World Champions 1983, 1970, 1966

American League Champions 1983, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1966 American League East Division Champions 2014, 1997, 1983, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1969

American League Wild Card 2012, 1996

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Game Stories:

Oh, Henry! Urrutia's first career homer a walk-off in Orioles' 5-4 win over Mets The Sun

8/19

Urrutia's first MLB homer a walk-off for O's MLB.com 8/20

Orioles load 'em and leave 'em in first inning (Urrutia walk-off homer) MASNsports.com

8/19

Another walk-off: Henry Urrutia's first MLB homer lifts O's over Mets MASNsports.com

8/19

Urrutia HR in 9th inning gives Orioles 5-4 win over Mets AP 8/19

Urrutia's 1st major league HR the game-winner CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/19

Henry Urrutia homers in ninth as the Orioles walk off winners over Mets, 5-4

Washington Post 8/19

Columns:

Fan gives Henry Urrutia home run ball for his 16-month-old son The Sun 8/20

Orioles notes and observations on Jonathan Schoop and Darren O'Day The Sun 8/20

Orioles notebook: Henry Urrutia showing growth with glove The Sun 8/19

Orioles pregame updates on Steve Pearce, Chaz Roe and Mike Belfiore The Sun 8/19

Urrutia's game-winner a dream come true MLB.com 8/20

Pearce takes batting practice in rehab assignment MLB.com 8/19

Gonzalez set for series opener with Twins MLB.com 8/19

Leftovers for breakfast MASNsports.com 8/20

Showalter: "The games are dwindling and it's that time" MASNsports.com 8/19

Hearing from Buck Showalter before tonight's game MASNsports.com 8/19

Notes on Pearce, Wieters, Roe and more MASNsports.com 8/19

A look at Urrutia's big night, Schoop's redemption and Jimenez's struggles

MASNsports.com 8/20

Henry Urrutia: "This is the best moment in all of my career" MASNsports.com 8/19

O's game blog: Orioles look to break nine-game losing streak against Mets

MASNsports.com 8/19

O's manager Buck Showalter takes note as Norfolk and Bowie close in on division titles

MASNsports.com 8/19

Orioles to honor Maryland's top summer readers AP 8/20

Twins-Orioles Preview SI.com 8/20

Watch: Orioles’ Henry Urrutia hits walkoff for first career home run SI.com 8/20

Baseball's secret weapons: Orioles, Cardinals bullpens ESPN.com 8/20

Wednesday's Top 5: Henry Urrutia lifts Orioles ESPN.com 8/20

Guest columnist Matt Buschmann: What baseball might look like in the year 2045

ESPN.com 8/20

Matt Buschmann’s Yellow Brick Road: Will the Minor League Strikeout King Ever

Reach the Majors? Grantland.com 8/19

Orioles try and stay hot as Twins come to town CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/20

O'Day on which MLB stadiums have best bullpens CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/19

Showalter expects Wieters to catch on consecutive days CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/19

Orioles hope Pearce is fine after being hit in sim game CSN Mid-Atlantic 8/19

5 Things You Should Know About Henry Urrutia CBS Baltimore 8/20

Video: Henry Urrutia walks off Orioles against Mets with his first major league home run

NBCSports.com 8/19

Henry Urrutia's first career home run a walk-off winner for Orioles Yahoo! Sports 8/20

Baltimore Orioles – PlayerWatch Reuters 8/19

Report: Orioles 1B Steve Pearce OK after HBP in rehab CBSSports.com 8/19

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-mets-0820-story.html

Oh, Henry! Urrutia's first career homer a walk-off in

Orioles' 5-4 win over Mets

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

August 19, 2015

Henry Urrutia’s path to the big leagues has contained more obstacles than most -- his defection

from his native Cuba and adjusting to life in the United States, all while trying to make a name

for himself in the game he loves and dreaming about moments like he experienced Wednesday

night.

With one swing, Urrutia made history, hitting his first career major league homer in walk-off

fashion, an opposite-field line drive that just cleared the left-field fence in the ninth to give the

Orioles a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets.

Urrutia became the fifth player in Orioles history whose first career home run was a walk-off,

and the first since Chris Hoiles on June 27, 1990. Merv Rettenmund (1968), Jim Hardin (1969)

and Dave Criscione (1977) also accomplished the feat as Orioles.

“Well, that makes this moment bigger for me,” Urrutia said. “A lot of good players come here to

this team and played with this organization and in their whole careers don’t have a moment like

this. So this moment for me is as special, is bigger than anything.”

The 28-year-old fought back tears as he described the homer -- circling the bases as the Camden

Yards crowd of 36,165 roared, getting greeted by a mob of teammates and receiving the home

run ball from a fan, a ball that he quickly gave to his 16-month-old son, also named Henry.

“I’m not waiting for a baseball when I made the homer,” Urrutia said. “So when the guy told me

I have your baseball for you, wow. That’s the best gift for me tonight. Now I can give that

baseball to my son. And my son one day can say, 'This is the first homer from my dad in the big

leagues.'”

For now, the Orioles have presented Urrutia with an opportunity to play regularly – he made his

fifth straight start since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday – and despite going

hitless in his first three at-bats Wednesday, he came through when it mattered most.

“This is the best moment in all my career,” Urrutia said. “I never seen this moment before. So,

it's great to be here right now. In 2013, on my mind was, 'Do a good job and make a good career

with the Orioles.' That's the most important thing for me. But today, this moment is amazing.”

Urrutia, who had just one previous extra-base hit in his first 76 major league at-bats, hit a 1-2

pitch from Carlos Torres (4-5) for the long ball, giving the Orioles their third walk-off win in

their past six games, all via homer. It also ended their nine-game losing streak against the Mets

and first win against them since June 18, 2009. The Orioles have won five of six on their current

10-game homestand.

With the win, the Orioles (62-57) gained ground in the American League wild-card race – the

Toronto Blue Jays lost and the Los Angeles Angels played late Wednesday night –

while remaining five games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.

“You don't ever assume [to know] how hard this is to do,” Showalter said. "That's a good

bullpen, a good starting rotation. We've got another team fighting tooth and nail to get into the

playoffs coming in here. We ain't backing into nothing. You're going to have to earn it and

tonight we did against a very good team."

The Orioles have shown a flair for the dramatic of late. Two of their four wins against the

Oakland Athletics came by walk-off homer. Urrutia's game-ending blast gave the Orioles six

walk-off homers this season.

"It's one thing to have an opportunity and another to run with it," Orioles manager Buck

Showalter said. "I'm sure Henry was glad he was in Camden and not Norfolk, for a lot of

reasons. … It's been a long road for Henry. The games are dwindling and it's that time. That's

why they call it the dog days of August. They're here."

Urrutia circled the bases and was doused by a cooler full of water at home plate before receiving

a celebratory pie from Adam Jones during his postgame TV interview.

“I don’t even know [what flavor],” Urrutia said. “I can feel the pie in my ear and everywhere.

When I saw Jonesy put the pies in the faces of the other players, I never think he threw too hard.

Now I have pie everywhere.”

Jones hit a game-tying solo homer in the seventh off Mets right-hander Hansel Robles. It was

Jones' 23rd homer this season and 14th that either tied the game or gave the Orioles the lead.

The Orioles had allowed the Mets (64-56) to take the lead in the top of the seventh on Wilmer

Flores’ solo homer off rookie reliever Mychal Givens.

Jonathan Schoop was coming off arguably his worst game of the season Tuesday, when the sure-

handed second baseman made three costly defensive miscues that played a key role in the

Orioles’ two-run loss to the Mets.

It didn’t get much better for Schoop early Wednesday, as he grounded into an inning-ending

double play with the bases loaded in the first and struck out with two on in his second plate

appearance. He flailed at Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard’s tantalizing curveballs that tailed

out of the strike zone.

However, Schoop came through in his third at-bat with the Orioles trailing 3-1 in the sixth and

Davis on second after a leadoff double. Schoop swung through two more curveballs to start the

at-bat before taking another in the dirt, then turning on a Syndergaard curveball that cut across

the inner half of the plate, sending it into the left-field seats to tie the game.

“He threw me some good curveballs, that started as strikes and went to balls,” Schoop said. “I

didn’t keep my head down, I said, 'I'm going to catch one.' I tried to let [the off-speed] go, but I

couldn't let it go and finally I caught one.”

It was Schoop's ninth homer of the season. Seventeen of his 46 hits this year have gone for extra

bases.

The Orioles did their part to help Syndergaard early, especially in a first inning when they loaded

the bases with no outs and failed to score. After the first three batters reached base, Davis struck

out on a curveball out of the zone and Schoop hit into a 4-3 double play.

The Orioles also put runners at first and second against Syndergaard with no outs in the fourth

after a leadoff double by Jones and a walk to Davis. But they were only able to scrape across one

run on Steve Clevenger’s one-out RBI single.

Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez lasted just five innings, his pitch total inflated by deep counts that

resulted in four walks.

Jimenez, who allowed three runs on five hits, trailed two batters into the game after yielding a

solo homer to Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy in a 22-pitch first inning.

Jimenez walked three in the fourth inning – one base runner was erased when Schoop made a

nice lunging catch and tag on Lucas Duda’s attempt to steal second base – and Flores’ two-out

RBI single put the Mets up 2-0. The Mets scored another run in the fifth on Murphy’s looping

single to right that scored Curtis Granderson, who hit a leadoff double.

With the game tied at 4, Darren O’Day stranded the go-ahead run on third base in the eighth.

O'Day entered the game after Brian Matusz allowed a one-out double to Duda. O’Day induced a

groundout to first from Juan Uribe and struck out Travis d’Arnaud to end the inning to extend his

season-high streak of scoreless outings to 11 (11 1/3 innings).

Despite allowing two singles, closer Zach Britton (4-0) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win

and set the stage for another dramatic ending.

"I think it makes us feel like we aren’t giving in,” Schoop said of the team’s three walk-offs on

the homestand. “Throughout nine innings, we keep battling. We keep battling because we know

we are a great team and we can come back. We play hard and we play to the final out.”

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/144031368/henry-urrutia-hits-walk-off-homer-for-orioles

Urrutia's first MLB homer a walk-off for O's

By Brittany Ghiroli and Connor Smolensky / MLB.com

August 20, 2015

BALTIMORE -- Henry Urrutia connected for his first career Major League homer, a walk-off

shot off Mets reliever Carlos Torres, which gave the Orioles a 5-4 win that snapped a nine-game

losing skid against New York that dates back to 2009.

Urrutia, who had just one prior extra-base hit in his big league career, sent a 1-2 pitch into the

left-field seats to open the ninth inning and give Baltimore its third walk-off on its current

homestand.

Urrutia is the fifth player in Orioles history to hit the first home run of his career for a walk-off.

The last was Chris Hoiles in 1990.

"Before my at-bat, I was thinking, 'Just make good contact.' I know I can hit [it to] the opposite

field when they throw me away," Urrutia said of his first extra-base hit since 2013. "When I

made good contact, I was running and in my mind I said, 'I can't believe this.'"

Wilmer Flores drove in two runs for the Mets, including a solo homer in the seventh inning that

put New York up 4-3. In the next half-inning O's center fielder Adam Jones answered with a solo

blast of his own off reliever Hansel Robles, his 23rd of the season, to knot it back up at 4.

In Denver, the Nationals topped the Rockies, 4-1, and have won back-to-back games, trimming

the Mets' lead in the National League East to 3 1/2 games.

On the American League side of things, the Orioles' win helped Baltimore keep pace with the

Yankees and gain a game on the Blue Jays. The Orioles are currently five games back in the AL

East and a half-game behind the Angels for the second AL Wild Card slot.

Neither starter factored into the game's decision or recorded an out in the sixth inning. O's

righty Ubaldo Jimenez walked four and gave up three runs over five innings, including Daniel

Murphy's first-inning homer. Mets rookie Noah Syndergaard remained winless on the road in

allowing three runs over his five-plus frames, two of which came on Jonathan Schoop's sixth-

inning blast.

"I've been a little bit concerned about my performances on the road," Syndergaard said. "I feel

like this was a step in the right direction as far as being more comfortable out there. The

progression was exactly the same between road and home starts. I feel every bit as confident as I

do at home. I'm just not getting the results that I want."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Hammerin' Hank: Urrutia, recalled from Triple-A Norfolk last week for his hot bat, had a

memorable first homer. The Cuba native, who hadn't been in the big leagues since 2013,

connected for his first hit of the night with the walk-off blast.

"This is the best moment in my career," Urrutia said. "I never seen this moment before. So, it's

great to be here right now. In 2013, [I wanted to] do a good job and make a good career with the

Orioles. That's the most important thing for me. But today, this moment is amazing."

Mets bullpen loses it: The Mets' bullpen struggles continued on Wednesday as Torres was

credited with the loss after giving up a walk-off home run to Urrutia that cost New York the

game. Torres wasn't the only bullpen member to give up a run, however, as Robles also

conceded a solo home run to Jones, which allowed the Orioles to tie the game up at 4 in the

seventh.

"It's exactly where we wanted it," Torres said on giving up the walk-off homer. "We called a

fastball up. We threw the fastball up. These guys have unfortunately been seeing Syndergaard

and [Jacob] deGrom so my fastball up probably didn't seem like their fastball up."

Flores, Murphy pace Mets: New York's middle infield came up big for the Mets on

Wednesday, combining for four hits, two home runs and four RBIs. Murphy set the tone in the

first inning with a solo homer to right and collected a big hit again in the fifth with an RBI

single. Flores picked up an RBI single in the fourth and tied the game at 4 with a solo home run

to left.

"When I first got here with [Dan] Murphy, I thought he was going to be a guy on a good team

who could play multiple positions and still end up getting 450 at-bats a year and that's exactly

what he is doing now," Mets manager Terry Collins said.

Schoop's redemption: After three defensive miscues in Tuesday's loss, and grounding into an

inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the first, Schoop finally got his shot. The

young infielder drilled Syndergaard's 1-2 curveball into left field for a game-tying homer in the

sixth inning. Schoop also made a fantastic leaping tag at second base to nab Lucas Duda trying to

steal in the fourth.

"To be honest, I got great teammates, they talked to me and made me feel like yesterday wasn't

me," Schoop said. "Like I said yesterday, I have to play better, especially this time [of the year]. I

have to focus. I have great teammates, J.J. [Hardy], [Jones], all those guys who said 'Everybody

has a bad day. Just get a fresh head and go get it tomorrow.'"

QUOTABLE

"I guess the magic's back. It doesn't matter what we do, we find a way to win. That's the way we

win last year. Hopefully, this is the way to keep going the rest of the season." -- Jimenez, after

the O's sixth walk-off homer this season.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

O's righty Darren O'Day extended his season-high scoreless-innings streak to 11 games (11 1/3

innings) after recording two outs on Wednesday.

WHAT'S NEXT

Mets: New York will enjoy an off-day on Thursday before heading out west for a three-game set

with the Rockies. Bartolo Colon (10-11, 4.58 ERA) will be on the mound for the series opener

on Friday at 8:40 p.m. ET. Colon is 1-7 with a 4.83 ERA over his last 10 starts dating back to

June 18.

Orioles: Baltimore will cap its homestand with a four-game series against playoff hopeful

Minnesota. The O's will send Miguel Gonzalez to the mound opposite Twins righty Tyler

Duffey in the 7:05 p.m. ET matchup on Thursday.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/08/orioles-load-em-and-leave-em-in-first-

inning.html

Orioles load 'em and leave 'em in first inning (Urrutia walk-

off homer)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 19, 2015

The Orioles showed tonight that they can get runners on base against Mets starter Noah

Syndergaard. It's the scoring part that may be a challenge.

Manny Machado doubled on the first pitch thrown by Syndergaard, Gerardo Parra singled

and Adam Jones walked to load the bases with no outs. Chris Davis struck out on an 81 mph

curveball with the count full, and Jonathan Schoop grounded into a 4-3 double play with the

count full.

Syndergaard threw 23 pitches in the first inning and the Orioles let him off the hook. It helps

when the opponent is swinging at pitches out of the strike zone.

Syndergaard entered the game with a 5.29 ERA in the first inning this season. He's 7-1 with a

1.82 ERA and 0.808 WHIP in nine starts at Citi Field and 0-5 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.548 WHIP

in eight starts away from home.

Parra is 12-for-24 with three home runs and five RBIs in his last six games.

The Orioles continued their trend of falling behind early in games.

Curtis Granderson homered last night on the second pitch from Kevin Gausman. Daniel Murphy,

the second batter of tonight's game, launched a slider from Ubaldo Jimenez onto the flag court in

right field to give the Mets another 1-0 lead.

Jimenez retired Granderson on a liner to first baseman Chris Davis, but Murphy jumped on the

fourth pitch he saw for his ninth home run of the season.

Jimenez got ahead 0-2 in the count, missed with a 90 mph fastball and regretted the slider that

followed. He threw 22 pitches in the inning, with Yoenis Cespedes reaching on an infield hit and

Juan Uribe walking.

Uribe is 5-for-14 lifetime against Jimenez.

Henry Urrutia is making his fifth start for the Orioles since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk

on Saturday. He served as the designated hitter in his first game and has been in left field for the

last four.

Urrutia robbed former Oriole Danny Valencia of a home run with a leaping grab during Sunday's

18-2 blowout win. His defense needed to improve and he's putting it on display.

Is Urrutia in left field because of the improvement or the opportunity that's available to him?

"I think both," said manager Buck Showalter. "I tell players all the time in the spring, 'If you

guys want to come in every morning, the meeting we have every morning, there's nothing we're

going to say in there that we wouldn't say in front of you.' We were very, 'blunt' sounds a little

too cold, but 'here's what you need to do.'

"It's kind of like our conversation with Steve Clevenger and different guys we have when they

get sent down. 'It doesn't make us right or wrong, but here's what the difference is right now and

if you go work on it ... And understand I'm going to ask those guys down in Norfolk and Bowie

every time I talk to them about how you're doing with that part of the game.' And Henry worked

very hard at it.

"I watched him a lot in the early spring when I got down there. We hadn't even reported and

Henry was out there every day. He knew that was something that he had to get better at. I'm

proud of him."

Update: The Orioles trail 3-1 going to the bottom of the fifth.

Wilmer Flores drove in a run in the third inning after Jimenez walked three batters in the inning.

Steve Clevenger bounced an RBI single into center field in the fourth after Adam Jones doubled

and Chris Davis walked, but Murphy delivered an RBI single in the fifth after Granderson

doubled.

Jimenez has thrown 94 pitches in five innings.

Update II: Jimenez allowed three runs and five hits in five innings, with four walks, six

strikeouts and a home run. He threw 94 pitches, 52 strikes.

Jimenez hasn't gone more than five innings in nine of his last 14 starts.

Update III: Jonathan Schoop followed Davis' double in the sixth with a game-tying two-run

homer, his ninth of the season.

Update IV: Flores homered off Mychal Givens leading off the seventh. The Mets are ahead 4-3.

Update V: Adam Jones homered off Hansel Robles with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to

tie the game 4-4. Jones has 23 home runs this season.

Update VI: Henry Urrutia hit a walk-off home run off Carlos Torres leading off the bottom of

the ninth - his first major league home run. And yes, he got pied.

Orioles 5, Mets 4

Urrutia lined a 1-2 pitch into the left field seats for the Orioles' sixth walk-off home run this

season. And the Orioles ended their losing streak to the Mets at nine games.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/08/another-walk-off-henry-urrutias-first-mlb-

homer-lifts-os-over-the-mets.html

Another walk-off: Henry Urrutia's first MLB homer lifts O's

over Mets

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 19, 2015

That was not a bad time for Henry Urrutia to hit his first major league home run.

He hit a 1-2 pitch off Mets reliever Carlos Torres to the opposite field. His blast just over the

left-field wall leading off the last of the ninth gave the Orioles a 5-4 win over the New York

Mets in front of 36,165 at Camden Yards.

The homer improved the Orioles to 62-57 with their 16th win in the last 24 games. It was the

Orioles' sixth walk-off win of the year and third on this homestand. The O's ended a nine-game

losing streak to New York.

The Orioles used the longball to get even twice in this game, once in the sixth and once in the

seventh.

Chris Davis led off the sixth with a double off Noah Snydergaard. Jonathan Schoop came to bat.

He had struck out and looked bad doing so against Snydergaard's breaking ball in the fourth. He

fell behind 0-2 this time on breaking balls. But then on a 1-2 count, he got one he could handle

over the inside corner, and his two-run homer tied the game 3-3. It was No. 9 for Schoop.

The tie lasted just moments. Wilmer Flores led off the top of the seventh and homered to left

off Mychal Givens for a 4-3 lead. But that lead didn't last very long. Adam Jones blasted a solo

shot to left-center in the bottom of the inning. His 23rd came off reliever Hansel Robles and tied

it 4-4.

Jones has hit six homers over his last nine games. In his last 19 games, he has hit eight homers

with 19 RBIs.

It seemed each time the Orioles scored in this game, the Mets came right back. So it was with the

Flores homer.

Earlier, New York led 2-0 on a Daniel Murphy homer (No. 9) in the first and a Flores RBI single

in the fourth. With two outs and none on in the fourth, Ubaldo Jimenez walked two straight

batters ahead of Flores.

Jones led off the O's fourth with a double and scored on Steve Clevenger's single to make it 2-1.

The Mets went ahead 3-1 when a Flores single in the fifth scored Curtis Granderson, who had

doubled.

Jimenez went five innings allowing five hits and three runs. He walked four and fanned six,

throwing 94 pitches. Mets starter Syndergaard went five innings plus three batters and gave up

eight hits and three runs in getting a no-decision.

Now the Orioles welcome Minnesota to town for the third portion of a 10-game homestand. On

Thursday night, Miguel Gonzalez (9-8, 4.42 ERA) faces right-hander Tyler Duffey (1-1, 6.75

ERA).

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/08/19/ap-bbo-mets-orioles-1st-ld-writethru

Urrutia HR in 9th inning gives Orioles 5-4 win over Mets

Associated Press / SI.com

August 19, 2015

BALTIMORE (AP) Henry Urrutia was rounding the bases after hitting his first major league

home run, and one thought crossed his mind:

''I can't believe this.''

Urrutia broke a ninth-inning tie with a drive into the seats in left field, and the Baltimore Orioles

ended a nine-game losing streak against the New York Mets with a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.

Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones also homered for the Orioles, who hadn't defeated the Mets

since June 18, 2009.

Baltimore rallied from 3-1 and 4-3 deficits before Urrutia led off the ninth against Carlos Torres

(4-5).

On a 1-2 pitch, Urrutia smacked an opposite-field liner that landed in the hands of a Mets fan.

That guy later provided Urrutia with the ball, a treasured souvenir for the Cuban-born outfielder.

"That's the best gift for me tonight,'' Urrutia said. ''Now I can give that baseball to my son.''

Never mind that this was only his 29th game in the big leagues. Hitting a game-winning home

run for a team in the middle of a playoff run is pretty special.

''This is the best moment of my career,'' Urrutia said. ''When I make good contact I was running

for the base and in my mind I said, `I can't believe this.'''

Zach Britton (4-0) worked the ninth for the Orioles, who earned a split of the two-game series.

Daniel Murphy and Wilmer Flores both homered and had two RBIs for the first-place Mets, who

have lost four of five.

After Schoop made it 3-3 in the sixth with a two-run homer, Flores put New York up 4-3 in the

seventh with a shot off rookie Mychal Givens.

Jones connected off Hansel Robles in the bottom half.

Mets rookie Noah Syndergaard gave up three runs and eight hits in five-plus innings. He had a 3-

1 lead in the sixth before yielding a double to Chris Davis and Schoop's home run.

That ruined Syndergaard's bid for his first big league road win. He's 7-1 at home and 0-5 in eight

starts on the road.

''For all the people who have been concerned about my performances on the road, this was a step

in the right direction,'' Syndergaard said. ''I feel like I made some really good pitches out there

except for that mistake, a curveball to Schoop that he hit out of the ballpark.''

Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez allowed three runs, five hits and four walks in five innings.

After Murphy homered in the top of the first, Syndergaard walked to the mound eager to see if

an adjustment in his pregame workout would increase his effectiveness. Because he had given up

10 first-inning runs in 17 starts, the right-hander pushed back his warmup session in the bullpen

to lessen the down time before his first pitch.

The experiment started poorly. Manny Machado doubled on the first pitch and the Orioles

quickly loaded the bases with no outs. Syndergaard then struck out Davis on a 3-2 pitch, and

after Schoop bounced into a double play, Syndergaard pumped his fist before heading to the

dugout.

''Obviously our little plan in the beginning didn't pan out,'' manager Terry Collins said. ''Actually

in the first inning, I thought he threw the ball good.''

New York made it 2-0 in the fourth when Jimenez issued three walks and Flores delivered a two-

out RBI single.

After Steve Clevenger hit a run-scoring single in the bottom half, a double by Curtis Granderson

and a single by Murphy put the Mets up 3-1 in the fifth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mets: 3B David Wright (spinal stenosis) will be activated from the DL next week, Collins said.

... OF Yeonis Cespedes played DH after complaining of a sore right shoulder. He did not receive

treatment for the injury.

Orioles: OF Steve Pearce's bid to return from a strained left oblique was stalled when he got hit

in the back by a pitch in Florida. ... RHP Chaz Roe (right shoulder tendinitis) threw off flat

ground Wednesday.

ON DECK

Mets: After a day off Thursday, New York sends Bartolo Colon (10-11, 4.58 ERA) to the mound

Friday night in Colorado in the opener of a three-game series.

Orioles: Winless in his last four starts, Miguel Gonzalez (9-8, 4.42 ERA) faces the Minnesota

Twins on Thursday night to launch a four-game series.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/urrutias-first-major-league-home-run-game-

winner

Urrutia's 1st major league HR the game-winner

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 19, 2015

BALTIMORE –- Henry Urrutia was surrounded by his teammates. Jumping on top of him,

congratulating him.

In his second try at the major leagues, Urrutia had finally hit a home run, and what a time it was.

For the third time in the past six games, the Orioles ended with a home run, and it was Urrutia’s

turn on Wednesday night.

The 5-4 win over the New York Mets before 36,165 at Oriole Park had a look that’s become

very familiar here over the past several days.

Last Friday, it was Manny Machado. On Saturday, it was Chris Davis’ turn. Now, the man who 2

½ years ago couldn’t speak any English stood in front of his locker, telling jokes in his adopted

language and admitted to being nervous.

“This is the best moment in all my career. I’ve never seen this moment before. So, it's great to be

here right now,” Urrutia said.

Carlos Torres (4-5) threw the pitch on 1-2, and Urrutia hit it to the opposite field. It was the

Orioles’ sixth game-ending home run this year, tops in the major leagues.

“Before my at-bat, I was thinking, 'Just make good contact.' I know I can hit the opposite field

when they throw me away. When I make good contact I was running for the base and in my

mind I said, ' I can't believe this,’” Urrutia said.

Urrutia is the fifth Oriole to hit a game-ender as his first major league home run, the first since

Chris Hoiles on June 27, 1990.

“That makes this moment bigger for me. A lot of good players come here to this team and played

with this organization and in their whole careers don’t have a moment like this. So this moment

for me is as special, is bigger than anything,” Urrutia said.

Zach Britton (4-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

The Orioles (62-57) won despite a second straight shaky start from Ubaldo Jimenez. But, it was

the second straight time Jimenez didn’t take the loss thanks to a dramatic homer. He was the

beneficiary of Machado’s home run last Friday night.

Jimenez allowed three runs in five innings, but walked four.

“I guess the magic’s back. It doesn’t matter what we do, we find a way to win. That’s the way

we win last year. Hopefully, this is the way to keep going the rest of the season,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez gave up a home run to the game’s second batter, Daniel Murphy.

The Orioles loaded the bases with none out in the first off Noah Syndergaard, but Chris Davis

struck out and Jonathan Schoop bounced into a double play.

Jimenez walked three in the fourth inning and paid when Wilmer Flores’ RBI single scored

Travis d’Arnaud from second. d’Arnaud’s walk was the second of the three.

Adam Jones doubled to start the fourth. Davis walked, and after Jonathan Schoop struck out,

Steve Clevenger’s single scored Jones, and New York led 2-1.

Curtis Granderson doubled to start the fifth and scored on Murphy’s single to give the Mets (64-

56) a 3-1 lead.

Davis doubled to start the sixth, and Schoop homered to left, his ninth, and the score was tied at

3.

Schoop bounced back from his two errors on Tuesday night, and encouraged Urrutia.

“I have to play better, especially this time [of the year]. I have to focus. I have great teammates,

J.J., Jonesy, all those guys who said ‘Everybody has a bad day. Just get a fresh head and go get it

tomorrow,’” Schoop said.

He was thrilled with Urrutia’s homer.

“I hope he enjoys it and, not forget about it, but comes back tomorrow and does the same thing,”

Schoop said.

Mychal Givens retired New York in order in the sixth, but Flores led off the seventh with his

12th home run of the year for a 4-3 lead.

Jones homered with two outs in the seventh off Hansel Robles to tie the score at 4. It was Jones’

23rd home run of the year.

The Orioles remain in the midst of the playoff hunt, and begin a four-game series with

Minnesota on Thursday night.

“We've got another team fighting tooth and nail to get into the playoffs coming in here. We ain't

backing into nothing. You're going to have to earn it and tonight we did against a very good

team,” manager Buck Showalter said.

NOTES: The Orioles signed left-handed pitcher Mike Belfiore to a minor league contract. He’ll

report to Norfolk. Belfiore pitched in one game for the Orioles in 2013 and was released by

Detroit on Aug. 9. … Minnesota’s Tyler Duffey (1-1, 6.75) faces Miguel Gonzalez (9-8, 4.42) on

Thursday night. ... The Orioles stole a season-high three bases.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/henry-urrutia-homers-in-ninth-as-the-orioles-

walk-off-winners-over-mets-5-4/2015/08/19/4874edc8-46e1-11e5-846d-

02792f854297_story.html

Henry Urrutia homers in ninth as the Orioles walk off

winners over Mets, 5-4

By Aaron Dodson / Washington Post

August 19, 2015

BALTIMORE — New York Mets reliever Carlos Torres emerged from the bullpen in the ninth

inning Wednesday, set to face the Baltimore Orioles’ eight-hole hitter with the game tied at

Camden Yards.

That hitter was Orioles left fielder Henry Urrutia, who was called up from Class AAA Norfolk

four days earlier. Torres left a 92-mph fastball up in the strike zone on a 1-2 count, and Urrutia

crushed it to left field for his first career home run to deliver Baltimore a 5-4 victory, the team’s

sixth walk-off win of the season and third in six games.

Urrutia is the fifth player in Orioles franchise history — and the first since 1990 — to claim his

first career deep ball with a walk-off.

“It’s exactly where I wanted it,” Torres said of the pitch. “[Catcher Travis d’Arnaud] called for a

fastball up. . . . The guy just hit it.”

Baltimore’s win gave it a split of the two-game series with the Mets after New York ace Jacob

deGrom pitched his team to a 5-3 win Tuesday.

The last time the Mets traveled to the Baltimore-Washington area was in late July, when they

dropped two of three to the Nationals. They came back to New York after that trailing

Washington in the National League East standings by three games.

But after bolstering their roster at the trade deadline, the Mets surged while the Nationals

slumped. Wednesday’s loss trimmed the Mets’ lead over the Nationals, who won 4-1 in

Colorado, to 3 1/2 games.

Since the trade deadline, New York is 12-6, while Washington is 6-13.

“[The Nationals] are in the race with us,” reliever Tyler Clippard said Tuesday. “I don’t think

we’re too worried about it.”

Heading into Wednesday’s start, his eighth on the road this season, New York Mets right-hander

Noah Syndergaard was desperate for a new approach.

His road record was 0-5 with a 5.01 ERA. At home, he’s 7-1 with a 1.82 ERA, much closer to

the overall season mark of 3.17 he brought to Baltimore.

But his road struggles continued at Camden Yards. Despite taking the mound with the same

luxury deGrom received in New York’s win Tuesday — a 1-0 lead, following Mets second

baseman Daniel Murphy’s home run to right — Syndergaard couldn’t get into an early comfort

zone. He yielded a leadoff double, a single and a four-pitch walk before notching a strikeout and

a double play.

He battled for four more innings before Baltimore second baseman Jonathan Schoop lifted his

80-mph curveball into left field for a two-run homer that tied the game at 3.

“Just that one pitch to Schoop, I left it hanging, and he hit it out of the ballpark,” said

Syndergaard, who allowed eight hits and three runs with two walks in five innings.

Schoop’s shot ended Syndergaard’s night but not the tension. Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores

homered in the seventh, and Orioles center fielder Adam Jones answered with a blast of his own

in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 4.

The Mets got a scoreless inning out of Clippard, which set the stage for Torres in the ninth.

Manager Terry Collins kept closer Jeurys Familia in the bullpen, anticipating the game would

transition into extra innings.

But five pitches into Torres’s appearance, Urrutia delivered the game-deciding blow.

“Carlos is a guy who takes the ball, and he’ll pitch whenever you need him,” Collins said. “He

gives you long. He gives you short. But when you don’t make pitches, you don’t locate, you’re

gonna get hurt. It’s pretty simple. That’s what pitching’s about.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-fan-gives-orioles-henry-urrutia-home-run-

ball-for-his-16monthold-son-20150820-story.html

Fan gives Henry Urrutia home run ball for his 16-month-old

son

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

August 20, 2015

The majority of Wednesday’s game story is about Henry Urrutia hitting his first big league

homer – and second extra-base hit – for a walk-off homer against the Mets.

That was impressive, but what was even more impressive was Urrutia’s postgame interview.

This is a guy who came to this country just over two years ago, but now has become fluent in the

English language. It’s the quickest transition for a Latino ballplayer I’ve ever witnessed.

He admitted he was nervous talking to the media Wednesday. But he was tremendous, at one

point tearing up when asked about having a fan return the home run ball so he could give it to his

16-month-old son, Henry.

“I’m not waiting for a baseball when I made the homer. So when the guy told me, ‘I have your

baseball for you,’ Wow,” Urrutia said. “That’s the best gift for me tonight. Now I can give that

baseball to my son. And my son one day can say, 'This is the first homer from my dad in the big

leagues.' ”

Urrutia also had a great quote about being just the fifth Oriole to hit his first career home run for

a game-ender, joining Chris Hoiles (1990), Dave Criscione (1977), Jim Hardin (1969) and Merv

Rettenmund (1968).

“Well, that makes this moment bigger for me,” he said. “A lot of good players come here to this

team and played with this organization and in their whole careers don’t have a moment like this.

So this moment for me is as special, is bigger than anything.”

One funny and quick aside. As I walked out of the clubhouse into the tunnel, little Henry, as

young kids will do, threw the home run ball to the floor, sending several people scampering after

it. Yes, they got it back quickly. A great postscript to a great story.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-notes-and-observations-schoop-

oday-urrutia-20150819-story.html

Orioles notes and observations on Jonathan Schoop and

Darren O'Day

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

August 20, 2015

Over the years, Orioles manager Buck Showalter has made a point of reminding everyone how

young a certain player is. The media heard that Delmon Young was “just 28” so many times last

year that we were secretly thrilled when he finally turned 29 last September. Same with Mark

Reynolds in 2012.

Showalter’s new thing over the past couple of weeks is to remind us just how few at-bats second

baseman Jonathan Schoop has this year. Schoop was out of action from April 18 to July 4 with a

sprained right knee.

With roughly six weeks left in the season, Schoop has just 164 plate appearances. And, as

Showalter likes to say, that’s the infancy of a baseball year.

I think what is more important to point out about Schoop is just how young and inexperienced he

is – using the old Showalter line. Schoop doesn’t turn 24 until October. He has 660 plate

appearances in 188 games in parts of three seasons. But, basically, he’s played little more than

one full season.

Heck, he played just 70 games at Triple-A before becoming a big leaguer.

So, really, his ups and downs should be expected.

On Tuesday, Schoop had probably his worst game as a big leaguer. He made two errors, and

should have been charged with a third when he dropped a relay throw. He also was hitless in four

at-bats with two strikeouts.

Showalter gave some reasons why Schoop, who had had one error all season before Tuesday,

made the miscues – not a great throw by Manny Machado on one drop and the ball was filled

with pine tar on his bad throw. But Schoop took full responsibility. He said over and over he had

to play better.

On Wednesday, Schoop grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the

first and struck out in the fourth on a curveball from Noah Syndergaard. Then, in the sixth,

Syndergaard threw four straight curveballs to Schoop in the at-bat, and six consecutive dating to

Schoop’s previous plate appearance. The young hitter adjusted, smacking the last one just inside

the left-field foul pole for a huge two-run homer.

And Showalter made a note of how well Schoop bounced back Wednesday.

“I thought Jonathan had a big night in a lot of ways,” Showalter said. “You see some toughness

that you like about him because he had some tough at-bats early on and came back and turned a

couple big double plays and kept a ball fair [for a homer] that seemed like the 100th breaking

ball that he had seen. They got that one in a spot where he could do something with it."

And, remember, he’s just 23.

** One of the things that makes sidearmer Darren O’Day so effective, Showalter says, is his

ability to read hitters and their bats. He knows when to use his off-speed stuff to set up the hitter.

And he’s great at picking the spots to elevate his high-80s fastball, which seems a lot faster when

you aren’t expecting it and don’t know exactly where it is coming from.

O’Day demonstrated that expertly Wednesday night against young Mets catcher Travis

d’Arnaud. With a runner on third and two outs in the eighth, O’Day started d’Arnaud out with

two consecutive sliders, one for a ball and one for a strike.

Then O’Day came back with consecutive high fastballs to d’Arnaud, one at 87 mph and one at

88. The kid swung through both as if they were 100 mph. And the All-Star reliever walked off

the mound to chants of “O’Dayyyyy, O’Day, O’Day, O’Dayyyyy.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-notebook-0820-20150819-story.html

Orioles notebook: Henry Urrutia showing growth with glove

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

August 19, 2015

When Henry Urrutia made his major league debut in 2013, it was almost exclusively as a

designated hitter. He played in 24 games for the Orioles, but only three innings in left field.

This year, since his recall Saturday from Triple-A Norfolk, Urrutia has started in all five games,

including four in left.

So what's been the difference for the 28-year-old Cuban who was initially considered below-

average defensively?

Perspective, said Urrutia, who missed most of 2014 after sports hernia surgery. He so badly

wants to play — and stick — in the majors. And he knew he'd have to improve his glovework if

he wanted to play for Orioles manager Buck Showalter.

"Buck loves a good defense," Urrutia said. "If I want to play in the big leagues for a long time, I

have to play good defense, be the best defensive guy I can be. That's why I'm working on that."

Said Showalter: "Henry worked very hard at it. … He knew it was something he had to get better

at. And I'm proud of him."

Urrutia said he has been more attentive to the more subtle aspects of playing the field this year.

"I can catch the ball. I can throw, but you have to throw 100 percent, you have to make good

plays," Urrutia said. "You can do that by working every day on the field before the games."

He has done that, and he gives major credit to outfield instructor Wayne Kirby, who worked with

him a lot this year in spring training, and center fielder Adam Jones.

There have been some obvious payoffs from the extra work, like on Sunday when he robbed

former teammate Danny Valencia of a home run at the left-field wall. Urrutia said he had a

feeling before the game that he'd make a highlight-reel catch.

"I was thinking about the wall and I thought, 'I want to make a good catch,'" he said. "And when

I saw that fly ball, I said, 'This is my time.'"

There have also been some points of instruction for Urrutia. On Wednesday, he made a throw to

cutoff man Jonathan Schoop that Schoop dropped in the rush to throw home. Kirby said Urrutia

needed to have more urgency on the play.

"It's still a growing stage with him as far as the small things about baseball," Kirby said. "You've

got to come in with a sense of urgency and a sense of throwing the ball hard to the cutoff man

instead of three-quarter speed. Those are growing pains. Things he's gonna have to continue to

learn."

The good thing is, Kirby said, Urrutia is a sponge for information. Urrutia now speaks English

fluently after coming to the country in 2013.

"He's asking everybody about the game and what to do in the outfield, what to do at the plate,"

Kirby said. "He can lean on our players that have been up here a long time and keep asking

questions."

Pearce takes BP, gets plunked

It has already been a rough season for infielder-outfielder Steve Pearce, who has hit .227 in 58

games with the Orioles this season and has been on the disabled list since July 22 with a strained

left oblique.

Things haven't gone much better in Sarasota, Fla. Several days ago, Pearce felt some tightness

while taking batting practice, so his rehabilitation was slowed some. He returned to hitting

against live pitching Wednesday, taking three at-bats against veteran right-hander Chris Perez,

who signed a minor league deal with the Orioles in July and is in Sarasota while serving a 50-

game suspension for failing a drug test.

In the third plate appearance, Perez plunked Pearce in the back, ending the session. Showalter

said he's under the impression Pearce is fine and will continue to face live pitching a few more

times. There is no set timetable for his return, but the Orioles remain hopeful it will be around

Sept. 1.

"If he could get through a couple of days of [live pitching], that could come pretty quick,"

Showalter said. "Let's see how he recovers from the HBP."

Snider returns to Pittsburgh

Former Orioles outfielder Travis Snider is back with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team that traded

him to the Orioles in January for two minor leaguers. According to several reports, Snider, who

was released by the Orioles on Saturday, has signed a minor league deal with Pittsburgh.

Snider, who batted .237 with three homers in 69 games with the Orioles, will report to the

Pirates' Triple-A team and is a candidate to join the major league club once rosters expand Sept.

1. The Pirates are only obligated to pay a prorated portion of the league minimum once Snider

makes the majors; the Orioles will continue to pay the remainder of the his $2.1 million salary.

In the offseason, the Orioles acquired Snider in exchange for minor league lefties Stephen

Tarpley and Steven Brault. Brault is 10-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 24 starts between High-A and

Double-A and Tarpley is 10-2 with a 2.14 ERA in 16 starts at the Low-A level.

Roe throws off flat ground

Right-hander Chaz Roe (right shoulder tendinitis) threw from flat ground Wednesday at Camden

Yards, the first time the reliever has done that since going on the disabled list Aug. 10.

Showalter said it went well and Roe will throw from flat ground a few more times before

progressing to a mound. He is eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday, but it's more likely he'll

go on a brief rehab assignment before being activated.

"We probably want him to get a couple outings," Showalter said. "Until he gets on the rubber, it's

hard to project what the time frame [is]."

Roe had a platelet-rich-plasma injection in the shoulder last week, which often speeds up the

healing process. Once he is ready to pitch, Showalter said it doesn't really matter which affiliate

Roe joins, but proximity to the big league club will play a part in that decision.

Around the horn

Catcher Matt Wieters wasn't in the starting lineup Wednesday, but Showalter said he was fine

after playing Tuesday for the first time in a week because of a right hamstring strain. Wieters has

only started at catcher in consecutive games once this season, but the manager said, "I'd be

surprised if that didn't happen sometime between now and the end of the season." … Showalter

said there was no update on David Lough, who was designated for assignment Friday. If Lough

clears waivers, he'll be outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. … Left-hander Mike Belfiore has re-

signed with the organization and was assigned to Norfolk. Belfiore, 26, was 5-11 with a 5.60

ERA in 22 starts for Detroit's Triple-A affiliate in Toledo. … Maryland baseball coach John

Szefc threw out Wednesday's ceremonial first pitch. … In a pregame ceremony Wednesday, the

Orioles honored the winners of the city's RBI League championships. Jones, who has been active

in Baltimore's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program, congratulated each player.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-updates-on-pearce-roe-belfiore-20150819-

story.html

Orioles pregame updates on Steve Pearce, Chaz Roe and

Mike Belfiore

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun

August 19, 2015

Not a lot from Orioles manager Buck Showalter’s pregame press conference, but there are some

things worth mentioning.

** Steve Pearce, who is on the disabled list with an oblique injury, took batting practice against

live pitching Wednesday in Sarasota, Fla. It went well, Showalter said, but Pearce was hit in the

back in the final at-bat by former big leaguer Chris Perez, who is in Sarasota while serving a 50-

game suspension for failing a drug test.

That obviously ended Pearce’s workout, but if he feels fine Thursday, he’ll face live pitching

again soon. There is no set timetable for when Pearce will start a rehabilitation assignment.

“If he could get through a couple of days of [live pitching], that could come pretty quick,”

Showalter said. “Let’s see how he recovers from the HBP.”

** Right-hander Chaz Roe (right shoulder tendinitis) threw from flat ground Wednesday, the

first time the reliever has done that since going on the disabled list Aug. 10.

Showalter said Roe felt fine and will throw from flat ground a few more times before progressing

to a mound. He is eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday, and Showalter said that isn’t

impossible, though Roe will likely go on a brief rehab assignment before being activated.

“We probably want him to get a couple outings,” Showalter said. “Until he gets on the rubber,

it’s hard to project what the time frame [is].”

Roe had a platelet-rich-plasma injection in the shoulder last week, which often speeds up the

healing process. Once he is ready to pitch, Showalter said it doesn’t really matter which affiliate

Roe joins, but proximity to the big league club will play a part in that decision.

** Catcher Matt Wieters wasn’t in the starting lineup Wednesday, but Showalter said he was fine

physically after returning Tuesday following a week’s absence because of a right hamstring

strain. Wieters also absorbed a foul tip to the knee Tuesday, but Showalter said that’s not a

lingering issue. Wieters has only started at catcher in consecutive games once this season, but the

manager said, “I’d be surprised if that didn’t happen sometime between now and the end of the

season.”

** Showalter said there was no update on David Lough’s situation. The outfielder was

designated for assignment Friday and from that point, the club had 10 days to trade, release or

ask waivers on Lough. If he clears waivers, he’d be sent to Triple-A Norfolk.

** Triple-A Norfolk announced that former Orioles lefty Mike Belfiore has signed with the

organization and been assigned to the Tides. Befiore, 26, was 5-11 with a 5.60 ERA in 22 starts

for Detroit's Triple-A affiliate in Toledo.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/144218734/henry-urrutias-walk-off-a-dream-come-true

Urrutia's game-winner a dream come true

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

August 20, 2015

BALTIMORE -- Since Henry Urrutia first set foot in the United States, flying into Miami on

Feb. 27, 2013, he had dreamed of moments like Wednesday.

Urrutia, whose signing took seven months to become official as the Cuban defector waited to

secure a work visa in Haiti, saw the 1-2 pitch leave Mets reliever Carlos Torres' hand and knew

he could drive it. And that's exactly what the outfielder -- recalled from Triple-A Norfolk last

week -- did, smashing his first career Major League homer and lifting the playoff-hopeful

Orioles to a 5-4 walk-off win.

"This is the best moment in all my career," said a choked-up Urrutia, who became the fifth

Oriole in club history -- and first since Chris Hoiles in 1990 -- to record a walk-off homer as

their first career home run.

"Well, that makes this moment bigger for me," Urrutia said of cementing his place in Baltimore

lore. "A lot of good players [have] come here and played with this organization -- and in their

whole careers [they] don't have a moment like this. So this moment for me is special [and] is

bigger than anything."

Since the day he signed, Urrutia -- who debuted in 2013 -- has made it clear how much he loves

the Orioles. His custom Camaro is black-and-orange. His Twitter handle is @henryorioles. And

on Wednesday, Urrutia got to feel the love that goes with bringing the house down in front of

36,165 at Camden Yards with his ninth-inning blast.

"All you have to do is walk down here and see his wife and baby outside there. [It's] pretty cool.

I like being able to take that in," O's manager Buck Showalter said of Urrutia, who did not reach

the big leagues at all last year. "It's been a long road for Henry. The games are dwindling and it's

that time. That's why they call it the dog days of August. They're here."

Urrutia was able to secure the baseball from the fan who caught it in the left-field stands and

happily met for the exchange outside of the home clubhouse.

"When the guy told me I have your baseball for you, wow. That's the best gift for me tonight,"

Urrutia said, blinking back tears. "Now I can give that baseball to my son. And my son [Henry]

one day can say this is the first homer from my dad in the big leagues."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/144130906/orioles-steve-pearce-takes-batting-practice

Pearce takes batting practice in rehab assignment

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

August 19, 2015

BALTIMORE -- Steve Pearce, who is rehabbing a left oblique injury, took live batting practice

in Sarasota, Fla., on Wednesday as he continues his rehab.

Pearce was drilled in the back in his third at-bat by right-hander Chris Perez, who is serving a

50-game suspension for testing positive for a drug of abuse. O's manager Buck Showalter said

BP was shut down after that and the organization will check on Pearce's status on Thursday

before determining the next step in his rehab.

Chaz Roe, who is on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, threw off flat ground on

Wednesday for the first time since his injury. The plan is for him to do that a few times before he

gets up on the mound. Once he does that, the O's will have a better idea of a timeline on Roe,

who is eligible to come off the DL next week.

Matt Wieters came through Tuesday's start against the Mets with no issues in his hamstring and

Showalter said this injury does not preclude him playing consecutive days.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/144130906/orioles-steve-pearce-takes-batting-practice

Gonzalez set for series opener with Twins

By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com

August 19, 2015

Two clubs in the hunt for an American League Wild Card spot square off Thursday, when the

Orioles host the Twins to open a four-game series.

Minnesota swept Baltimore in a three-game set at Target Field from July 6-8, but the Twins have

struggled since then and are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees in New

York.

But Byron Buxton, ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect by MLB.com, is joining the Twins, as

outfielder Aaron Hicks was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain

Wednesday.

Three things to know about this game

• Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez starts for the Orioles on Thursday and has been uneven

recently, posting a 6.64 ERA over his last four starts. He was solid his last time out, allowing

three runs over seven innings against the A's. Gonzalez, though, was stuck with a no-decision

and is still looking for his first win since July 25.

• Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey is set to make his third career start, and the rookie is coming

off his first career win. Duffey was hit hard in his debut, giving up six runs in two innings

against the Blue Jays on Aug. 5, but he was much better his second time out, as he held the

Indians to one hit over six scoreless innings on Saturday.

• Veteran right fielder Torii Hunter has been getting regular rest lately, as the Twins are trying to

keep the 40-year-old fresh. He was on the bench on Monday and Wednesday against the

Yankees, but is expected to play in the series opener. Hunter has been mired in a 1-for-26 slump.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/08/leftovers-for-breakfast-37.html

Leftovers for breakfast

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 20, 2015

Pitcher Kevin Gausman took special interest in the two-homer day by Yankees first baseman

Greg Bird. And not because the teams are division rivals and the Orioles are trying to catch

them.

Gausman and Bird were teammates at Grandview High in Aurora, Colo., their families living a

few minutes apart. Bird was a catcher, so the relationship only grew stronger.

The Yankees called up Bird, their fourth-rated prospect, on Thursday, which prompted Gausman

to send him a congratulatory text message. Bird was destined to hear from him again yesterday

after belting a pair of two-run homers in a 4-3 win over the Twins.

"It was pretty cool," Gausman said. "When he got his first hit in Toronto, they showed his

parents. I know his parents pretty well.

"He actually moved from Nashville and made our varsity team as a freshman. He could always

hit. He was a catcher, but he's a pretty big guy. He kind of had some health issues in the minors

when he first started catching and that's why they moved him to first. But yeah, he used to hit

some mamos in Colorado."

Translated: Mammoth home runs.

"Two guys from Colorado, that's pretty rare," Gausman said. "I think there's only been two other

guys who have been from the same high school and made it to the big leagues who played

together."

Gausman could face Bird next month, since the Orioles have six games remaining with the

Yankees.

"I always told him, even when we were in high school, if we're ever in the big leagues together, I

told him I was going to hit him," Gausman said with a smile.

"I'm anxious to see what his reaction is if I pitch against him. That first pitch, if I throw him a

fastball in, what his reaction is going to be. It's going to be pretty funny."

* Showalter had a little fun with Gausman after finding out that the right-hander took some heat

for wearing a Saints jersey to the exhibition game at M&T Bank Stadium.

"I told him, 'If you really want to get the fans who are mad at you back on your side, the next

time they play, just wear a Steelers jersey,'" Showalter said. "He goes, 'Really?' And I said, 'No.'

I said,

'We'll give you a pass in the preseason. Just wear black next time without a number.'

"I had him sweating. I said, 'I don't know if I'll be able to pitch you next time out. You better

pitch good.'"

* Adam Jones was kind enough to remove Henry Urrutia's MASN headset last night before

delivering a pie to the face.

What flavor was the pie?

"I don't even know," Urrutia said following his walk-off home run. "I can feel the pie in my ear

and everywhere. When I saw Jonesy put the pies in the faces of the other players, I never think

he threw too hard. Now I have pie everywhere."

* The Orioles have three catchers on their roster before September call-ups, which is a bit

unusual. But all three players can move to other positions, which also is a bit unusual.

And speaking of unusual...

"All three of them bring a threat offensively, which is unusual as a whole for 30 teams,"

Showalter said. "I think Stevie (Clevenger) can play first, third, outfield, give us some good

coverage there. He's swinging the bat well. Take advantage of it."

Could Clevenger, Matt Wieters and Caleb Joseph be in the same lineup?

"I probably don't see that happening, but it could," Showalter said. "Who is the best first

baseman of the three? I don't think we have enough sampling really to feel that. Matt's the

biggest target. I imagine Stevie is the most experienced at it."

* It probably won't surprise you to know that Showalter attended a game at Double-A Bowie

during the off-day Thursday. But imagine his surprise when he felt someone tapping him on the

shoulder, turned around and saw reliever Mychal Givens.

It says a lot about the kid that he showed up to watch his former teammates after being called

back up to the majors. He feels an attachment to them and wanted to offer his support.

* Gerardo Parra extended his hitting streak to six games last night with a single in the first

inning, his 12th hit in his last 24 at-bats.

Parra is batting .358 in 60 games since June 11.

"I wish we could get his numbers as a group up there. Tells you what kind of a year he's having,"

Showalter said.

"He's a very competitive guy. He brings a lot of the table, more than one phase of the game.

That's why we like him."

Parra also one of the more enthusiastic players in the dugout. It's fun to watch him react to a

home run.

* Jonathan Schoop, coming off a rough night in the field, drilled a game-tying, two-run homer

last night in the sixth inning. He began the night batting .302 in 45 games and 149 at-bats.

"I'm really proud of him," Showalter said before the game. "He hasn't had 200 at-bats yet this

year. He's at the infant stage of a season. But I see all the work he and Manny (Machado) do

every day in the weight room and with the trainers. Because of Manny's two knee surgeries and

Jon's injury, they have to do certain things to stay on the field.

"They've been great about it, but we have people who aren't going to let that happen. That's their

job every day to make sure they do that. It's important for them to stay on the field, to do this to

stay on the field."

* Single-A Delmarva manager Ryan Minor and his coaching staff are drawing a considerable

amount of praise from within the organization for the job they've done with a team that's not

considered to be flush with prospects - especially after third baseman Jomar Reyes sprained his

thumb in June.

* Center fielder Jaylen Ferguson, the Orioles' ninth-round pick this year out of Arlington (Texas)

High School, had a double and triple yesterday for the Gulf Coast League team.

Showalter's son, Nathan, scouted Ferguson. The Orioles hired him in February as an area scout

working in North Texas and Southern Arkansas.

* Former Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA and one save in eight games

with the Cubs. He's allowed three runs and seven hits, walked one, struck out five and served up

two home runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Zach Davies, traded to the Brewers for Parra, is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts with Triple-

A Colorado Springs. He's allowed eight runs and 19 hits in 16 innings, with nine walks and 13

strikeouts.

* Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey, 24, is making his third major league start tonight. He's 1-1

with a 6.75 ERA in two August starts, allowing six runs and six hits in eight innings, with seven

walks, eight strikeouts and two home runs.

Don't judge him too harshly. Duffey, a fifth-round draft pick out of Rice University in 2012, shut

out the Indians on one hit over six innings in his last outing. The Blue Jays battered him for six

runs over two innings in his debut in Toronto.

Duffey's middle name is Blinn. I just felt the need to share it.

Miguel Gonzalez hadn't worked more than 5 1/3 innings in eight of 10 starts before making it

through the seventh Saturday night against the Athletics. He's 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two career

starts against the Twins, with four runs allowed in 11 2/3 innings.

The current Twins are batting .323 (10-for-31) against Gonzalez. Trevor Plouffe is 2-for-5 with a

double and home run, Torii Hunter is 2-for-5 with a home run and Brian Dozier is 2-for-5.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/08/showalter-the-games-are-dwindling-and-its-

that-time.html

Showalter: "The games are dwindling and it's that time"

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 19, 2015

The Orioles have delivered three walk-off home runs in six games of this homestand - August

14, 15 and 19 if you want to mark your calendars. Henry Urrutia's liner into the left field seats

tonight off Mets reliever Carlos Torres was especially memorable.

Urrutia led off the bottom of the ninth with his first major league home run to give the Orioles a

5-4 win over the Mets before 36,165 at Camden Yards.

According to STATS, Urrutia became the fifth Oriole whose first home run was a walk-off,

joining Merv Rettenmund on Aug. 27, 1968, Jim Hardin on May 10, 1969, Dave Criscione on

July 25, 1977 and Chris Hoiles on June 27, 1990.

The last player to do was Atlanta's Christian Bethancourt on June 6, 2015.

"It's cool," said manager Buck Showalter. "You know what it means? It means the Orioles won.

That's the biggest thing you take out of it and that's always a good thing.

"That's a real good club over there. We didn't see three of the other starting pitchers they've got.

Shortstop's a good player, the second baseman wore us out. It's a good team. You can see why

they're ahead in their division. Washington's got their hands full."

Urrutia isn't the only player to start contributing after a recent call-up. Steve Clevenger had two

more hits and an RBI.

"We talk all the time, it's kind of who we are," Showalter said. "The guys are doing the job who

have come up. You try to give an opportunity to the people who are here and the people who are

doing what they're supposed to be doing down there, and that's how it has to work with us. But

it's one thing to have an opportunity and another to run with it. I'm sure Henry was glad he was

in Camden and not Norfolk, for a lot of reasons. One of them being the ballpark."

Urrutia, who defected from Cuba and finally arrived in the U.S. in February 2013, spoke tonight

of realizing his dream as he rounded the bases. His eyes were moist with tears as he talked about

giving the baseball to his young son. Everyone on the team took in the moment.

"All you have to do is walk down here and see his wife and baby outside there," Showalter said.

"Pretty cool. I like being able to take that in. It's been a long road for Henry.

"The games are dwindling and it's that time. That's why they call it the dog days of August.

They're here."

The Orioles settled for a split of the two-game series and were glad to get rid of the Mets.

"That's a good bullpen, a good starting rotation," he said. "We've got another team (the Twins)

fighting tooth and nail to get into the playoffs coming in here. We ain't backing into nothing.

You're going to have to earn it and tonight we did against a very good team."

Ubaldo Jimenez allowed three runs and five hits, with four walks, in five innings.

"Just command issues," Showalter said. "Didn't let him get away from him. Kept us engaged in

the score, but he had 94-95 pitches after five. He wanted to stay out there for one more inning,

but where they were in the order, and he really had to work hard on a sticky night. But he kept us

engaged in the game and didn't let it get away from him.

"I know it was frustrating for him. He had a lot of borderline pitches that didn't go his way that

could have changed a lot of situations."

Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run homer in the sixth to ease some of the pain from his defensive

struggles last night.

"I thought Jonathan had a big night in a lot of ways," Showalter said. "You see some toughness

that you like about him because he had some tough at-bats early on and came back and turned a

couple big double plays and kept a ball fair that seemed like the 100th breaking ball that he had

seen. They got that one in a spot where he could do something with it."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/08/hearing-from-buck-showalter-before-

tonights-game.html

Hearing from Buck Showalter before tonight's game

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 19, 2015

The Orioles did more than check on catcher Matt Wieters' right hamstring following last night's

game. They also made sure his right knee wasn't creating a health issue.

Wieters took a foul tip off his knee, which brought head athletic trainer Richie Bancells out of

the dugout. Wieters stayed in the game and collected two hits.

"He feels good today," said manager Buck Showalter. "I'm going to talk to him out on the field a

little bit and see. Hoping he gets through tomorrow and he'll be an option to do a lot of the things

he was doing before he had this problem.

"There was the little spot in the hinge of a shin guard that when the ball gets in that spot, all

catchers know about it. As soon as it happened, John (Russell) in the dugout said, 'The spot.'

That one hurt. That hurt. But I think he's OK."

Wieters has caught on back-to-back days only once this season, but it remains a possibility

despite the recent hamstring injury.

"I'd be surprised if that didn't happen sometime between now and the end of the season,"

Showalter said.

Caleb Joseph, who's behind the plate tonight, is batting .294/.356/.504 in 37 home games and

.218/.292/.411 in 39 road games. Six of his 11 home runs, however, have come on the road.

The Orioles are hoping that outfielder Steve Pearce is nearing an injury rehab assignment with

one of their minor league affiliates. They're also hoping that the Chris Perez pitch that nailed him

in the back today during live batting practice doesn't delay those plans.

"His third at-bat he got hit in the back, so it stopped there," Showalter said.

"I'm going to call him before the game and see how he feels. If he can get through a couple days

of that, that could come pretty quick. We'll see how he recovers from the HBP. But I don't know.

Richie just brought me up to speed on it."

Reliever Chaz Roe is eligible to come off the disabled list on Aug. 25 while the Orioles are in

Kansas City, and Showalter said it's going to be "close."

"Chaz threw on flat ground today and it went well," Showalter said. "He'll do that one or two

more times before he gets on the rubber. The flat ground thing he might do every day. That's

progressing well.

"He felt good today and that's the first time he had the ball in his hand. He had the (cortisone)

injection and he's past that. He got up to the five-pound weight that you want him to get to before

they get on the mound, so today was the progression he should take to get there.

"It will be close if we don't have any setbacks. We probably want him to get a couple outings.

Until he gets on the rubber, it's hard to project what time frame."

As I wrote earlier, there aren't any updates on outfielder David Lough except that the Orioles

haven't found a trade partner.

"It's kind of a win-win for him," Showalter said. "We're hoping he clears and is playing at

Norfolk shortly."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/08/notes-on-pearce-wieters-roe-and-more.html

Notes on Pearce, Wieters, Roe and more

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com

August 19, 2015

Orioles outfielder Steve Pearce took live batting practice today in Sarasota and was hit by a pitch

in his third at-bat.

Chris Perez, serving a 50-game suspension that was handed down in June for a second positive

test for a drug of abuse, drilled Pearce in the back. The Orioles ended the BP session and will

check on Pearce Thursday before determining how close he is to going on a rehab assignment.

Pearce is on the disabled list retroactive to July 19 with a strained left oblique.

The Orioles signed Perez to a minor league deal on July 2.

Matt Wieters' right hamstring is fine after he caught last night.

Buck Showalter said he'd be surprised if Wieters didn't catch back-to-back days before the

season ends. It's happened only once.

Reliever Chaz Roe, on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, threw off flat ground today

for the first time. He'll repeat the session one or two times before throwing off a mound.

Roe will be sent on a brief rehab assignment before coming off the disabled list.

There's still no word on the status of outfielder David Lough, who was designated for assignment

on Aug. 14. The Orioles haven't been able to trade him.

Showalter is hoping that Lough clears waivers and is outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles signed left-hander Mike Belfiore to a Triple-A contract. Belfiore made his major

league debut with the club in 2013, making his only appearance and allowing two runs in 1 2/3

innings. He pitched at Double-A Bowie in 2012 and Norfolk the following year.

Belfiore was 5-11 with a 5.60 ERA in 22 starts this season at Triple-A Toledo.

The Pirates reportedly have signed former Orioles outfielder Travis Snider to a minor league

contract.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/08/a-look-at-urrutias-big-night-schoops-

redemption-and-ubaldos-struggles.html

A look at Urrutia's big night, Schoop's redemption and

Jimenez's struggles

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 20, 2015

Well, not all nights at the ballpark are created equal.

Sometimes you see something special, fun or emotional or maybe all of the above. We seemed to

get that and more last night when Henry Urrutia hit that walk-off homer to left in the last of the

ninth.

We saw history in that Urrutia became just the fifth Oriole to have his first career homer be a

walk-off shot. We saw the Orioles produce their third walk-off homer in six games on this

homestand. We saw and heard from the emotional Urrutia after the game.

Urrutia called it the best moment of his career. When the fan who got the ball gave it to Urrutia,

that made his wonderful moment even better.

"Wow, that is the best gift for me tonight," he said. "Now my son can say one day, 'This is the

first homer for my dad in the big leagues.'"

On a 1-to-10 feel-good scale, watching Urrutia's homer and then listening to his heartfelt words

about his son and his teammates in the clubhouse was about a 15.

Urrutia said the support of Buck Showalter and his teammates "makes me strong." For someone

who has only been part of the Orioles organization for about three years now, Urrutia had the

perfect response to being one of five O's to hit a walk-off for their first MLB homer.

"A lot of good players come here to this team and play with this organization," he said, "and in

their whole career don't have a moment like this. So this moment for me is special and bigger."

I can remember interviewing Urrutia at a Bowie Baysox winter caravan event last January. He

apologized for how he spoke English. The only thing reporters who had covered him as an

Oriole since 2012 noticed was that his English was greatly improved. It was clear he put in major

time and effort to speak so well.

That showed me Urrutia has what Showalter would call "want-to." He wants to learn about our

country, his teammates, the organization, the fans and more. And, he wants to be a good big

leaguer.

Just about the time some seemed convinced Urrutia was not a good defender, he robbed Danny

Valencia of a homer. Just about the time some were convinced he would be nothing more than a

slap-hitter, he hit a game-winning homer. Heck, just about the time some reporters might have

been concerned it would be difficult to interview Urrutia, he mastered the language.

None of this means he'll ever be an All-Star for the Orioles. Who knows what his future will

hold? But today, he deserves props for the improvements he's made on and off the field.

If ever someone deserved a moment like last night, it was Urrutia.

Jonathan Schoop's redemption: Meanwhile, just when it looked like Schoop might never catch

up with Noah Sydergaard's breaking ball, he did ... for a two-run, game-tying homer in the sixth.

That was big for Johnny Baseball on a night after he went hitless and made two errors.

"He threw me some good curveballs," Schoop said. "I didn't keep my head down. I tried to let

some go, but I didn't. But I said, 'Hang in there, I'm going to catch one.' Finally I caught one.

They have really good pitching, but we won and got a W that we needed."

Ubaldo Jimenez's struggles: In the first half, right-hander Jimenez went 7-4 with a 2.81 ERA in

17 starts. Now in seven post-All Star Game starts, Jimenez is 2-3 with an ERA of 7.12.

"I haven't been able to do what I want to as a starter, and that is get deep in the game," he said

last night. "I've been missing. I know I had four walks today, but I'm really close to the strike

zone. I have to find a way to stop walking guys. But the guys, they never gave up and they found

a way to score and win.

"I was struggling a little bit with my mechanics, especially with a runner on base. I was trying to

get a little faster, and that is what got me in trouble, moving my front shoulder."

In the first half, Jimenez gave up a .247 batting average, walked 2.9 per every nine innings and

allowed a homer on average once every 12.4 innings. In the second half, those numbers are a

.279 average against, 3.4 walks per nine and a homer allowed every 4.6 innings.

Jimenez has become an issue again for the Orioles. If he can find his first-half form, it would be

big as the Orioles head down the stretch.

Meanwhile, the Orioles have three walk-off wins via a homer in six games during this 5-1

homestand. They are 2-1 in the last three games when the opponent pitchers have been Sonny

Gray, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. Have the Orioles begun to turn it up a notch?

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/08/henry-urrutia-this-is-the-best-moment-of-

my-career.html

Henry Urrutia: "This is the best moment in all of my

career"

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 19, 2015

Henry Urrutia tonight became the fifth player in Orioles history to produce a walk-off win with

his first major league homer. Outfielder Merv Rettenmund was the first to do so in 1968, and the

list also includes pitcher Jim Hardin in 1969, catcher Dave Criscione in 1977 and catcher Chris

Hoiles in 1990.

With his homer to left on a 1-2 pitch leading off the ninth inning, Urrutia not only gave his club

an important 5-4 win over the Mets, he created a moment that he will never forget.

"This is the best moment in all of my career," Urrutia said. "In 2013 (when called up), what was

on my mind was to do a good job and have a good career with the Orioles. That was the most

important thing for me. But today, this moment is amazing.

"Before my at-bat, I was thinking just make good contact. When I made good contact and was

running to first base on my mind was 'I can't believe this. This is the dream. I can't believe this.'"

After the game, the feel-good story continued. Urrutia was able to get the ball from a fan, and

that ball is headed to someone special.

"When the guy told me 'I have your baseball for you.' Wow, that is the best gift for me tonight.

Now my son can say one day 'This is the first homer for my dad in the big leagues.'"

Urrutia said before he went to bat in the ninth, some of his teammates filled him with confidence.

"Manny, Jonsey and Jonathan told me 'You can do it. You can do it. Go ahead and make a good

swing.' Wow, I'm really nervous, sorry guys," Urrutia said as he ended his thought. It was clearly

an emotional interview for Urrutia after his game-winner.

When told he was one of five Orioles to hit a walk-off as their first big league homer, Urrutia

said: "That makes this moment bigger for me. I lot of good players come here to this team and

play with this organization. And in their whole career don't have a moment like this. So this

moment for me is special and bigger."

Urrutia re-iterated that the support of manager Buck Showalter and his teammates has been big

for him.

"That makes me strong," he said. "Because I know the fans and team are waiting for something

good from me. When Manny said, 'You can do it, go ahead do it.' When they say something like

that, I feel strong. When I go to home plate, I don't feel anything else other than the team trusts

me."

Jonathan Schoop hit a big homer as well and he said he also got support from his teammates.

Last night, Schoop made two errors and went 0-for-4. Tonight, he hit a game-tying two-run

homer in the sixth inning.

"To be honest, I have great teammates and coaching staff. They talked to me and make me feel

like that wasn't me. I said it yesterday that I have to focus and play better. J.J. (Hardy) and

Jonesey told me everyone has a bad day, get it done tomorrow."

Schoop was asked about the Orioles producing their third walk-off homer in six games and

Urrutia's special homer.

"I think it makes us feel like we are not giving in. We keep battling. We play to the final out.

Really special for him. His first home run in the big leagues and it was a walk-off. That was

amazing," Schoop said.

Starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was also asked about Urrutia's big night.

"That was really cool. Especially for him, he is a really nice guy. Your first home run is a walk-

off, that is huge. He did it in a classy way ... I guess the magic is back," Jimenez said.

This was the Orioles' sixth walk-off homer of the year and their third walk-off win via a home

run in six games of this homestand. The last player to hit a walk-off homer for his first homer

was Christian Bethancourt of Atlanta against Pittsburgh on June 6.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/08/os-game-blog-orioles-look-to-break-nine-

game-losing-streak-against-the-mets.html

O's game blog: Orioles look to break nine-game losing streak

against Mets

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 19, 2015

The Orioles look to finally get some offense going against New York Mets pitching tonight as

they conclude this brief two-game series at Camden Yards. In three games against New York in

2015, the

Orioles have scored just six runs on 23 hits with a double and three homers. They are 3-for-16

with runners in scoring position.

The Orioles are looking to break a nine-game losing streak to the Mets. Their last win was June

18, 2009. The Mets lead the all-time series 22-9. The last time the Mets won nine in a row

against a single opponent was versus Milwaukee from May 20, 1999 to June 16, 2000.

On the mound tonight, Ubaldo Jimenez (9-7, 3.92 ERA) faces right-hander Noah Syndergaard

(7-6, 3.07 ERA).

Despite pitching eight scoreless innings against the Angels two starts ago, Jimenez is 2-3 with a

7.39 ERA in six second-half starts. Over 31 2/3 innings, he has allowed 36 hits, seven homers

and a .279 batting average. He has pitched five innings or less five times in that stretch. Jimenez

ranks 12th in the American League and first among O's starters averaging 8.38 strikeouts per

nine innings.

Syndergaard has given up 12 hits and eight runs in 11 innings his past two starts. But in the

seven starts preceding that, he had an ERA of 1.44 allowing one earned run or less five times.

Syndergaard has very strange home and road splits. At home, he is 7-1 with a 1.82 ERA in nine

starts. On the road, he is 0-5 with a 5.01 ERA in eight starts and the Mets are 1-7 in those games.

He has never faced the Orioles.

The Mets starting pitchers have allowed two or fewer runs in 17 of their past 22 games, pitching

to an ERA of 2.32 in that span since July 25. Overall, Mets starting pitchers rank fourth in MLB

in ERA at 3.23.

The Mets are 64-55 overall, 11-5 in August and have won 15 of their past 22 games. They lead

the NL East by 4 1/2 games over the Nationals.

The Orioles are 61-57 overall and 36-21 at home. Since June 3, when the Orioles were a season-

worst six games under .500, they are 38-28 (.576). The Orioles are 15-8 their last 23 games.

They trail first-place New York by 5 1/2 games in the AL East after the Yankees again beat

Minnesota today. The Orioles are a half-game behind the Angels for the second AL wild card.

Los Angeles hosts the Chicago White Sox tonight at 10:05 p.m.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/08/os-manager-buck-showalter-takes-note-as-

norfolk-and-bowie-close-in-on-division-titles.html

O's manager Buck Showalter takes note as Norfolk and

Bowie close in on division titles

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com

August 19, 2015

As the Orioles top two minor league affiliates, Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie, close in

on division championships, their accomplishments are being noted in the dugout in Baltimore.

That should come as no surprise. Orioles manager Buck Showalter often takes time during his

afternoon press conferences to throw props and praise to players and coaches from the minors.

He did again today.

Norfolk is 72-51 and leading its division by 6 1/2 games over Gwinnett with 21 games to play.

The Tides magic number to clinch the division is 15. With a win tonight, the Tides would be 22

games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2001 season with an 85-57 record. Bowie is

70-51 with a 4 1/2 game lead over Akron and also has a magic number of 15 to clinch with 21

games remaining.

Showalter today said he is paying not only close attention to those teams, but others on the farm

as well.

"Oh yeah. I don't want to jinx them," he said of the Tides and Baysox. "I look at it almost every

night, how many games they have left. It's all relative. I remember being in Albany and Ft.

Lauderdale and Oneonta. I know how big that is.

"You spend that much time - you end up playing 144 games. It's a big deal. I don't take it lightly.

I don't want to crush Norfolk here on September first (with call-ups). They pushed the end of the

season back further. They could actually be playing down there through like the 15th,

potentially. I hope so.

"We have other clubs that have a shot. The job being done in Delmarva by (manager) Ryan

Minor is impressive, too. I was reading the narrative from (manager) Matt Merullo today from

the Gulf Coast League game. So attentive to detail, everything little thing that happened in the

game. Brian Graham (director of player development) and our minor league staff, they don't miss

much."

Norfolk outfielder Dariel Alvarez extended his hitting streak to six games (.391/.440/.565) last

night. Center fielder Julio Borbon has now hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games (.373/.367/.407).

Tides closer Oliver Drake earned his 22nd save of the season Tuesday, tossing a scoreless ninth

inning. He ranks second in the International League in saves with an 0.68 ERA.

At Bowie last night, the Baysox scored twice in the last of the ninth to beat Trenton 4-3. David

Freitas homered to tie and Corban Joseph's RBI single won it, providing Bowie yet another

walk-off victory.

Freitas went 2-for-4 and has hit safely in five straight games, batting .588/.632/1.176 (10-for-17)

with three home runs and five RBIs. Right-hander Joe Gunkel posted his fifth quality start over

his last six outings, going 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA. Third baseman Drew Dosch went 1-for-3 with a

walk, triple, and two RBIs, and has recorded at least one RBI in three consecutive games.

Single-A Delmarva is 59-60 and can still finish over .500 with a team that has been hit hard by

injuries and one that some scouts feel is short on prospects outside of Jomar Reyes. Short season

Single-A Aberdeen is just 1 1/2 games out of first place and Single-A Frederick is three games

out in the second-half Carolina League race.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-summer-reading-orioles-

20150820-story.html

Orioles to honor Maryland's top summer readers

Associated Press / The Baltimore Sun

August 20, 2015

BALTIMORE (AP) — Children who were some of the top summer readers in Maryland are

being honored by the Baltimore Orioles.

The children will get to take the field for a ceremony before the first pitch of Thursday night's

game against the Minnesota Twins. The children being honored are just some of the nearly

200,000 involved in the Maryland Public Library Summer Reading Program.

The Orioles supported the summer reading program by donating 5,000 tickets to Maryland

public library branches.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/08/29/ap-bba-twins-orioles-preview

Twins-Orioles Preview

SI.com

August 20, 2015

This has already been quite a homestand for the Baltimore Orioles.

Four games against the fading Minnesota Twins could make it even better.

Fresh off yet another walkoff victory, the Orioles seek their sixth win in seven games in the

series opener Thursday night.

Baltimore was eager to return home after losing five of nine on the West Coast and promptly

continued its success at Camden Yards with a four-game sweep of Oakland. Two of those wins

came on game-ending homers and Henry Urrutia delivered a third in Wednesday's 5-4 victory

over the New York Mets.

It was the first career home run for Urrutia, recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

''This is the best moment of my career,'' Urrutia said. ''When I make good contact I was running

for the base and in my mind I said, `I can't believe this.'''

Jonathan Schoop added a two-run shot and Adam Jones also went deep for the Orioles (62-57),

winners of 10 of 13 at home since the All-Star break. They have homered at least once in all of

those games, hitting 27 total.

Jones and Chris Davis have been at the forefront of the offensive surge.

Jones has batted .333 with six homers and 11 RBIs in his last 11 games, while Davis is hitting

.342 with six home runs and 10 RBIs in 10 contests.

Also making a contribution is newcomer Gerardo Parra, who has a .444 average with three

homers and eight runs during a six-game hitting streak.

Miguel Gonzalez (9-8, 4.42 ERA) seeks his first victory in five starts for Baltimore. Since

winning at Tampa on July 25, the right-hander has gone 0-2 with a 6.64 ERA in four starts. The

best outing of that span, however, came Saturday when he allowed three runs over seven innings

against Oakland before leaving without a decision in a 4-3 victory.

Gonzalez went 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two starts against the Twins last season.

Minnesota was 10 games over .500 on July 17 but has since gone 9-21 to fall behind Baltimore,

Texas and Tampa Bay in the battle for the second wild card.

The start of a 10-game trip hasn't provided any answers for the Twins (59-61), who were swept

in three by the New York Yankees to drop two games under .500 for the first time since April

30.

"We have to move forward," manager Paul Molitor told MLB's official website after

Wednesday's 4-3 loss. "It's a tough way to open a long road trip. But there's no room for self-

pity. We have to dig a little deeper and then get ready for Baltimore."

Molitor's lineup will look a little different with center fielder Aaron Hicks out for an

undetermined period after he strained his left hamstring running out a grounder Wednesday.

The Twins will call up top prospect Byron Buxton from Triple-A Rochester to take Hicks' place.

Buxton batted .189 in 11 games with Minnesota in June.

Also missing for the Twins on Thursday will be All-Star closer Glen Perkins, who was given a

cortisone shot for his ailing neck. The team is optimistic Perkins will be able to avoid the

disabled list.

This will be the third start for Tyler Duffey (1-1, 6.75), who rebounded from a rough major

league debut with an excellent performance.

Ten days after allowing six runs in two innings at Toronto, the right-hander took a no-hitter into

the sixth against Cleveland on Saturday. He yielded only a one-out double in that inning, his

final one in a 4-1 victory.

The Twins swept a three-game home series from the Orioles July 6-8.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/08/19/baltimore-orioles-henry-urrutia-walkoff-home-run-video

Watch: Orioles’ Henry Urrutia hits walkoff for first career

home run

SI.com

August 20, 2015

Baltimore Orioles leftfielder Henry Urrutia hit a walk-off home run Wednesday night against the

New York Mets for his first career home run.

With the game tied 4–4, Urrutia led off the bottom of the ninth after Mets relieverCarlos

Torres entered for Tyler Clippard. On the fifth pitch he saw, a 92-mph fastball, Urrutia lined the

ball the opposite way for the game-winning home run just over the leftfield wall at Oriole Park at

Camden Yards.

The home run was Urrutia’s only hit in four at-bats during the game. The 28-year-old Cuban was

recalled from Triple A Norfolk on Saturday and has started five consecutive games, going 4 for

19 with five RBIs and three runs scored.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/61912/baseballs-secret-weapons-orioles-cardinals-

bullpens

Baseball's secret weapons: Orioles, Cardinals bullpens

By David Schoenfield / ESPN.com

August 20, 2015

Here are the 10 teams currently in a playoff position and where their bullpens ranks among all 30

teams in ERA:

Kansas City Royals: 2.42 (2nd)

New York Yankees: 3.23 (8th)

Toronto Blue Jays: 3.19 (7th)

Houston Astros: 2.69 (5th)

Los Angeles Angels: 3.46 (14th)

Baltimore Orioles: 2.68 (4th)

St. Louis Cardinals: 2.21 (1st)

Pittsburgh Pirates: 2.59 (3rd)

Chicago Cubs: 3.44 (13th)

Los Angeles Dodgers: 4.20 (22nd)

New York Mets: 3.14 (6th)

I'd say there's a pretty strong correlation between having a good bullpen and making the playoffs.

Only the Dodgers have a pen that has really struggled. Of course, you might suggest there's also

a strong correlation between having good starting pitching and making the playoffs. That's true,

but at least in 2015, it's not quite as strong a correlation, as the Blue Jays, Royals, Yankees and

Orioles all rank 14th or lower in ERA.

Anyway, all that is a simplistic way of evaluating performance, but we can all agree that strong

bullpens are more important than ever, especially as we get into the stretch run and then into the

postseason, when more games mean more innings than ever required from relievers.

That's why I wouldn't be surprised to see a World Series showdown between the Orioles and

Cardinals, who possess maybe the best secret weapons in the game. We all know about the

Royals' dominant pen, but Baltimore and St. Louis also have crews of shutdown relievers, as we

saw in their wins on Wednesday. Four Orioles relievers allowed one run in four innings against

the Mets as the Orioles came back from a 4-3 deficit to win on Henry Urrutia's walk-off home

run. For the Cardinals, three relievers held the Giants scoreless for the final 2 2/3 innings as they

rallied from a 3-2 deficit to win 4-3.

It seems like both pens have sort of flown under the radar this season (bird reference intended).

The Cardinals' rotation has rightfully garnered a lot of the national attention while we seem to

hear more about the lack of an ace in the Orioles' rotation than the strength of their bullpen.

Both teams start with a power closer, the reason neither has a lost a game all season it led

entering the ninth inning; the Orioles are 54-0 and the Cardinals are 67-0. Baltimore's Zach

Britton is amazing to watch. He throws one of the most unhittable pitches in the game, a power

two-seam sinker that averages 95.7 mph. He throws it 88 percent of the time and batters still

struggle to make solid contact against it. Since becoming the Baltimore closer last May, Britton

is 66-for-72 in save opportunities.

Like Britton, St. Louis' Trevor Rosenthal owns a sub-2.00 ERA as he's resolved control issues

that plagued him last season. Rosenthal's four-seamer averages 97.4 mph and he throws it 73

percent of the time, mixing in a changeup and slider and, very rarely, a curveball. Yes, that

changeup is hard to hit when he throws it; batters are hitting .137 against. Dropping his walk rate

from 5.4 to 3.0 per nine innings has helped lower his ERA from 3.20 in 2014 to 1.44.

The Orioles' primary set-up guy is sidearmer Darren O'Day, who joined Britton on the All-Star

team this year. He's 5-1 with a 1.15 ERA -- he and Britton are now a combined 9-1 -- with 60

strikeouts in 47 innings even though his sinker averages just 86.6 mph. His sinker/slider

repertoire once made him vulnerable to left-handed batters, but he's contained them to a

.209/.295/.386 line the past two seasons.

The Cardinals have their own sidearmer in Steve Cishek, acquired from the Marlins in one of the

most underappreciated trade-deadline deals. Cishek saved 73 games in 2013-2014 but struggled

out of the gate in 2015, blowing four games by May 11 -- three of which were not just blown

saves, but losses. Since May 16, however, he has a 1.20 ERA and has allowed just one run in his

10 appearances since joining the Cardinals. The Orioles have Brian Matusz as their primary

lefty, while the Cardinals have both power-armed Kevin Siegrist (66 K's in 55 2/3 innings) and

LOOGY Randy Choate from the left side.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is a little unique in his handling of his pen. They lead the

majors in relief appearances of more than one inning with 106. The Cardinals have just 58 such

appearances, although both Britton and Rosenthal have gone more than three outs six times.

What Showalter prefers to avoid is using a reliever on two consecutive days, let alone

three. Tommy Hunter, now with the Cubs, is the only Orioles reliever to appear in three straight

days this year, which he did once. Showalter has used a reliever on consecutive days just 44

times; Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has used a reliever on three or more consecutive days

26 times and two or more 84 times, leading to some concern that he'll burn out the pen by

October.

We all saw last October what a bullpen can do, as both the Royals and Giants received

tremendous work from their pens throughout the postseason. The Cardinals could even have the

luxury of adding one of the starters to the pen in October. The big advantage to a deep pen is you

don't have to tax your starters as much and quick hooks are possible and even advised. The Cards

will be favored to get to the World Series; if the Orioles do make the playoffs, it will be the

bullpen that might have to carry them to their first World Series since 1983.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/61917/wednesdays-top-5-henry-urrutia-lifts-orioles

Wednesday's Top 5: Henry Urrutia lifts Orioles

By David Schoenfield / ESPN.com

August 20, 2015

1. Henry Urrutia, Baltimore Orioles. Who? Hopefully Urrutia will avoid the fate of Tuesday's

No. 1 guy, Pedro Florimon, who got designated for assignment on Wednesday after hitting a

game-winning triple the night before. Urrutia, a 28-year-old from Cuba just called up a few days

ago, had received 58 at-bats with the O's in 2013, getting one extra-base hit, but hit his first

major league homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Orioles a 5-4 win over theNew York

Mets. Urrutia can hit -- he hit .347 in the upper minors in 2013 and .292/.344/.414 with 10 home

runs at Triple-A this year -- and is the kind of player who would have a nice career as a bench

presence back in the '70s or '80s, before teams started carrying so many relievers. He doesn't

quite have the power you want from a corner outfielder, but look for him to play a little left field

and a little DH down the stretch.

2. Chase Utley, Los Angeles Dodgers. That felt weird to type. With Howie Kendrick out for a

couple more week and the Dodgers wanting to use Kiki Hernandez more in the outfield, they

acquired Utley from the Phillies to fill in at second. Hey, he's 15-for-31 since coming off the DL

in early August. He's obviously past his prime -- from 2005 to 2010 Utley was second to Albert

Pujolsin WAR among all position players -- but his latest surge suggests he can still contribute

something to L.A.'s playoff push.

Utley finishes his tenure in Philadelphia ranked fourth all time in career WAR with the franchise,

behind Mike Schmidt, Robin Roberts and Steve Carlton. Pretty nice company. Utley may not

have the longevity to eventually join those three in the Hall of Fame, but I'm guessing Phillies

fans hold him in similar regard.

3. Daniel Norris, Detroit Tigers. First, the rookie pitcher apparently broke a scoreboard at

Wrigley Field in batting practice. Then, in his first professional at-bat -- in the minors or majors -

- he homered to center field off Jon Lester. A Baseball America scouting report when he was

drafted: "An outstanding athlete, Norris played quarterback until his senior year of high school,

and he showed easy power as a hitter. His future is very much on the mound, however ..."

Unfortunately, he left the game -- a 15-8 win over the Chicago Cubs -- in the fifth inning with a

strained oblique, so didn't last long enough to get the win.

4. Juan Perez, San Francisco Giants. Nice catch!

5. Greg Bird, New York Yankees. Two home runs, four RBIs, the Yankees win 4-3. I guess

that's kind of a one-man show. Nice job, rook.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post?id=10986

Guest columnist Matt Buschmann: What baseball might

look like in the year 2045

By Matt Buschmann / Special to ESPN.com

August 20, 2015

Editor's note: Matt Buschmann is currently pitching in the minor leagues at Triple-A Norfolk, an

affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.

Umpires? Where the game is headed, there won't be a need for umpires.

The movie "Back to the Future" turns 30 this year and is still considered one of the best starts to

one of the greatest trilogies of all time, where the lead character is wearing an orange vest. In

honor of those great events that started in 1985 and spanned 130 years on the space-time

continuum and, also, the Cubs beating Miami in the World Series in 2015, I came up with a great

idea to help me write this post.

I'm going to get a time machine and travel 30 years into the future to see what the game of

baseball looks like in the year 2045!

What's that you say? We can't time travel yet? Oh, well. What if I put on a Huey Lewis and the

News song, put on an orange vest and come up with some ideas on where this game might be

headed? It's like the same thing as time traveling, right? Buster Olney has assured me that it is

and as a Vanderbilt graduate, I completely trust his intelligent judgment. First, let's discuss where

we are at the present.

Time, in regards to baseball (and in general), is relative. It moves more slowly inside the foul

lines when compared to society at large. Technology in the real world changes and progresses at

an insane, exponential rate. In just about 60 years, we've gone from inputting code on sheets of

paper to a new groundbreaking phone every 12 months, after having nothing of the sort for

thousands of years before. In comparison, baseball still uses a sanitary sock full of rosin behind

the mound, introduced in 1926, to help pitchers with grip. Humanity has a rover on Mars and just

took close-up pictures of Pluto, yet pitchers are still stuck with only one substance to help hold

on to the baseball. (If you're wondering, yes, I am a pitcher.)

Needless to say, baseball doesn't change much. There is a purity factor fans and players like to

cling to to justify keeping this game the same as the one they grew up with. It has become a

virtual family heirloom to millions of families over the years and, like a treasured heirloom, it is

each generation's task to safeguard it so the next generation can enjoy, and experience, the fondly

remembered past. But even the history museum that is the game of baseball can't fight off

progress forever. Since I started playing professionally nine years ago, there have been a lot of

changes to the game and they seem to be coming at a quicker pace than ever before (nine years

in baseball is equivalent to about one day in real life).

So let's look into the crystal ball and play the what-if game with regard to on- and off-the-field

areas of baseball that look ripe for progress.

Value and player evaluation

The future of player evaluation and player development will become very scientific. With the

advent of Trackman and Pitch F/X, baseball is able to measure everything that can happen to a

baseball during a game. Spin rates, movement, release angles, spin axis, launch angles and exit

velocity (off the bat) to name just a few. The question in the future won't be how hard a pitcher

throws but rather "what kind" of hard does he throw. Not what's the hitter's batting average but

what's the hitter's exit velocity. Radar guns will be relics of the past, giving only pitch speed with

no context around the useless number that pops up. Spin rates, release angles and

vertical/horizontal movement will be the metrics of the day for pitchers. A pitcher who throws 92

with a high spin rate (equates to the "rise" or "invisi-ball" hitters talk about) and long extension

(sneaky fast) will be more valued than the 95 mph pitcher with below-average movement who

releases the ball with short extension (a soft 95?). The need for a scout to rate a hitter's swing or

a certain pitch on the very subjective 20/80 scale will dwindle when a Trackman printout can

give a very objective look at each and then compare the data to the big league average.

This is happening now, as a handful of teams are buying in, but in 30 years it will be the norm.

Baseball players will adjust accordingly. Whereas presently, young pitchers try to light up the

radar gun, in the future they will worry more about lighting up the Trackman (hey bro, my four-

seamer was 2,600 rpms!). Hitters will generate swings with less focus on merely putting the ball

in play and more on generating specific launch angles and high exit velocities (leg kicks for

everyone!). Speaking of measurements ...

Heart rate

What if heart rate monitoring became a prominent aspect of baseball and not just for health

purposes, but for managerial decisions and fan experience as well? In the future, every player

will have a built-in heart rate monitor that relays heart rate and other vital signs to the dugout and

through the television to fans watching at home (Yo, you see Jeetah's kid last night when he got

that game winnin' hit? He has the lowest heart rate I've ever seen! Ice in his veins!).

It will be another variable for a manager to consider when deciding whether to leave a pitcher in,

take him out or simply make a mound visit. If the bases are loaded and the manager looks over

and sees his pitcher's heart rate is pumping 195 bpm, he might consider getting someone hot in

the pen. Plus, how cool would it be, for a fan, to see a closer's heart rate in Game 7 of the World

Series with two outs in the ninth inning? Speaking of vital signs ...

Injury prevention

The most talked about injuries in baseball over the past several years have been arm injuries to

pitchers. More specifically, elbow injuries involving the ulnar collateral ligament that requires

Tommy John surgery to fix it. Sure, we've gotten to a point where it's a big part of the

conversation and everyone agrees that it's a problem that needs addressing, but in 30 years will

we have found a way to stem the flow of young pitchers going under the knife? Absolutely!

Technology will have progressed to a point where health monitoring will be instantaneous.

Fitness trackers won't just count steps, but rather give a snap shot of hormone and nutrient levels

in the blood, as well as inform an athlete when they have dipped below optimum levels. All of

this will happen without having to give blood (dude, your micro-nutrient levels are low, mix in a

vegetable). MRIs will be so simple and efficient that pitchers will get one after every outing to

help catch early warning signs of injury. Body scans will search weaknesses in the skeletal and

muscular structure, identifying when the body is out of alignment and could possibly be at risk

for damage. Add all that with the aforementioned heart rate monitoring and teams will have a

complete picture of the actual stress a pitcher or player goes through after each game. Barring

any "freak" injuries that seem to come out of baseball more than other sports (a back injury from

aggressive sneezing?), injuries from playing every day should become a rare occurrence. Now

let's look at some on-field/game play what-ifs ...

Field dimensions

Other than the the distance of the outfield fences, the dimensions of a baseball field have

remained steadfast since forever. Ninety feet between the bases, 60 feet, 6 inches from the

pitching rubber to home plate. At first glance it's hard to imagine any of those changing in the

future, but baseball does have a precedent for doing so. After the aptly named "Year of the

Pitcher" in 1968, led by Bob Gibson's insane 1.12 ERA, baseball mandated the height of the

mound be lowered from a loosely enforced 15 inches to the now standard 10 inches. This was

done to inject more offense (read "excitement") into the game. We seem to be heading in that

direction again. Offensive production has been in a downward spiral over the past few years with

homers going down and strikeouts on the rise. Combine this with the fact that the average

fastball has gone from just under 90 mph a little over a decade ago, to a robust 92 this year

(Don't think 2 mph makes a difference? Just ask a hitter.) and a "supposedly" enlarging strike

zone (I heartily, but respectfully, disagree), this trend doesn't look to be reversing itself any time

soon. I recently was talking to a physicist in a baseball dugout (yes, you read that correctly) and

he kindly informed me that every 10 inches of distance closer or further from the plate a pitch is

released equates to 1 mph more/less in effective velocity from the perspective of a hitter.

In English, that means a pitch released at, say, 54 feet that looks 90 mph to the hitter would look

89 if the same pitch were released from 54 feet, 10 inches. Class dismissed, and with that in

mind, it is just a matter of time before the pitcher's mound is moved back 10 inches to 61 feet, 4

inches, taking essentially 1 mph away from every pitcher in the league. The fans, and therefore

baseball as a whole, respond to offense. It creates more excitement and pairs nicely with a beer

and a hot dog, so this will be an easy fix to balance the competitive edge. Speaking of bad

decisions ...

Umpires!

The umpire. Everyone's favorite punching bag and scapegoat. The deck has always been stacked

against umpires and, to be fair, it is built into the very nature of the game of baseball. For

example, if an umpire happens to find favor with, say, hitters, it is an absolute matter of fact,

based on principle, that pitchers must thoroughly be against said umpire and basically question

every decision he has ever made. But no more I say!

For better or worse, the role of the umpire is slowly diminishing. The advancement of

technology almost demands that, because we can, we should get every single call on the field

correct. And that includes balls and strikes. With Pitch F/X in every park now, it's not only

evaluating players but it's also evaluating the boys in blue. We've reached a point where every

single pitch called behind the plate can instantly be determined to be right or wrong. This is

relatively new, it's scary, and it's also unfair. After all, umpires are human and to expect them to

call a game perfectly every time is ludicrous. They are now being held to an impossible standard

by players and fans alike and something has to give. Baseball will not be able to withstand the

outside pressure of people demanding a perfectly officiated game and will eventually go to an

automated strike zone. Each player will be measured before the season to determine their

personal strike zone and off we will go.

The interesting question for me will be how long we keep the umpires on the field to continue

making calls they have no say in. Knowing baseball, they will be there for a long time to come to

keep the aesthetic of the game alive. Fans will still want to see emphatic called "strike threes"

and stone-cold "ball fours" called, even though they won't be able to argue with them.

Lightning round

Those are some of the more prominent areas I can see changing, but there are so many more that

are likely to, and should, change. For those we have the lightning round. Here are some rapid-fire

what-ifs, shoulds and long shots we could see in the next three decades.

Nets, nets, nets: How there aren't nets over the dugouts to protect fans from foul balls yet is

beyond my comprehension. Most baseball players wouldn't want to sit over the dugout for fear

of injury and they are trained in the art of catching a baseball. This should be fixed, and soon.

First female minor leaguer: Believe it. When? Whenever Mo'ne Davis is draft eligible.

Worldwide draft/draft overhaul: The sooner the better. The draft system is deplorable and

needs to be fixed or else there will be an exodus of young Americans to Cuba looking for the

insane contracts coming out of that country.

Minor league overhaul: It seems to me the number of minor league levels and teams has gotten

absurd. It should be scaled back to perhaps only three levels (Class A, Double-A and Triple-A),

cut the total number of players in the system and spend more money per player on development

and nutrition. The excess players will filter to independent baseball, bringing more legitimacy to

those leagues and creating more opportunities for players to sign into affiliated baseball once

they've proved themselves.

The rosin bag: A different colored sanitary sock for the rosin? Baseball will probably just stick

to rosin only. After all, it has a stubborn reputation to keep.

Wearable cameras: It might be a long shot. But as wearable cameras get smaller, each player

could be outfitted with one and it would be active only when in between the foul lines. Fans

could tune into their favorite player to see what they see at any given moment.

Bat material: We are already seeing new types of wood being used for bats (birch, bamboo). I

find it hard to believe, with the overall push to going "green," that technology doesn't allow us to

develop some kind of composite material that mimics an actual wooden bat without having to

use actual wood. That will probably be a fight, though.

A major league team in a new country: If baseball revenue keeps growing, I don't see why not.

Any time baseball can create a new fan base, it will do so. Mexico seems to be the front-runner

at the moment.

DH in both leagues: They better not, knowing the intricacies of a double switch should always

be part of the game. Plus, pitchers are athletes too. We even bat flip now, just ask Zack Greinke.

A new pitch: The cutter has been the pitch of the present era. Rather than a new pitch taking

over, I think we will see a resurgence of an old and familiar one, the curve. With the high strike

going away for a while, the game adjusted to sinkers and sliders, taking advantage of wide

margins. As the high strike creeps back into the game, the fastball up/curveball down sequence

will be making a reunion tour.

Shifts: With the addition of shifts to the game, the landscape of defense probably will change

and never look back (No, defense won't be outlawed). Each hitter will eventually have his own

specific shift and it will be a back and forth of hitters adjusting and defenses adjusting back.

Eventually I can see specific field positions becoming obsolete and players merely labeled as

"infielder" or "outfielder."

I'm sure there will be many changes to the game in the next 30 years, even some we don't see

coming. With several collective bargaining agreements to be had from now until then, you never

know what the powers that be will deem important enough to add or subtract from this wonderful

pastime we all share.

Baseball has always been slow to progress, but I think it comes from a good place. It comes from

a hesitancy, the keepers of the game most surely feel, to mess with this American family

heirloom that has been handed down for generations. It will always be a tough task to progress

this game in a way that keeps it healthy and entertaining for fans of the future, but still maintains

the look and feel of the game of the past that so many hold dear. I, for one, get excited for

progress and any time we can make things better, we should. I look forward to the future of

baseball and witnessing just how good players will become.

As for Cubs fans, they all better put on an orange vest and hope, somehow, Marty McFly's future

mirrors their own. We already have the shoes and the hover board.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-milb-mlb-matt-buschmann-career-minor-league-pitcher/

Matt Buschmann’s Yellow Brick Road: Will the Minor

League Strikeout King Ever Reach the Majors?

By Adam Sobsey / Grantland.com

August 19, 2015

Matt Buschmann is intelligent and funny, hardworking and fit, and a professional baseball

pitcher, but he’s been known to joke that he’s a trophy husband. That’s because his wife, Sara

Walsh, is more famous than he is: She’s an ESPN SportsCenter anchor. Buschmann, meanwhile,

has spent his entire 10-year career in the minor leagues. He’s 31.

Among active pitchers who’ve never been to the majors, Buschmann is the reigning strikeout

leader, but his is no Crash Davis (or Mike Hessman) story, even though much of it has happened

in Durham. Those guys made it to The Show. “I have a story that is uniquely mine,” Buschmann

says.

He calls himself a late bloomer. Buschmann was drafted by San Diego in the 15th round in 2006

out of Vanderbilt, where he roomed with David Price (and won more games than Price). He

enjoyed early success in the lower minors, as four-year college pitchers often do, but struggled

upon reaching Triple-A in 2009. He labored for three years to develop fastball command and a

third pitch (he now throws a split-change). He finally had a breakout season in 2013 in the

Tampa Bay Rays’ organization, excelling in Double-A and earning a promotion to the Triple-A

Durham Bulls. But still, he wasn’t called up to the majors. He signed as a minor league free

agent with Oakland in 2014, and then again for 2015, but just before this season started, the

pitching-prospect-rich A’s dealt him back to the suddenly depleted Rays, who “had every injury

under the sun at the big league level,” Buschmann says.

He was excited. The Rays already knew and liked him. When he pitched well in Durham early in

the season, he figured he’d finally get to make his major league debut. Instead, Tampa Bay

called up every pitcher under the sun except him: an unknown barely out of Double-A; a waiver

claim; guys who have gas but no aim; even a big league washout Buschmann’s age, just back

from Korea Baseball Organization exile and sporting a Triple-A ERA near 6.00. They let a short

reliever start two games instead of promoting Buschmann, who had a 2.77 ERA and 1.07 WHIP

on June 1. He wasn’t excited anymore.

“You start to get the feeling that you literally have to be perfect to get called up,” Buschmann

says. “If I give up a hit, does that ruin my chance? You start having unrealistic expectations of

yourself. I got into this really bad place mentally. You look around and you see guys getting

called up and you’re like, I’m doing better than them. I have better stuff. I’m a better pitcher.

What am I missing? What’s the secret?”

Buschmann had a June 15 opt-out clause in his contract with Oakland, a courtesy sometimes

extended to Triple-A veterans. The opt-out transferred to Tampa Bay with the trade, and he

exercised it. The timing was perfect: The Rays needed another healthy arm; they had an open

roster spot, and if they gave it to Buschmann within 48 hours, they wouldn’t lose him. Instead,

they called up an old big league veteran who used to be good — the safe decision. He put up a

7.88 ERA in six games and was promptly let go. “I wish they would admit they were wrong and

have at least that satisfaction, but in the end it doesn’t matter: They’ve lost us both.”

Buschmann received offers from four clubs. Ben Cherington, the Red Sox GM at the time, called

him personally — a rarity. “With every other organization,” Buschmann says, “I talked to their

minor league coordinator.” Cherington “was so refreshing and honest. He understood my place:

‘You’re trying to get to the big leagues; you haven’t been there.’”

In his heart, Buschmann wanted to sign with Boston. But his head heard Cherington say that he’d

be behind some prospects in Triple-A, and it told him that there might be a big league opening in

Cincinnati, with the Reds poised to trade Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake. He signed with Cincy,

taking less money than he could have gotten elsewhere, and went to the Triple-A team in

Louisville. He was right about the trades, wrong about the opening they might create for him:

“They called up two younger guys, their numbers weren’t great, but they were guys they traded

for, and they had to figure out if they would sink or swim. And because they were in a losing

season it didn’t matter.” Finally, the Reds called up a veteran, but it was Dylan Axelrod.

Buschmann’s numbers were better, but Axelrod had something Buschmann didn’t.

“‘We called up a guy with big league experience.’ Well, how do I get that?” Buschmann says.

“Is there a pill I can take? What store can I go to? He’s proven to you that he can’t stick. I

haven’t proven what I can do. Let me go shit myself up there.

“It gets to the point where you wonder if there’s a Wizard of Oz behind the curtain, pulling

levers to make sure I never get called up.”

Louisville recently came to Durham for a weekend series, but Buschmann didn’t face his old

team: He’d pitched at Norfolk the day before. So in Durham, he coached first base instead. The

day after Louisville left town, the Reds’ minor league coordinator told Buschmann he’d been

traded to Baltimore, whose Triple-A affiliate is the Norfolk Tides. Norfolk’s next series was in

— you guessed it — Durham. The Wizard keeps sending him back. Is the Wicked Witch here

with her broomstick? Buschmann wonders if he’s already unknowingly killed a witch — and a

good one at that. “I’ve thought to myself, ‘Who did I piss off early in my life to get the karma

going against me?’” He’s not complaining — “The game doesn’t owe me anything” — he just

wants to know.

“If someone from baseball says, ‘I know for a fact you’ll never get to the big leagues,’ I’ll walk

away,” he says. “But no one’s been able to tell me that or give me a reason why it’ll never

happen. Baseball as a profession is really bad at communication.”

Last Wednesday afternoon, he came out of the visitors dugout and chatted with his teammates —

not the Tides but the Bulls, who came over to say hello. He was scheduled to pitch against them

on Thursday. After he chatted with them, he chatted with me. He was astute, forthcoming, and

equable, as always, and committed to pursuing his big league dream “as long as I’m healthy

enough and good enough.” But he used the word “frustrated” six times.

He went to stretch with the Norfolk pitchers, then threw a light bullpen session, which he often

does the day before he starts. Meanwhile, I talked with outfielder Julio Borbon, his new Norfolk

teammate. Informed of Buschmann’s peripatetic particulars, Borbon asked when he’d last been

in the majors. Never. Never? Buschmann hears that disbelief a lot from new teammates. He isn’t

forgotten here; he’s assumed to have gotten there. Everything about him is big league except his

transaction history. “I’m an adult,” Buschmann says, “I’m a professional. Tell me why. Tell me

exactly why.”

He mentioned the Wizard again. In baseball, the Wizard takes the form of so many plain-looking

men, Oz’s many functionaries. I asked one: a scout. “He doesn’t have a plus pitch,” the scout

said. Neither does Axelrod. “And he’s too old.” Buschmann’s the same age as the washout lefty

— who also doesn’t have a plus pitch. But they have one thing you haven’t got. “Is there a pill I

can take?”

Buschmann’s first start with Norfolk came on the day he turned exactly 31 and a half. The

annual divide — where am I going, where have I been? He hit the first batter he faced. The

second one lined out hard to shortstop, and the third hit an RBI double. Buschmann’s fastball,

usually in the low 90s, was 86 mph.

“He’s hurt,” the scout said. I objected. He was just rusty. He hadn’t pitched in a week.

Buschmann retired the next two hitters, his fastball up to 88.

Before the second inning, Buschmann briefly rubbed his right shoulder the way you rub a trusty

pet. His fastball velocity dropped down to 82 mph. He gave up a homer on a hanging breaking

ball. He got out of the inning, somehow, and walked back to the dugout with his arm hanging.

“He’s hurt,” the scout insisted, and left to get some food before Buschmann came out for the

third inning. He didn’t see Buschmann throw an 80 mph fastball. Buschmann’s catcher, whom

he’d just met, came to the mound to talk to him. Up in the broadcast booth, the Bulls’ play-by-

play man was worrying aloud. “This is highly irregular.”

Buschmann retired the side in order on veteran wiles and a bit of luck. One of the outs was a

screaming drive that Borbon ran down on the warning track. On his way down the dugout steps,

Buschmann was intercepted by his new manager and pitching coach, who asked if he was all

right. He went into the clubhouse with Norfolk’s trainer and didn’t come back.

The next day, Buschmann said it wasn’t at all serious, just mild soreness. Probably the trade-

prolonged layoff was to blame, he says, for taking him out of his routine. He’ll skip a turn and

take the next one. “Sweet timing for it!” he jokes: first impression with a new team and

organization, the September 1 expansion of Emerald City looming … and he looked hurt.

Buschmann is hardly ever hurt. He’s thrown at least 140 innings in six of his eight full

professional seasons.

“You hope your reputation precedes you,” he says. “Sometimes it doesn’t, so you have to redo it.

What’s the parable? The myth? The guy that has to push the rock up the hill? And then it falls

back down and you’ve got to push it up again.”

I’ve thought of Sisyphus before in relation to Triple-A ballplayers, but I hadn’t thought of him

pushing his rock up the yellow brick road. If you overlay the myths, Sisyphus as Dorothy, you

might have something like Buschmann’s story. It might have to do with trophies, and how they

aren’t always what they seem. The trophy might be the rock itself, or the will to climb the hill.

The real prize for Dorothy, after all, is getting home; Emerald City is just a station on the way,

and she doesn’t really need the Wizard. “This’ll be relevant to some other part of my life down

the road,” Buschmann says. His “story that is uniquely mine” is no parable and no myth. Every

time he pitches, he brings the rock back up the hill.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-try-and-stay-hot-twins-come-town

Orioles try and stay hot as Twins come to town

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 20, 2015

Tonight's Game:

Minnesota Twins (59-61) vs. Baltimore Orioles (62-57), Oriole Park at Camden Yards,

Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Starting pitchers:

Tyler Duffey (1-1, 6.75) vs. Miguel Gonzalez (9-8, 4.42)

Keys to the Game:

Can the Orioles stay hot against the Twins? The Orioles have won five of six on their 10-gam

homestand, three with game-ending home runs.

Can Gonzalez deliver another quality start? After a string of subpar performances, Gonzalez

allowed three runs in seven innings against Oakland in his last start.

News and Notes:

This will be Duffey's third major league start. In his last one, he pitched six scoreless innings,

allowing just one hit on Saturday against Cleveland.

The Orioles lead the major leagues with six game-ending home runs.

Henry Urrutia joined Merv Rettenmund, Jim Hardin, Dave Criscione and Chris Hoiles as Orioles

to hit a game-ender as their first major league home run.

Current Twins are batting .323 against Gonzalez.

In Wednesday night's game, the Orioles hit three game-tying or go-ahead home runs in the sixth

inning or later for the first time since 1999.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/oday-which-mlb-stadiums-have-best-bullpens

O'Day on which MLB stadiums have best bullpens

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 19, 2015

BALTIMORE – For eight years, Darren O’Day has sat in big league bullpens. That’s long

enough to form firm opinions on life outside the field of play.

O’Day is the Orioles’ player representative, and he has definite likes and dislikes.

“The most important thing is probably shade. The second most important thing is comfort of the

bench,” O’Day said.

Twenty-six of the current 30 major league ballparks have bullpens off the field, only four have

bullpens on the foul lines: San Francisco’s AT&T Park, Oakland’s O.Co.Coliseum, Tampa Bay’s

Tropicana Field and Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

While fans and writers may rate AT&T Park and Wrigley Field as favorites, O’Day is thinking

about his job.

“All the bullpens need to get off the field. It’s not inhibiting me. It’s not hurting my performance,

but if you want to have really happy bullpen guys, you’ve got to get them off the field,” O’Day

said.

Oakland, Tampa Bay and Wrigley come in for particular disdain. Wrigley “might be the worst

one in the league,” he remarks.

Of parks opened in the last 15 years, only AT&T Park was built with bullpens on the field, and

next year, Wrigley is scheduled to move its bullpens to the outfield beneath the stands next year,

a move heartily supported by O’Day.

“If you build it and leave a little bit of space where guys get a little bit of sun, it’s perfect really.

Houston’s a tunnel and it’s one of my favorite bullpens,” O’Day said.

“If you’re sitting in a day game at Wrigley, and there’s no shade, that’s a tough one. It’s no fun.”

Fans who are visiting parks with bullpens on the field might enjoy them because they can easily

see who’s warming up, and if you sit close, you may get to eavesdrop.

O’Day isn’t sympathetic.

“There’s no shade. They’re on the field. We like to have our own little space,” O’Day said.

He doesn’t necessarily dislike fan interaction.

“Depends on if you can get away from them. In Tampa, you can’t. People are sitting two feet

right behind you, and they get in your conversations and just talk to you the whole game, and

you can’t get away. You can’t pull a chair away from the wall because umpires yell at you,”

O’Day said.

“Sometimes you get great fans, and they’re nice. You just talk to them. Sometimes you get

people you don’t want to be near. I enjoy being close to fans as long as once it’s time to focus on

the game, you get away from them.”

What makes a good bullpen?

“New York’s got a little room where you can go get some AC. Detroit has AC. That’s always

nice. I thought Miami would be cool because there’s a nightclub next to it. There’s interesting

people to look at, but really it got old very quickly just because of the techno music,” O’Day

said.

“Pitchers usually like to see games from the pitchers point of view. The closer I can be to center

field, the happier I am. The more I feel like I’m into the game. When you’re on the lines,

obviously you can see the game up close, but it’s from a different angle. I’d rather be able to be

out in center field, right or left-center, to be able to watch and see how pitches are moving, how

the umpires’ strike zone is.

“The farther back from the fence you are, in Cleveland or Philly, you’re way up there, you feel

like you’re kind of detached from the game. My favorite bullpen of all them is probably Seattle.

It’s comfortable, there’s heaters, there’s a roof, good coffee, there’s people to look at over the

wall if you want to, and you’re right next to the fence, so you feel like you’re right next to the

fence.”

If you’re looking for O’Day, don’t expect to see him at first pitch. He usually spends the early

innings in the clubhouse.

“I watch our team hit from the bench before I go out. Sometimes I do that. For pitchers at least,

you’re going to learn a lot more by watching the game on TV because you can see the umpires

strike zone, you can see the batters in the box. That’s where we do our work from, is from the

pitchers’ view behind the mound. If there’s a TV in the bullpen, guys watch it intently,” O’Day

believes.

The clubhouse moments are important.

“I’m old. I like a little quiet time,” O’Day said.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/showalter-expects-wieters-catch-consecutive-

days

Showalter expects Wieters to catch on consecutive days

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore

August 19, 2015

BALTIMORE – Matt Wieters isn’t in the Orioles lineup for Wednesday’s game. That isn’t a

surprise. He’s caught on consecutive days only once since returning from Tommy John surgery,

and not since early July.

Wieters missed six days with a strained right hamstring, and he came through Tuesday’s game

without a problem. He caught and was 2-for-4.

He took a foul ball off his right knee, but he was fine.

Wieters has often been the designated hitter on a day after he caught, and has even started at first

base.

Manager Buck Showalter expects Wieters to catch on consecutive days. He dismissed

speculation that Wieters would catch every other day.

“Not at all. I’d be surprised if that didn’t sometime between now and the end of the season,”

Showalter said.

Wieters caught on July 6-7 in Minnesota, and even though it was expected that he’d begin to do

it regularly after that, he hasn’t since then.

http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-hope-pearce-fine-after-being-hit

Orioles hope Pearce is fine after being hit in sim game

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Mid-Atlantic

August 19, 2015

BALTIMORE –- Steve Pearce continues to rehab his strained left oblique muscle, and in his

third at-bat in Sarasota, Fla., he was hit by a pitch in his back from Chris Perez.

Manager Buck Showalter said that the Orioles will check on Pearce before tonight’s game. They

had hoped to send him out on a rehab assignment this week, but he already had a setback last

week when he felt some tightness in his oblique.

“We’ll see how he recovers by the [hit by pitch],” Showalter said.

Perez is nearing the end of his 50-game suspension for a positive drug test.

Chaz Roe (shoulder) threw on flat ground today, and will do that one or two more times until

he’s ready for a bullpen session.

“That’s progressing well. He felt good today,” Showalter said.

Roe is eligible to return from the disabled list on Tuesday, and it’s possible he’ll be ready by

then. He’ll need a rehab assignment before he’s ready to be activated.

NOTES: There is no word on David Lough, who was designated for assignment on Friday. The

Orioles can outright him to Norfolk if he passes through waivers.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/08/20/5-things-you-should-know-about-henry-urrutia/

5 Things You Should Know About Henry Urrutia

CBS Baltimore

August 20, 2015

Wednesday night, the Baltimore Orioles got their sixth walk-off home run of the season and their

third in the past week. Sure, this home run was special because it was of the walk-off variety but

there’s more to it. It came from an unlikely source, Henry Urrutia.

In honor of Henry Urrutia’s walk-off home run on a 1-2 pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to

take down the Mets (for the first time since June 2009) on Wednesday night, we’re taking a look

at a few more exciting stats for the Oriole.

Here are 5 Things You Should Know About Henry Urrutia:

1. First things first, Henry Urrutia is a Cuban defector. A defector is a person who gives up

allegiance to one entity in exchange for allegiance to another, in a way which is considered

illegitimate by the first state. Players attempting to play in MLB often choose not to defect to the

United States, because establishing residency in the United States means they must enter the

draft. If they defect to another nation, they can become free agents, allowing them to choose their

offer.

2. Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent in 2012. Urrutia then reported to the

Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League in April 2013. After playing 52 games there, the

Orioles promoted him to the Norfolk Tides of the Triple-A International League on June 28.

3. Baseball is in his blood. Urrutia is the son of Ermidelio Urrutia and a cousin of Osmani

Urrutia — both are Cuban outfielders.

4. Urrutia is just the fifth Oriole to have his first career home run be a walk-off; he joins Merv

Rettenmund (1968), Jim Hardin (1969), Dave Criscione (1977) and Chris Hoiles (1990).

5. His game-changing walk-off home run was impressive, but what some are finding was even

more impressive was his transition to America. Urrutia came to America just over two years ago,

but he has become fluent in English.

His teammates were proud of him, not just for the win they all shared, but for this moment. They

all remember their first career home run. Adam Jones had some words for him on Twitter:

His home run ball, given to Henry by a Mets fan, is going to someone very special — his 16-

month old son.

You can watch Adam Jones slap a celebratory pie in Urrutia’s face mid-interview right here.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/19/video-henry-urrutia-walks-off-orioles-against-

mets-with-his-first-major-league-home-run/

Video: Henry Urrutia walks off Orioles against Mets with

his first major league home run

By Drew Silva / NBCSports.com

August 19, 2015

Orioles outfielder Henry Urrutia ended a thriller at Camden Yards with this shot to left field …

Urrutia showed some early promise after signing with the O’s out of Cuba in 2012, but a

frustrating, injury-riddled 2014 season sort of knocked him off the radar. Now he’s winning

games for a team that is in the mix for an American League Wild Card spot, against a team that

is leading the National League East.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/henry-urrutia-s-first-career-home-run-a-

walkoff-winner-for-oiroles-025806581.html

Henry Urrutia's first career home run a walk-off winner for

Orioles

By Mark Townsend / Yahoo! Sports

August 20, 2015

The Baltimore Orioles are heating up and hoping to make things interesting in the AL East.

After sweeping a four-game series from the Oakland A's over the weekend, Baltimore dropped a

tough one to the Mets on Tuesday. They bounced back though in dramatic fashion on

Wednesday, winning 5-4 on Henry Urrutia's first career home run.

Indeed, the round tripper couldn't have come at a better time for Baltimore. Urrutia teed off

against Mets reliever Carlos Torres, lining the pitch just over the wall in left field. It barely had

the height and it barely had the distance, but it managed to the find the seats. The 28-year-old

rookie hasn't done much in limited action, hitting .200 over his first four games, but he's

definitely part of the fun now.

According to Elias Sports, Urrutia is the first Orioles player to have a walk-off home run as his

first career home run since Chris Hoiles in 1990. That covers a lot of ground and some really

good players.

The Orioles also got clutch home runs from Jonathan Schoop andAdam Jones, who both tied the

game in earlier innings. Schoop's blast came off Mets' starter Noah Syndergaard, ending his

outing in the sixth inning. After Wilmer Flores gave New York the lead again with a homer,

Jones connected against reliever Hansel Robles.

GREG BIRD'S FIRST TWO HOMERS LEAD YANKEES TO WIN

The theme of the day in the AL East was rookies hitting the long ball.

Last Thursday, the New York Yankees promoted first base prospect Greg Bird to boost their

lagging offense. In Wednesday's 4-3 win against Minnesota, Bird provided two big boosts,

launching a pair of two-run home runs that proved to be New York's entire offense.

Starting for Mark Teixeira, who's been out of the Yankees lineup since Monday night fouling a

pitch off his right shin, Bird connected twice off Ervin Santana. The first two-run shot started the

game's scoring in the fourth inning. After Minnesota then rallied to take a brief lead, Bird also

capped the scoring with his second homer.

The home runs were the first of Bird's career in just his fifth game, which now connects him to a

pair of, well, perhaps not Yankees legends.

Odds are Bird will end up faring better with New York. Either way, his homers on Wednesday

were obviously huge and could have a lasting impact on the AL East race.

RYAN BRAUN BECOMES BREWERS ALL-TIME HOME RUN LEADER

Ryan Braun becomes Brewers all-time home run leader.

In just his ninth big league season, Ryan Braun became the Milwaukee Brewers all-time home

run leader on Wednesday by hitting No. 252.

The milestone homer, which was Braun's 22nd of the season, was a solo shot off Marlins reliever

Chrs Narveson. Braun and Narveson were teammates with the Brewers for five seasons until the

veteran left-hander hit free agency following the 2013 season.

Hall of Famer Robin Yount previously held the Brewers mark. Yount played the entirety of his

20-year career with Milwaukee, hitting a total of 251 home runs. His high watermark was the 29

he hit during his MVP season in 1982. Braun has hit 29 or more home runs already in five

seasons, and is on pace to do it again this season. Braun topped Yount's total in 6,360 fewer at-

bats.

As for Wednesday's result, the Brewers would hold on to defeat Miami 8-7 with Braun's homer

proving to be the difference. Khris Davis also had a huge afternoon, connecting for two home

runs and driving in five. Davis has 14 for the season and is now just 205 behind Braun.

ASTROS EARN WALK-OFF WIN IN EXTRAS ... AGAIN

It was deja vu all over again for the Houston Astros at Minute Maid. After winning 3-2 in 10

innings on Tuesday, they turned right around and won again 3-2 in 13 innings on Wednesday.

The hero this time around was rookie sensation Carlos Correa. The 20-year-old shortstop

delivered the first of what will be many walk-off hits with an RBI single off Rays reliever Matt

Andriese. Correa also started the scoring with his 15th home run, a solo shot off Nathan Karns in

the first inning.

Needless to say, Correa is a special talent with a knack for making impact plays.

Speaking of impact players, Astros starter Dallas Keuchel was special again, tossing seven

innings of two-run ball. He was looking to improve to 12-0 at home this season, but will settle

for a no decision and an all important team win.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/19/bbo-orioles-playerwatch-

idUSMTZEB8JC9XRXC20150819

Baltimore Orioles - PlayerWatch

Reuters

August 19, 2015

RHP Tyler Wilson, who is on the disabled list with a strained oblique, threw off flat ground

Tuesday from 75 feet. Wilson can be used out of the bullpen or as a spot starter. There is no

timetable for his return.

2B Jonathan Schoop committed two errors for the second time in his career in the series opener

against the Mets. He had committed one error in his previous 42 games. "I've got to play better,"

Schoop said. "Some easy mistakes that I do today that I've got to be better for my teammates and

better for myself."

RHP Kevin Gausman posted his fourth quality start in his past five outings against the Mets. He

allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts over six innings on 109 pitches, but

took the loss. He is now 2-5 with a 4.48 ERA on the year. "I feel like every team we face now is

going to be good," Gausman said. "This time of year, it's going to be tough. We have a really

good stretch here in the next two weeks going into September. We can put ourselves in a good

spot."

OF Steve Pearce (left oblique strain) took batting practice in Sarasota, Fla., and could be getting

closer to a rehab assignment.

OF Steve Pearce (left oblique strain) took batting practice in Sarasota, Fla., and could be getting

closer to a rehab assignment. Pearce was placed on the DL on July 22. He is batting .227 with

seven homers and 24 RBIs in 58 games.

C Matt Wieters was back in the Orioles starting lineup after missing the previous five games

with a right hamstring strain.

http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/25274891/report-orioles-1b-steve-

pearce-ok-after-hbp-in-rehab

Report: Orioles 1B Steve Pearce OK after HBP in rehab

By Marty Gitlin / CBSSports.com

August 19, 2015

Orioles rehabbing first baseman Steve Pearce took three at-bats Wednesday while rehabbing his

ailing oblique. All was well until he got hit in the back by a pitch, according to the Baltimore

Sun, which assures that he's fine.

Pearce has been sidelined for a month and recently suffered a setback in his recovery. It remains

to be seen when he can begin a minor league rehab assignment and rejoin the Orioles.