The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Baltimore Orioles – INSIDE PITCH
What starter Miguel Gonzalez repeatedly accomplished Sunday, closer Jim Johnson couldn’t.
The Orioles closer fell behind in the count, erasing a solid start from Gonzalez as the Blue Jays scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to escape with a series split.
It was the fourth blown save in Johnson’s last five save opportunities. He had three blown saves in all of 2012, when he made his first All-Star game. After going 51-for-54 a year ago, he’s 15-for-19 to start this season.
Sunday’s loss was Johnson’s fifth of the year. He lost seven in the past three years combined.
The day before, Johnson used a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his 15th save — his first since May 10.
Sunday, he fumbled away a solid lead, which only grew with insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Gonzalez scattered four hits with a season-best seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work, but three walks elevated his pitch count.
The Orioles went from securing a 3-1 series win to being saddled with a series split in a matter of 37 Johnson pitches. The 37th landed in left-center field, after rookie shortstop Munenori Kawasaki lined a double into the gap, scoring the tying and go-ahead runs.
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MLB Team Report – Baltimore Orioles – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 27-23
STREAK: Lost three
PAST 10 GAMES: 4-6
NEXT: Orioles (Jason Hammel, 6-2, 5.37) at Nationals (3-2, 3.66)
PLAYER NOTES:
–RHP Jason Hammel will be going for his second win in a row Monday when he opens the four-game series with the Washington Nationals. He held the New York Yankees to six hits and two runs while striking out six in 6 2/3 innings in a 6-3 win on May 22. The Orioles are 8-2 in his starts this season. He is 2-1 and the team is 3-1 in four starts in May despite an ERA of 8.02 for the month. He was 4-1 with a 3.79 ERA in six starts in April.
–RF Nick Markakis had two singles in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays to extend his hit streak to 11 games. He is batting .383 (18-for-47) with two home runs and nine RBIs in that span.
–CF Adam Jones hit his 10th homer of the season in the seventh inning of Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays at Toronto. He has homered in four consecutive games — all against the Blue Jays as the teams split four games — for the first time in his career. He is on a 16-game hit streak against the Blue Jays dating to Aug. 24, 2012. He also has hit nine home runs at Rogers Centre since the start of the 2012 season, the most of any visiting player in that span.
–RHP Jim Johnson blew a save for the fourth time in his past five save opportunities when he allowed four runs in the ninth off of Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays. In six games starting May 14 with a blown save and loss against the San Diego Padres he is 1-3 with one save and four blown saves with an ERA of 21.60. “You’re dealing with fractions here and there, so a little bit here and there and you get a different result,” Johnson said. “I’m going to keep working. Like I said before, that’s all I can do it keep plugging away and trusting that I can do it. I know I can. It’s just that the results haven’t been what I’ve wanted them to be lately.”
–RHP Tommy Hunter has a sore right hand after fielding a sharp comebacker by RF Jose Bautista to end the eighth inning of Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays. X-rays were negative but the hand will be examined again on Monday.
–RHP Miguel Gonzalez allowed four hits and one run while striking out a season-best seven in 5 2/3 innings and did not factor in the decision in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays. It was his second start since coming off the disabled list (right thumb blister) and was his lowest run total allowed in any of his eight starts this season.
–LHP Tsuyoshi Wada made another rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday as he attempts to recover from elbow surgery. He threw 83 pitches over five innings in a loss.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s a tough loss. You would ultimately like to win this series but we’ll move on and get to Washington (for the opener of a four-game series Monday) and forget it on the plane. But that was a game, it’s a good hitting team and at any time they can put some hits together.” — C Matt Wieters after a loss Sunday.
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MLB Team Report – Baltimore Orioles – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–CF Adam Jones (sore groin) started as designated hitter for the third straight game on May 23. Playing on the turf at Rogers Centre likely means Jones could continue his designated hitter duties for most of the series in Toronto. OF Chris Dickerson has played center field.
–LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (left elbow surgery in May 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22 and was transferred to the 60-day disabled list April 4. Wada threw three innings in an extended spring training game in Sarasota, Fla., on April 18 and four innings April 23. He’s working on building up innings and expanding the number of pitches he throws per outing. He pitched three innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on May 16. He pitched four innings in a rehab start with Norfolk on May 21 and five innings May 26.
–LHP Wei-Yin Chen (strained right oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 13. He won’t be able to throw for at least a week but reported to the club’s spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla., on May 22 to begin his rehab.
–C Taylor Teagarden (dislocated left thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list April 28. He was examined by a hand specialist on April 30. He had the splint removed May 17. He may be ready to play in extended spring training games May 27.
–2B Brian Roberts (ruptured tendon in right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list April 5, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 18. He had surgery May 9 in Dallas and will be out until late June. He was to have sutures from the procedure removed on May 20, according to MASNsports.com.
–OF Nolan Reimold (right hamstring strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 12. He could begin swinging a bat in the near future but likely won’t be ready to come off the disabled list on May 28.
–DH Wilson Betemit (torn posterior cruciate ligament in right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 12. He began jogging in a pool May 17. He could be out at least another six weeks.
ROTATION:
RHP Jason Hammel
RHP Chris Tillman
RHP Freddy Garcia
RHP Miguel Gonzalez
RHP Kevin Gausman
BULLPEN:
RHP Jim Johnson (closer)
RHP Pedro Strop
RHP Darren O’Day
LHP Brian Matusz
LHP Troy Patton
RHP Tommy Hunter
LHP T.J. McFarland
CATCHERS:
Matt Wieters
Chris Snyder
INFIELDERS:
1B Chris Davis
2B Alexi Casilla
SS J.J. Hardy
3B Manny Machado
INF Yamaico Navarro
INF Danny Valencia
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Nate McLouth
CF Adam Jones
RF Nick Markakis
OF Chris Dickerson
OF/1B Steve Pearce
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