than just Layne's called third strike on Roberts that ended the fifth inning and the Orioles' lone threat against Boston Red Sox starter Jon Lester. There was the 14 Red Sox base runners through six innings, each one loudly cheered in the Orioles' home ballpark. There was Boston right fielder J.D. Drew's bid at the cycle, which came up just a double short on the two-year anniversary of Aubrey Huff ..."

Lefty shows he's no slow starter

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June 30

Boston Globe

"Jon Lester still can't figure out why, exactly, he started this season as a mediocre pitcher. He threw great in spring training. His preparation never changed. He didn't tinker with his mechanics. "I don't know what to do different,'' Lester said. That, after Lester's performance in a 4-0 Red Sox victory last night at Camden Yards, is a problem for another day. Why bother dissecting the past when you can savor the present? Lester finished up a sterling June with seven shutout innings and eight strikeouts, further extricating himself from his slow start and further validating himself as one of baseball's best pitchers. "I've always kind of been in my career a slow starter,'' Lester said. ..."

Everything is in good order for Red Sox

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June 30

Boston Globe

"When J.D. Drew stepped to the plate in the eighth inning, with Jason Varitek standing on second base and the day yielding to darkness, a feat lay before him, in the gaps and down the lines. Despite his best intentions - and you better believe he was trying to hit a double to complete his first career cycle - Drew bounced a changeup to Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. Drew had already collected a triple, home run, and single. As he faced reliever Brian Bass, that double was on his mind. Why wouldn't it be? "Absolutely,'' Drew said, his dry sense of humor awakened. "Not a player alive wouldn't know that he was ready to hit a double in that situation. Had a ball down and away, swung ..."

Victory restores order

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June 30

Boston Herald

"Mark Kotsay, lounging on a couch in the Oriole Park visiting clubhouse last night after the Red Sox' 4-0 shutout of Baltimore, couldn't resist the chance to tweak Terry Francona. "What's so hard about being a manager?" he wondered aloud, a sly smile across his face. Indeed, last night the Red Sox made the job look easy. After Francona reshuffled the top of the lineup - installing J.D. Drew in the leadoff spot and dropping Dustin Pedroia back down to his customary No. 2 spot - the offense responded quickly. Drew tripled to lead off the game and scored on Pedroia's RBI single to center for the first run of the night. Three innings later, Drew blasted a two-run homer en route to a three-hit ..."

Which Oriole finishes highest in AL Rookie of the Year voting?

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June 29

Baltimore Sun

"I had a great weekend, or at least an incredibly strong Saturday. Went to my favorite annual book sale on Saturday afternoon and picked up about 30 titles for roughly $40. Nice haul. I got some novels I had been eyeing and a few sports books, including compilations by Red Smith and Shirley Povich. Then, in the evening, my wife and several of my journalism buddies saw my favorite band, the Old 97s, at the Recher Theatre. Love those guys (the Old 97s, not my journalism buddies). Sunday, though, it was back to work at the old ballpark. And let's just say my Saturday was a whole lot better than Orioles catcher Matt Wieters' Sunday. The phenom went hitless in three at-bats, made his third ..."

Notes From Camden

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June 29

Washington Post

"Just a few pre-game notes here... * Here is what Manny Acta said about today's batting order: "We're just trying to deepen our lineup a little more. Willie [Harris] is swinging the bat well, getting on base, and our offense is scuffling a little bit. So we're just trying to make our lineup deeper and have as many guys in front of [Ryan] Zimmerman and [Adam] Dunn as possible." One fun fact about Zimmerman, the No. 4 hitter. He last batted fourth on Oct. 1, 2006, Frank Robinson's final game as manager. (That year, Zimmerman also batted leadoff 15 times.) And get this -- until today, Manny Acta had included Zimmerman's name as a starter on the lineup card 339 times. Every time, Zimmerman ..."

Harris Shines in Lead Role

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June 29

Washington Post

"With his first at-bat still 2 1/2 hours away, Willie Harris sat down in front of a laptop Sunday morning and searched for a way -- even a fractional one -- to boost his odds. For 10 minutes in the visitors' clubhouse, he watched video footage of Baltimore's rookie starter, David Hernandez. Maybe the visual study would help, Harris said. Maybe not. Oftentimes, preparation yields no immediate payoff. Baseball has too many coin-flip variables to obey any grand design. Still, every so often, the odds tilt just right -- as they did Sunday afternoon in the Washington Nationals' 5-3 victory over the Orioles at Camden Yards. A new lineup begat a new leadoff hitter in Harris, whose patient ..."

What a relief...so far

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June 28

Baltimore Sun

"Impressive relief effort by right-hander Matt Albers, who came in after Brian Bass loaded the bases with no one out in the sixth and got out of the jam clean with a pair of ground balls -- the second getting a huge inning-ending double play. Then came Jim Johnson, who pitched two scoreless innings to hand the game over to closer George Sherrill in the ninth. The infield has played very well in the late innings tonight, enough so that Guthrie and Bass should take the whole group -- especially Robert Andino -- out for brunch before tomorrow's game."

Guthrie gassed...gone

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June 28

Baltimore Sun

"Jeremy Guthrie spun out of control in the first inning, but -- amazingly -- is in the dugout right now with a chance to get the win. He walked in two runs in the first, before working out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam, but ran his pitch count so high that Dave Trembley pulled him after the fifth inning. Nolan Reimold's three-run homer in the fifth brought the Orioles from behind, prompting Trembley to yank Guthrie after 95 pitches. Don't know what went on in the dugout between innings, but it seemed like a pretty quick hook. Guthrie created the pitch-count problem and, in this case, I think he should have been left out there at least one more inning."

Reimold's blast lifts Orioles over Nats

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June 28

Baltimore Sun

"The night started with boos raining down on Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie. It ended with the Orioles putting on a power and defensive display that allowed Guthrie to get the win. Rookie outfielder Nolan Reimold hit a go-ahead three-run shot in the fifth inning, one of three Orioles home runs on the night. The bullpen then turned in four scoreless innings in the Orioles' 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in front of an announced 39,633 at Camden Yards. The Orioles (34-40) improved to 4-1 against the Nationals this season and will go for the series sweep this afternoon, looking to replicate a defensive effort that kept them in the game long enough for the offense to take over. The ..."

Orioles' young players show their supremacy

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June 28

Washington Times

"The problems that beset the Washington Nationals on Saturday night were mostly the problems that have beset them all year - a starting pitcher learning on the job, an offense that leaves runners on base too often and a bullpen that seemingly gives up one run too many on a good night. The Baltimore Orioles don't have those issues to the same degree, which is why they are a few steps ahead of the Nationals in their sort-of rivalry. Saturday night's 6-3 Baltimore victory was the latest example of that. The home run that Josh Willingham never saw was merely the difference in a game the Orioles commanded because they didn't fall into the same traps as the Nationals. Baltimore's win clinched ..."

Orioles Rally to Drop Nationals

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June 28

Washington Post

"Situational hitting is the blanket term used to describe what plagued the Washington Nationals on Saturday night. How does one identify poor situational hitting? Try finding a game where a single team grounds into four double plays, or goes 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, or twice loads the bases with no outs and comes away with a combined two runs. But sometimes, as in the case of a 6-3 loss against Baltimore at Camden Yards, poor situational hitting is the side-effect of a more widespread ailment. Sometimes, poor situational hitting is merely the result of poor hitters. And how does one identify poor hitters? Try finding a right fielder who has almost 100 plate appearances ..."

Hobbled Uehara will miss Sunday start

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June 27

Baltimore Sun

"Orioles right-hander Koji Uehara said Friday night that he definitely will miss his next start but is unsure whether he will be placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time in a month. Examined by team doctor John Wilckens on Friday, Uehara said his right elbow is still in pain and so he will not pitch Sunday against the Washington Nationals. An MRI has not yet been scheduled. "I'd have to say I am really frustrated," Uehara said through his interpreter, Jiwon Bang. When asked whether he would prefer to stay off the disabled list, he said: "It's not up to me, so I can't really decide." An hour before Friday's game, Orioles manager Dave Trembley met with Wilckens and athletic ..."

Olsen May Rejoin the Rotation Next Week

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June 27

Washington Post

"Although there is no firm timetable for his return, Scott Olsen is likely to rejoin the starting rotation when the Washington Nationals travel to face the Florida Marlins for a three-game series early next week. "It hasn't been finalized yet," Manager Manny Acta said before the Nationals' game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, "but that's the thought process now." Olsen, who was acquired from the Marlins in a trade this offseason, has pitched three rehabilitation assignments with Class AAA Syracuse. He threw 12 2/3 innings for Syracuse, finishing with a 5.68 ERA. In his last start with the team, Olsen allowed two runs on six hits over eight innings. Olsen (1-4) made eight starts ..."

Orioles' Bats Hurt The Nats

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June 27

Washington Post

"On Friday night, a video screen at Camden Yards showed the Baltimore Orioles' mascot running around downtown Washington. In the video, the outsize oriole turned a District resident into an Orioles fan by giving him a jersey and also placed a Baltimore cap on the head of Abraham Lincoln at his memorial. It was insult to injury. The Washington Nationals played inept baseball -- unable to hit, unable to field and unable to save themselves with a bullpen that has regressed -- falling to the Orioles, 11-1, before 45,024 at Camden Yards. Manager Manny Acta summed up the night in a sentence: "They just beat us across the board." The Nationals (21-50) struck out eight times. Starter Ross Detwiler ..."

Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins slam Baltimore Orioles

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June 26

Palm Beach Post

"Hanley Ramirez took a well-deserved curtain call Thursday night. Cody Ross and Dan Uggla each drilled two-run home runs in Florida's 11-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles, which moved the Marlins to within one game of the first-place Phillies in the National League East. But it was Ramirez who delivered the knockout punch. With two outs in the eighth inning, he drilled a 1-2 pitch over the left-field scoreboard for his third grand slam of the year and his second slam in three games. "It feels good when you see those fans cheering for you and the whole team. It's a different feeling," Ramirez said after he acknowledged a long ovation from 12,822. Ramirez, who also hit a grand slam Tuesday, ..."

Online balloting to decide '09 All-Stars

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June 26

MLB.com

"We, the people, are deciding who goes to the 80th All-Star Game July 14 in St. Louis.We are ready for the mad rush.We are entering that Validation Key over and over, submitting our 25 allotted votes in the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com.We punched those Walt Disney Pictures G-Force All-Star Game paper ballots and left those little chads all over ballparks, and now those last paper ballots are being collected tonight at Pittsburgh and Houston as it goes online-only for the homestretch.We know it's the final week to decide starters. Our deadline as empowered fans is 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, and we know that only because we have been staring at this javascript voting app ..."

Mother's Day bats now up for auction

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June 26

MLB.com

"It has been a big first half of baseball for current American League All-Star first baseman vote front-runner Mark Teixeira, and that included that memorable Mother's Day game back in his hometown of Baltimore, where he crushed a two-run homer for the Yankees.He was swinging a pink bat."It's obviously huge -- I think that's the first home run I've hit with a pink bat, so I'm going to go bring that to Mom right now," Teixeira said on May 9, referring to Margy, a breast cancer survivor who had been diagnosed when he was a freshman at Baltimore's St. Joseph's High School. "As soon as I hit it, I thought about it. It's pretty special to me."Margy may have gotten that pink bat, but another one ..."

Florida Marlins make show of power, sweep Baltimore Orioles

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June 26

Miami Herald

"Fredi Gonzalez didn't have to worry about making any tough, late-game decisions. And his tired and beat-up bullpen didn't have to deal with any extra stress Thursday night. Behind six strong innings from rookie Sean West and a pair of two-run homers from Cody Ross and Dan Uggla, the Marlins delivered all the thrills early -- and late -- as they continued their red-hot run in June by wrapping up a three-game sweep of the Orioles with an 11-3 victory in front of 12,822 at Land Shark Stadium. ''It was just a great series for us all around -- pitching, defense, hitting,'' said Ross, who was watching the TV in the clubhouse as the Marlins closed to a game behind the Phillies for first place in ..."

West keeps rotation in sync

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June 26

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Starting something: Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! starters, most recently Sean West (six shutout innings of four-hit ball), have been outstanding lately. Over the current five-game winning streak, the rotation went 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA, nine walks and 22 strikeouts in 33 innings. RBI man: Hanley Ramirez's five-RBI effort gave him 11 in the series and 13 over his past four games. He also scored three times, putting him on pace for a 100-run, 102-RBI season. Leaning left: The Marlins torched left-hander Rich Hill for six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. They have won 10 of their past 13 and 18 of 26 against left-handed starters. First timer: Right-hander Tim Wood finally made his ..."

Marlins complete sweep of Orioles

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June 26

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"From two lockers away Jorge Cantu gave Hanley Ramirez the playful stink eye after Thursday's 11-3, series-sweeping win over the Orioles. Ramirez, who hits a spot ahead of Cantu, drove in five runs, four coming on his second grand slam in three games. Not a lot left for Cantu to mop up. "Greedy," Cantu joked. Behind Ramirez (3 for 5) and two-run homers from Cody Ross and Dan Uggla, the Marlins punished the Orioles with 17 hits to complete a 5-1 homestand. The current five-game winning streak is the longest since the Marlins strung together seven in a row from April 12-19. Ramirez and Ross each have three grand slams, tying the single-season franchise record they share with Bobby Bonilla ..."

Orioles' Offense Proves Lifeless Against Marlins

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June 26

Washington Post

"A road trip that started with so much promise ended Thursday night with another lifeless display by the Baltimore Orioles, who looked as if they couldn't get out of Land Shark Stadium soon enough. The Florida Marlins' 11-3 victory in front of an announced 12,822 secured a dominating series sweep and completely eradicated any lingering momentum that the Orioles had built in their run over the Philadelphia Phillies to start the trip. The Orioles (32-40) are 5-16 against the Marlins and 1-11 at what was formerly know as Dolphin Stadium. Against the Phillies last weekend, the Orioles got quality starting pitching, key hits and solid defense. None of those were consistently present here as ..."

Fixing Florida

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June 25

ESPN.com

"The Florida Marlins' bullpen is in tatters, in the aftermath of word that Matt Lindstrom may not pitch for many weeks, to go along with injuries to Leo Nunez and Kiko Calero. Sources say that right now, Florida's top priority is to add a proven reliever, and given that most of the bodies lost by the Marlins this season have been right-handers, adding someone like a LaTroy Hawkins or Danys Baez would make some sense. They also will consider Luis Ayala, whom the Twins cut loose and is reportedly being considered by the Pirates. The Marlins' need is acute, and the timing is right: Ricky Nolasco is on a roll right now, and the Marlins moved above .500 for the first time in more than six weeks ..."

Orioles badly mistaken in loss to Marlins

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June 25

Baltimore Sun

"There was Felix Pie's botched stolen-base attempt and Melvin Mora's throwing error in the first inning. There were a slew of ill-advised swings at pitches out of the strike zone and an overall lack of offensive execution, highlighted by Robert Andino's failure to get down a bunt in a one-run game in the top of the seventh. However, the Orioles saved their most egregious error for the bottom of the seventh, when they fell asleep and allowed the Florida Marlins' Emilio Bonifacio to steal second and score on catcher Matt Wieters' throw into center field. After making all the plays and finding wins to win the first three games on this road trip, the Orioles have reverted to their old ways at ..."

10 most likely to be traded - Infielders

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June 25

NBC Sports

"Mark DeRosa (Indians) - With Grady Sizemore back, the Indians aren't likely to sell just yet. Still, at least as big of a problem as being 10 games behind is that they have four teams ahead of them in the AL Central. DeRosa has been talked about as trade bait for close to two months now, and the Indians have soured on him as a third baseman after originally acquiring him to play the position. Given that he's on pace for about 30 homers and 110 RBI, it shouldn't be a problem getting more for him in trade than they would by letting him walk for draft picks at season's end. Garrett Atkins (Rockies) - It certainly doesn't bode well for Atkins' future in Colorado that he's been given a total of ..."

Nolasco lifts Marlins over Orioles

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June 25

Miami Herald

"As Ricky Nolasco goes, so go the Marlins. Or is it merely a coincidence that the Marlins are beginning to turn around their season at the same time Nolasco is turning around his? This much is starting to appear certain: ''We're seeing the Nolasco that we saw last year, the pitcher who won 15 games for us,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said after the Marlins defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 for their fourth consecutive win. Wednesday's victory put the Marlins over .500 for the first time since May 12 while pulling them within two games of first-place Philadelphia in the National League East. It was exactly two weeks ago that the Marlins trailed by eight games. And it was one day after that, ..."

Ramirez, Ross lead Marlins over Orioles 5-2

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June 25

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"It was a lesson Emilio Bonifacio learned from fellow Dominican infielder Jose Offerman, a 15-year veteran and two-time All-Star. Bonifacio applied it in the seventh inning Wednesday to help the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! beat the Orioles 5-2 and get back over the .500 mark for the first time since May 12. His team up a run, Bonifacio reached on a two-out infield hit, stole second and advanced to third when Matt Wieters' throw sailed wide and into center. Felix Pie took his time throwing in the ball, prompting Bonifacio to dart for the plate. Manager Fredi Gonzalez called it "pure baseball aggressiveness." The 6-5, 230-pound Wieters had it blocked, but Bonifacio slid hard into ..."

Cleveland Indians acquire Jose Veras from Yankees; send Michael Aubrey to Baltimore

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June 24

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Indians have acquired right-hander Jose Veras from the New York Yankees for cash to help their strugglng bullpen. Veras is expected to join the Indians this weekend when they play Cincinnati at Progressive Field. Veras is 3-1 with a 5.96 ERA in 25 games for the Yankees this year. He's allowed 23 hits, 17 earned runs, five homers and 14 walks in 25 2/3 innings. Veras has three holds and has struck out 17. In 2008, Veras made 60 appearances for the Yankees. He went 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA. He struck out 63 and walked 29 in 57 2/3 innings. Veras, 28, is 6-5 and 236 pounds. He's spent parts of the last three seasons with the Indians."

Aubrey to the O's

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June 24

MLB.com

"Michael Aubrey entered the Indians' organization in 2003 with all the tout and talent that comes with an advanced college bat taken 11th overall in the First-Year Player Draft. Injuries robbed Aubrey, a Tulane product, of the ability to make good on all the lofty projections placed before him. And on Wednesday, he left the organization for a new start elsewhere. The Indians traded the 27-year-old Aubrey to the Orioles for a player to be named. Dropped from the 40-man roster over the winter, Aubrey cleared waivers and has played the entire '09 season to date with Triple-A Columbus. He was hitting .292 with 16 doubles, a triple, five homers and 29 RBIs in 57 games for the Clippers."

Late rally rescues Matt Lindstrom as Marlins top Orioles

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June 24

Palm Beach Post

"Jorge Cantu's game-winning single in the 12th inning Tuesday helped the Marlins avert what would have been one of the most demoralizing losses of the season. The 7-6 victory over the Orioles should have come much sooner, but closer Matt Lindstrom could not hold a three-run lead after getting the first two outs of the ninth inning. The Orioles strung together four consecutive singles off Lindstrom and then tied the game after Brian Sanches replaced the embattled closer. "This hurts," Lindstrom said. "I expect better of myself. I don't expect the guys to go into extra innings after building a good lead, especially after getting the first two outs. "Something has to change." But that will not ..."

Cantu single in 12th gives Marlins victory

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June 24

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Eight pitches. Two outs. A three-run lead in the ninth. Matt Lindstrom was comfortably on his way to save No. 15. Then again, Sunday he got two quick outs with a three-run lead only to watch the Yankees come within a run of tying it. Tuesday's outing against the Orioles deteriorated in eerily similar fashion, only this time the opponent completed the comeback. The Orioles staged a two-out, no-one-on, three-run rally off Lindstrom to send the contest into extras. What made it sting all the more was that two innings earlier Hanley Ramirez appeared to put it out of reach with a grand slam that gave the Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! a five-run lead. "I was trying to attack the strike ..."

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