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 2016, 2012, 1996

Monday, June 5, 2017

Game Stories:  Pena's throwing error, Tillman's wildness too much for Orioles to overcome in 7-3 loss to Red Sox The Sun 6/4  O's can't build on big first inning in loss to Sox MLB.com 6/4  Orioles outright Fry to open 40-man spot (O’s lose 7-3) MASNsports.com 6/4  Benintendi hits 2 HRs to help Red Sox beat Orioles 7-3 AP 6/4  Chris Tillman Decent, But Not Good Enough In 7-3 Loss To Boston PressBoxOnline.com 6/4

Columns:  Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has big dreams for Baltimore City youth baseball program The Sun 6/5  Orioles thoughts: Is right-hander Edwin Jackson up next? The Sun 6/5  Orioles observations: Offense fizzles after scoring three runs off Red Sox ace Sale in first inning The Sun 6/4  Before calling his final game, longtime Orioles radio broadcaster Fred Manfra cherishes memories The Sun 6/4  Orioles acquire minor league infielder Rubén Tejada from Yankees The Sun 6/4  Early Orioles notes: Castillo's obstacles, Wright's foundation and bullpen survival with Jimenez The Sun 6/4  O's broadcaster Manfra calls last game at home MLB.com 6/5  Machado hosts 4th annual BaseBOWL MLB.com 6/5  Two-out sixth-inning error costly for O's in loss MLB.com 6/4  Improving Gausman gets call vs. Bucs MLB.com 6/4  Leftovers for breakfast MASNsports.com 6/5  Orioles settle for split with 7-3 loss MASNsports.com 6/4  Showalter on bullpen, Castillo, Manfra and more (we’re tied) MASNsports.com 6/4  Orioles and Red Sox lineups MASNsports.com 6/4  Did O’s steady the ship with 4-3 run? MASNsports.com 6/5  Orioles acquire infielder Rubén Tejada MASNsports.com 6/4  Francisco Peña on key throwing error and Chris Tillman on his outing MASNsports.com 6/4  O’s get three early runs but nothing after and lose series finale MASNsports.com 6/4  O’s game blog: Chris Tillman faces Boston in series finale MASNsports.com 6/4  Mike Wright on his family’s charity today at Camden Yards MASNsports.com 6/4  Tim Kurkjian: If Orioles Have Chance To Make Playoffs, They Should Keep Manny Machado PressBoxOnline.com 6/5  Fred Manfra Says Goodbye To Generations Of Orioles Fans PressBoxOnline.com 6/4  Longtime Baltimore Orioles Radio Announcer Fred Manfra Calls Last Game CBS Baltimore 6/4  Bowling For A Good Cause With Manny Machado & Orioles CBS Baltimore 6/4  Thoughts on Fred Manfra’s retirement, Ruben Tejada’s acquisition and the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Melvin Mora’s sister-in-law BaltimoreBaseball.com 6/5

 Myriad Orioles Thoughts: A costly error, Sale being Sale, and trends at the one-third mark BaltimoreBaseball.com 6/4

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-red-sox-mainbar-20170604- story.html

Pena's throwing error, Tillman's wildness too much for Orioles to overcome in 7-3 loss to Red Sox

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun June 4, 2017

Sunday marked another step forward for Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman, who recorded a quality start despite issuing a season-high four walks, two of which ended up scoring in the Orioles’ 7-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

Tillman was one strike away from leaving the game tied after six innings, but catcher Francisco Pena tried to end the inning on his own. With the bases loaded and two outs, Pena made a nice block on a curveball in the dirt, but then rifled an errant throw trying to get Mitch Moreland off third base, the ball sailing past a diving Manny Machado and along the third-base line in foul ground, allowing two runs to score.

The Orioles split their four-game series against the Red Sox with Sunday’s loss and seemed to find their footing against at home, winning four of seven against the New York Yankees and Boston after their season-high seven-game losing streak. But they ended their series with Boston exactly where it began, trailing the Red Sox by 1 1/2 games for second place in the American League East.

And while Tillman recovered well from a long first inning – from the third through fifth innings, he retired nine straight – and rebounded from his shortest start of the season (a 2 2/3-inning outing against the Yankees on Tuesday), he’s still fighting to find the command that made him the Orioles’ most reliable starter the previous four seasons.

“A lot of it has got to do with who you are facing,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Tillman. ‘They make you grind. And Chris held it together – gave us a chance to win. I thought he was better than last time out. A little crisper earlier, found his way and gave us a chance against a really good pitcher and a good team.”

Tillman has struggled in the first inning, and the two earned runs he allowed in the opening frame Sunday gave him a 10.50 ERA in the first inning. The two walks Tillman issued in the first inning against Boston – a free pass to Andrew Benintendi with two batters into the game and an ensuing walk to Moreland two batters later loaded the bases with one out – set the stage for a two-run single by Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Orioles were given their own early gift – three runs in the first inning off Red Sox left- hander Chris Sale, who had not allowed a run in the first inning in any of his previous 11 starts – but Tillman could not take advantage.

“I don’t think there’s really a good time to walk guys,” Tillman said. “The timing isn’t an issue; it’s walks in general. Especially early on, setting the tempo. Guys got off to a pretty good start and to give that lead away, not good. You’ve got to be better from the get-go.”

In the sixth, Tillman couldn’t overcome two walks again. After allowing a leadoff single to Moreland, Tillman struck out Hanley Ramirez, but then walked Bradley and Pablo Sandoval back-to-back.

After striking out catcher Sandy Leon swinging at a curveball in the dirt, Tillman threw a 0-2 curveball that bounced in front of the plate and was corralled on a big hop by Pena, but Pena’s throw sailed to the foul side of the third-base line past Machado, gift-wrapping two runs for the Red Sox as Moreland and Bradley scored.

“What I saw was an unbelievable stop on a wild pitch,” Showalter said. “It's one of those things, you see and you go for it. It's just a tough lane to throw through. We weren't able to get an out

there. But I'm more about blocking the pitch. I try to dwell on that part of it. I'm more about that part of it. Unbelievable block. I don't know how these guys do what they do.”

Pena said his view of third was partially blocked by Moreland along the baseline, which he said made him hesitate with his throw and yank it.

“But as a catcher, you’re always aggressive,” Pena said. “He’s giving you an out right there. You’ve got runners on base, and a guy that puts the ball in play a lot. I thought I had an opportunity, and I took it, but, bad throw. All I can do it is come back tomorrow and try and win a ballgame.”

As for Tillman, it’s been six starts since he returned from the disabled list. He missed the season’s first month recovering from shoulder problems that slowed his spring training and dated to August. All along, the Orioles and Tillman dismissed his unsteady minor league rehabilitation starts by saying they served as his spring training.

Tillman did record a quality start. The two runs he allowed in the sixth were unearned, so his six- inning, three earned-run start qualified. Over the past four seasons, Tillman has served as the club’s stopper, usually there to deliver a deep start when needed, but this season he’s battled to get through six innings.

Tillman is averaging 4.6 walks per nine innings, which is his most since 2010, and his walks and hits per innings pitched is 1.82, also the highest of his career and eighth worst among major league starters with 20 or more innings. But he sees incremental improvements getting the results he wants, even in a loss.

“Today was much better,” Tillman said. “I was glad I was able to take that step. I just wish early on I made a few better pitches, especially off-speed stuff. It’s out of the zone right out of the get- go and kind of forces you to use the fastball a little more in counts that you normally wouldn’t. You’ve got to be a little better with the off-speed stuff early on.”

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/234373922/benintendi-hits-2-homers-as-red-sox-beat-os/

O's can't build on big first inning in loss to Sox

By Mandy Bell and Ian Browne / MLB.com June 4, 2017

BALTIMORE -- Chris Sale labored early, then dominated the rest of the way, riding two home runs from Andrew Benintendi to a 7-3 victory over the Orioles that allowed the Red Sox to sneak out of Baltimore with the split of a four-game series after losing the first two.

Boston jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on a Jackie Bradley Jr. single in the top of the first inning, giving a little cushion for Sale before he took the mound. But the Orioles, helped by a leadoff double by Joey Rickard, RBI hits by Chris Davis and Jonathan Schoop and a pair of misplays by third baseman Pablo Sandoval, worked Sale for 39 pitches to take a 3-2 lead.

Despite pushing Sale, the Orioles bats went silent for the rest of the game. Sale gave up only two hits after the first inning before exiting the game after six innings. The lefty allowed six hits and struck out nine batters.

"That's the job of a starting pitcher, fill up as many innings as you can," said Sale. "I really had to kind of refocus after that and not let the emotions get the best of me. Not only that, we're still in it. Cashing in after the first is going to make for a long day.

"Just having the confidence in my team behind me to go out there and just kind of keep pitching, knowing that at some point in the game we're going to score again."

Benintendi tied the game at 3 in the third inning with his first home run in 80 at-bats, but both offenses were silenced until the sixth inning when Orioles catcher Francisco Pena overthrew Manny Machado at third in a pickoff attempt, allowing two runs to score.

"You figure [Sale's] going to get right and pitch," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We were fortunate, Chris [Davis] got a jam shot over there and we got deep in counts with some foul balls. ... I think [Sale] found his way and got through. You knew when they scored and got ahead he was going to go to another level.

"He was good but I thought our guys were good off him. They got a bunch of good arms. You look at all the arms they run out at you, it's a challenge."

Just when the Orioles thought they were still in reach, Benintendi struck again, launching another home run in the seventh inning, followed by an RBI single in the ninth to cap off his three-RBI afternoon.

Orioles starter Chris Tillman allowed three earned runs on six hits through six innings. The righty walked four batters and struck out three.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Pena's costly overthrow: In the top of the sixth inning, Tillman worked himself into a bases- loaded jam. With two outs, Tillman threw a knuckle curve in the dirt that Pena was able to keep in front of him. Pena then attempted to pick the runner off third, but sent the ball into right field, allowing two runs to score and breaking the 3-3 tie.

Benintendi's dingers: Benintendi hit his second home run onto Eutaw Street for his first multi- homer game. On a 1-1 count, the ball left Benintendi's bat at 107.1 mph -- his second-hardest hit in the Statcast™ Era -- and traveled a projected 388 feet to deep right field.

"It's been awhile since he got the contact point out front," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "He's got such a beautiful swing. Chris Sale clearly did his job through his six innings, but it's also good to see Beni get off the schneid a little bit with those extra-base hits today."

QUOTABLE

"The thing that was even bigger for me to see was Pablo's next at-bat after all that happened. He didn't hang his head. He wasn't pouting about it. He came up with a plan, ready to go, and he ripped a double in the gap. I think that speaks a lot about who he is, his character, and the kind of teammate he is. When you see something like that, it lifts you up a little bit. And I think it got our team going in the right direction." -- Sale, crediting Sandoval for shaking off his defensive woes

"Today was much better. I was glad I was able to take that step. I just wish early on I made a few better pitches, especially off-speed stuff. ... You've got to be a little better with the off-speed stuff early on." -- Tillman, on how close he is to being all the way back after being on the disabled list to start the season

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Before breaking out on Sunday, Benintendi had slashed .123/.221/.137 with no HRs and five RBIs in his previous 73 at-bats.

REPLAY REVIEW

In the bottom of the first inning, the Orioles had runners on first and second and issued a double steal. Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon threw to third and the runner, Rickard, was called out. After a manager challenge by the Orioles, the call was overturned. The review lasted 1 minute and 44 seconds.

In the bottom of the fourth, Trey Mancini led off the inning with a line shot to right field. Mookie Betts came forward to make the catch low to the ground, but the ruling on the field was that the ball was trapped. After a manager challenge by Boston, the call was overturned. The review lasted 50 seconds.

WHAT'S NEXT

Red Sox: The Red Sox will spend Monday's off-day in New York, and then open a three-game rivalry series at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. It is just the second series between the rivals this season. Drew Pomeranz, who is coming off two solid starts in a row, gets the start for the Red Sox. He will be opposed by right-hander Masahiro Tanaka. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.

Orioles: After a day off on Monday, the Orioles will host the Pirates in the first of two games on Tuesday at Camden Yards. Kevin Gausman (3-4, 5.92) will take the mound for the O's against right-hander Ivan Nova. After some early-season struggles, Gausman has a 3.00 ERA in his last three outings, including two quality starts. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. ET. Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/06/orioles-outright-fry-to-open-40-man-spot- os-down-6-3.html

Orioles outright Fry to open 40-man spot (O’s lose 7-3)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

The Orioles have cleared a spot on their 40-man roster. Feel free to speculate on how they’re going to fill it.

Left-hander Paul Fry cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles made the announcement during today’s game against the Red Sox at Camden Yards.

Fry is 1-0 with a 6.56 ERA in 14 relief appearances with Norfolk. He has a 1.50 WHIP in 23 1/3 innings.

The Orioles acquired Fry from the Mariners on April 14 for international bonus slot No. 105, which is worth $198,000. They designated pitcher Parker Bridwell for assignment to make room and traded him to the Angels three days later for a player to be named later or cash.

Fry has been designated for assignment twice in three months.

The Orioles recalled Fry on April 24 and optioned him two days later. He didn’t appear in a game, putting his major league debut on hold.

Catcher Francisco Peña occupied the last spot on the 40-man roster after the Orioles selected his contract from Norfolk and placed Welington Castillo on the disabled list. Today’s move creates another opening.

Pitcher Edwin Jackson agreed to extend his opt-out clause until Monday and the Orioles could select his contract and make another bullpen move. They have some optionable pieces if they decide to go that route.

They also have Ubaldo Jiménez, who’s always included in the roster speculation and intrigue when he’s struggling.

Jackson threw a scoreless inning yesterday with two strikeouts to lower his ERA to 3.10 in 12 appearances.

Pedro Álvarez remains with Norfolk beyond his second opt-out date, but there isn’t an easy method for getting him back to the majors with the Orioles sticking with a four-man bench.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox scored two unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning to lead 5-3. Chris Tillman retired nine in a row before Mitch Moreland’s leadoff single. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Pablo Sandoval walked with one out, but Sandy Leon struck out.

Tillman got two strikes on Deven Marrero and bounced a knuckle-curve. Peña blocked the ball, fired to third trying to nab Moreland and sailed it down the left field line to let the tiebreaking runs score.

Tillman came out after throwing 103 pitches in six innings. Mike Wright replaced him and served up Andrew Benintendi’s second home run today to increase the lead to 6-3.

This is Benintendi’s first career multi-homer game. This is Wright’s third appearance in five days, and though the Orioles are off Monday, he may be vulnerable to another ride on the Norfolk shuttle.

Update: Wright was charged with another run in the ninth after Richard Bleier replaced him and gave up Benintendi’s RBI single.

Update II: The Orioles lose 7-3 and settle for a split of the four-game series.

The Orioles are 29-26 overall, 21-13 in the American League East and 19-10 at home. They remain 3 ½ games behind the first-place Yankees, who lost to the Blue Jays.

http://scores.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=370604101

Benintendi hits 2 HRs to help Red Sox beat Orioles 7-3

Associated Press June 4, 2017

BALTIMORE -- The next time the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox meet, summer will be winding down and football season will almost be here.

Until then, each team will do its best to be in contention when the next series between these AL East foes gets under way.

Andrew Benintendi hit two home runs, Chris Sale pitched six innings to earn his sixth straight win and Boston beat Baltimore 7-3 Sunday for a split of the four-game series.

The Red Sox broke a sixth-inning tie by scoring two unearned runs on a throwing error by catcher Francisco Pena, and Benintendi's second homer made it 6-3 in the seventh.

With the victory, the Red Sox improved to 6-7 against the Orioles. Nearly a quarter of Boston's first 56 games were against Baltimore, but the teams won't play again until Aug. 25.

That's why the Red Sox were delighted to win the final two games to get a split.

"We're neck-and-neck with this team and this division is going to be bunched up for the foreseeable future," Boston manager John Farrell said. "To get out of here even instead of being down 3-1, it's a big swing day for us."

Speaking of big swings, Benintendi hit two solo shots before adding an RBI single in the ninth. It was the first career multihomer game for the rookie, who entered in a 1-for-21 skid.

"He has a gift of being a very even-tempered guy," Farrell said. "Through these couple of dry spells, he's kept his head on his shoulders."

Sale (7-2) struck out nine to increase his major-league leading total to 119. The left-hander is 6-0 in his last seven starts, a streak that began with a win over Baltimore on May 2.

His outing came on the heels of a similarly effective outing by David Price on Saturday night. "Winning those first two games and trying to take a shot at those two guys, it's a challenge," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

Chris Tillman (1-3) kept the Orioles even until the sixth. After a single and two walks loaded the bases with one out, Sandy Leon struck out. With Deven Marrero at the plate, Tillman bounced an 0-2 pitch that glanced off Pena's shoulder and into his glove.

As Mitch Moreland edged down the line, Pena launched a throw that sailed wide of third base, allowing Moreland and Jackie Bradley Jr. to score.

"I just tried to be too quick, tried to put a perfect throw, and I messed it up," Pena said.

After Boston jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Sale yielded three runs and three hits in the bottom half. Chris Davis drove in two runs with an opposite-field single to left and scored on a double by Jonathan Schoop, the first of his three hits.

"I really had to kind of refocus after that and not let my emotions get the best of me," Sale said. Benintendi tied it with his sixth home run, the first in 81 at-bats since May 7.

500 MILESTONE

Boston leadoff batter Mookie Betts got his 500th career hit with a swinging bunt to open the game. He is the seventh Red Sox player in the last 100 years to reach the 500-mark before his 25th birthday.

GRAND FINALE

Veteran broadcaster Fred Manfra called his final game, bringing an end to a 25-year run with the Orioles. A native of East Baltimore, Manfra grew up listening to Hall of Fame broadcaster Chuck Thompson and joined the Orioles radio team in 1993.

MINOR TRADE

Later Sunday, the Orioles acquired infielder Ruben Tejada from the New York Yankees in a deal for cash considerations. He was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: LHP Brian Johnson left his Triple A start on Saturday night with a cramp in his right hamstring. He's an option to fill the void in the rotation left by Eduardo Rodriguez being placed on the disabled list.

Orioles: C Welington Castillo (testicular injury) played catch in the outfield. He's eligible to come off the DL on June 10, but not before a rehabilitation assignment. "You don't want to test it out in a big league game," Showalter said.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: After a day off, Boston sends Drew Pomeranz (5-3, 4.24 ERA) to the mound in the opener of a three-game series at Yankees Stadium on Tuesday.

Orioles: Following a day off Monday, the Orioles and Kevin Gausman (3-4, 5.92) open a two- game interleague series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2017/06/04/chris-tillman-decent-but-not-good-enough-in-7-3- loss-to-boston

Chris Tillman Decent, But Not Good Enough In 7-3 Loss To Boston

By Rich Dubroff / PressBoxOnline.com June 4, 2017

BALTIMORE -- In the first 55 games of the 2017 season, the Baltimore Orioles have faced the Boston Red Sox 13 times. While absence won't make the heart grow fonder in this case, the Orioles have seen enough of the Red Sox for the time being.

The Orioles, who won't face Boston again until Aug. 25, are 7-6 against Boston after their 7-3 loss before 31,819 at Oriole Park June 4.

In the first 27 games, the Orioles saw the Red Sox nine times, including the two series full of controversy.

There was no controversy in this four-game series. Baltimore won the first two games, and Boston the final two.

The New York Yankees lead the third place Orioles by 3.5 games in the AL East. Boston is 1.5 games ahead of the Orioles.

Chris Tillman pitched decently until he was undone by a wild throw from his catcher, Francisco Pena.

The right-hander loaded the bases on a single to Boston first baseman Mitch Moreland leading off the sixth, and walked centerfielder Jackie Bradley and third baseman Pablo Sandoval with one out. Tillman struck out Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon, went to 0-2 on infielder Deven Marrero and then threw a pitch that looked as if it would elude Pena, but the catcher snared it and saw Moreland about one-third of the way off third base.

Pena's throw was far to the left of Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and into left field, allowing Moreland and Bradley to score.

"It was a tough play right there, a tough block. I had it in front of me. I just think I hesitated a little bit. I didn't see Manny because Moreland was right in front of the line," Pena said. "I just tried to be too quick, tried to put a perfect throw, and I messed it up right there, and I just cut the ball a little bit too much, and it went by Manny."

Manager Buck Showalter defended his catcher.

"What I saw was an unbelievable stop on a wild pitch. It's one of those things, you see and you go for it. It's just a tough lane to throw through," Showalter said. "We weren't able to get an out there. But I'm more about blocking the pitch. I try to dwell on that part of it. I'm more about that part of it. Unbelievable block. I don't know how these guys do what they do."

TILLMAN'S DAY: Tillman allowed five runs, three earned, in six innings. It was his second quality start of the season.

"Today was much better. I was glad I was able to take that step," Tillman said. "I just wish early on I made a few better pitches, especially off-speed stuff. It's out of the zone right out of the get- go and kind of forces you to use the fastball a little more in counts that you normally wouldn't. You've got to be a little better with the off-speed stuff early on."

HITTING AGAINST SALE: Boston's Chris Sale is now 7-2. The left-hander, who allowed two runs on three hits in eight innings May 2, gave up three runs on six hits in six innings.

"I think he found his way and got through. You knew when they scored and got ahead he was

going to go to another level. He was good but I thought our guys were good off him," Showalter said. "They got a bunch of good arms. You look at all the arms they run out at you, it's a challenge."

SCHOOP HITTING: Jonathan Schoop had his second three-hit game of the season. The second baseman had two doubles. In 13 games against Boston, Schoop is batting .356 with eight RBIs.

REPLAY WORKING: The Orioles pulled off a double steal in the first inning, thanks to replay. Initially right fielder Joey Rickard was called out at third, but it was overturned, and Machado and Rickard were awarded stolen bases.

The Orioles are 9-for-13 in challenges.

HART STRUGGLING: Donnie Hart began 2017 the same way he ended 2016, pitching sharply. Hart, who allowed just one earned run in 22 appearances last season for a 0.49 ERA. In April, Hart didn't allow a run in his first 12 outings.

Those first scoreless 7.2 innings have been followed by eight runs in 8.2 innings to raise Hart's ERA to 4.41.

"Command of the fastball hasn't been there consistently like it was and will be again, hopefully," Showalter said. "When Donnie kind of got on the radar, he was a good locator of the fastball. Once a left-handed reliever locates the fastball down and away to a left-handed hitter, the whole world opens up to him.

"He's made some mistakes with the breaking ball strike, instead of strike to ball, that's hurt him a few times."

WRIGHT FOR A CAUSE: Right-handed pitcher Mike Wright's mother suffers from dementia, and his family has started a non-profit to support families whose loved ones are affected by the disease.

The charity is called "The Wright Set of Mind," and Wright's sister had a booth at the ballpark June 4 to raise awareness for the disease.

"When my sister had to move in with my mom, she didn't really know what to expect," Wright said. "She didn't know how to be prepared for it. It's our goal to really enlighten people if they're in this situation."

More information is available at www.wrightstateofmind.org.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Orioles signed left-handed pitcher Lucas Luetge for their Triple-A Norfolk affiliate. Luetge was 3-5 with a 4.35 ERA with Seattle from 2012-16. Luetge was released by Cincinnati June 1. … LHP Paul Fry has cleared waivers and was outrighted to Norfolk. The Orioles have 39 on their 40-man roster. ... The Orioles acquired veteran infielder Ruben Tejada from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. Tejada will be assigned to Norfolk.

COMING UP: After an off-day, the Orioles open a two-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates June 6. Right-handers Kevin Gausman (3-4, 5.92) and Ivan Nova (5-4, 2.92) are the scheduled pitchers.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-c-20170605-story.html

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has big dreams for Baltimore City youth baseball program

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun June 5, 2017

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado’s annual BaseBowl Tournament charity event, which took place Sunday at Mustang Alley’s, is in its fourth year benefitting the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Play Baseball Program. Machado said he hopes to see a player from the program join him in the major leagues one day.

“That’s why we’re grateful for it,” Machado said Sunday about the platform he has to help build youth baseball programs in Baltimore City. “We’re blessed to be in the situation to help out others. We’re going to do anything possible to do it, and hopefully one of these little kids will be playing against me one day.”

Machado has time to see that. He’s just 24 years old and the program his event benefits has grown rapidly over the years.

The Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Play Baseball Program allows kids ages 12 and under uniforms, equipment and transportation at no cost through city rec centers. The program began in 2013 with 200 kids participating at 14 rec centers, and this season could help 1,000 players at 51 rec centers.

This summer, the program also will renovate two fields and assist community volunteers in starting up youth baseball programs in the Park Heights and Carroll Park neighborhoods.

The event raised $90,000 last year and this year's event raised a rough estimate of $80,000, though final figure won't be known until silent auction events are added up.

Machado, who hosts the BaseBowl even annually with his wife, Yainee, said he hopes to continue to see the program grow, especially since he said he didn’t see the help it provides when he was growing up in Miami.

“I’m going to continue to do it,” Machado said. “It’s one of the grateful things we have as baseball players. You know, we have the opportunity to do these types of things. Any time you can help kids out, just by a single word or a simple donation, it goes a long way and they remember it forever, so we’re just trying to do our best to give back to the community, something that I never had growing up. Whenever you can do that, it’s unbelievable.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-thoughts-is-right-hander-edwin- jackson-up-next-20170605-story.html

Orioles thoughts: Is right-hander Edwin Jackson up next?

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun June 5, 2017

The Orioles made a curious move on Sunday when they took left-handed reliever Paul Fry off the organizational 40-man roster, freeing up a precious roster spot.

Fry hasn’t pitched well and maybe it was the best time to run him through outright waivers, but the timing is interesting given two pending opt-out dates tonight.

Right-hander Edwin Jackson and outfielder Pedro Alvarez, both at Triple-A Norfolk, can exercise opt-out clauses in their contracts today, forcing the Orioles to add them to the team’s 25-man roster over the next two days or release them from their contracts. Because they were minor-league signings, both players would also have to be added to the team’s 40-man roster as well.

Alvarez is in much of the same situation now as he was when the Orioles re-signed him to a minor-league deal late in spring training. The team doesn’t have roster space for him, and they are unconvinced he can play outfield at the major-league level. Even though he’s shown power – Alvarez has 12 homers and 39 RBIs in 56 games with the Tides – he’s hitting just .225.

The most likely player to press the Orioles’ hand is Jackson, and that’s because he can provide the club with something they currently need and will always need – bullpen length.

Jackson owns a 3.10 ERA at Norfolk pitching mostly in multi-inning relief. And for a player who went through the entire spring training schedule without a team, he’s starting to hit another gear. His last three outings have been scoreless spanning 5 2/3 innings, and over that span, he’s shown the Orioles he can do a lot of things they need.

Last Monday, Jackson threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a 23-pitch outing, then two days later needed just 34 pitches to record three more scoreless frames. And on Saturday, Jackson recorded the save for Norfolk with a three-up, three-down ninth inning that included two strikeouts.

At this point, the only thing holding Jackson down is that his lack of minor-league options would sacrifice some of the team’s ability to move optionable relievers back and forth – especially with Ubaldo Jimenez jettisoned to the pen. But Jackson’s ability to pitch often while providing long relief outings might help overcome that.

Jackson has earned more fans within the organization over the past few weeks, and his camp is confident that if the Orioles don’t call him up, he’s done enough that he will have big league opportunities elsewhere. It’s difficult to argue that point, because even though Jackson is well- traveled, he’s always had a job somewhere.

The move doesn’t have to happen today. Tonight just potentially starts the opt-out process, but basically, the Orioles have until Wednesday to add Jackson to the 25-man roster.

Keep in mind that the Orioles didn’t give up much for Fry – they sent international bonus slot No. 105, which is worth $198,000 that the club wasn’t going to use regardless, to the Seattle Mariners – but they did designate right-handed reliever Parker Bridwell for assignment to make 40-man roster space for Fry.

The Orioles eventually traded Bridwell, a ninth-round pick of the club in 2010, to the Los Angeles Angels, who immediately made Bridwell a starter again. After eight appearances with the Angels’ Double-A and Triple-A clubs, Bridwell made his first major league start – his previous two appearances with the Orioles were both in relief -- this past week and recorded a quality start against the Atlanta Braves, allowing three runs over six innings.

Fry, meanwhile, is boasting a 6.56 ERA at Norfolk and has allowed 12 runs over his last four appearances spanning seven innings. He’s held lefties to a .217 batting average, but right-handed hitters are hitting .272 against him.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-red-sox-observations-20170604- story.html

Orioles observations: Offense fizzles after scoring three runs off Red Sox ace Sale in first inning

By Callie Caplan / The Baltimore Sun June 4, 2017

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale entered Sunday's game at Camden Yards with the best wins above replacement of any starting pitcher in major league baseball (3.3), but that didn’t deter the Orioles in the first inning.

After a one-out double steal by right fielder Joey Rickard and third baseman Manny Machado, they opened a 3-2 lead on a two-run single by first baseman Chris Davis and a one-run double by second baseman Jonathan Schoop.

But the production halted after the early burst.

Sale settled into form, and Boston didn’t allow another run. He limited the Orioles to six hits, striking out nine and walking one in a 7-3 Red Sox win that earned them a split of the four-game series before an announced 31,819.

“[Sale] found his way and got through,” manager Buck Showalter said. “You knew when they scored and got ahead he was going to go to another level.”

The lineup’s struggles mirrored that during Saturday’s 5-2 loss, when the Red Sox’s other star pitcher, David Price, blanked the Orioles in six of his seven innings. Baltimore finished with seven hits and left six on base.

The Orioles had combined for 10 runs to prevail in the series’ first two games.

“Winning those first two games and trying to take a shot at those two guys,” Showalter said, “it's a challenge.”

In the finale, just Schoop and Machado had more than one hit, while the team stranded six runners.

Starter Chris Tillman, meanwhile, couldn’t hold the early 3-2 advantage.

He allowed the tying run in the third. Then after Tillman loaded the bases in the sixth, the Red Sox scored two when catcher Francisco Pena committed an error on a throw to third with two outs.

“I’ve felt like I’ve thrown the ball well against them,” Tillman said, “but they’re spoiling a lot of good pitches right now.”

Missed opportunity:

Right fielder Mookie Betts helped the Red Sox preserve a tie at three in the fourth inning with a sliding catch to rob Orioles left fielder Trey Mancini of a single.

Second base umpire Laz Diaz initially ruled that the ball touched the grass before Betts secured it, but Red Sox manager John Farrell challenged.

The review showed that Betts made the catch, so instead of having Mancini on first with no outs when he stepped the plate as the next batter, Schoop didn’t advance any runners when he doubled to right.

Schoop reached third on a wild pitch, but he never scored as Pena and shortstop J.J. Hardy struck out to end the inning.

Benintendi’s burst:

The Orioles pitchers struggled to handle Andrew Benintendi as the Red Sox left fielder went 3- for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs and a walk. He scored three runs in his first multihomer game.

Against Tillman in the third inning, Benintendi hit his first home run to right-center, tying the score at 3.

Right-hander Mike Wright relieved Tillman in the seventh, but he didn’t fare any better against the second-year major leaguer. With one out, Benintendi lined another solo shot to right to extend Boston’s lead to 6-3.

Machado’s rhythm:

Machado boosted his batting average to .219 — it had fallen to .205 against the New York Yankees on May 31 — with two multihit outings during the series.

Sunday, he went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and a run scored.

In 16 plate appearances in the series, Machado had six hits — including two home runs and two doubles — and scored five runs.

Schoop provides something extra:

After hitting two doubles Sunday, Schoop has 25 extra-base hits this season, fourth most in the major leagues among second basemen.

In 13 games against Boston this season, Schoop is hitting .356 (16-for-45) with eight RBIs.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-before-his-final-game-longtime-orioles- radio-broadcaster-fred-manfra-cherishes-lasting-memories-behi-20170604-story.html

Before calling his final game, longtime Orioles radio broadcaster Fred Manfra cherishes memories

By Callie Caplan / The Baltimore Sun June 4, 2017

Memories from his career flashed through Orioles radio announcer Fred Manfra’s mind Sunday as he drove to Camden Yards.

There were his first-day nerves when he started full-time in 1993. He remembered the excitement covering festivities for Cal Ripken Jr.'s major league record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game.

Manfra even thought about the beginning of this season, when he threw the ceremonial first pitch Opening Day.

That was about two months after Manfra announced that he was stepping down from full-time broadcasting duties because of health problems. Sunday’s call against the Red Sox was his last, leaving the veteran radio personality with nostalgia for his accomplished career.

“You finally realize how much a part of the fabric of a city and a populous of a city when you’re a radio broadcaster,” Manfra said. “You’re sitting with them in their backyards at cookouts. You’re out on the bay with them as they’re fishing.”

Manfra planned to work through the end of June, but his house in Fallston sold quickly, and the new family moved in at the end of May.

That led to a few-night stay in a hotel so he could close the weekend before moving into a house in Culbreath Bayou in Tampa, Fla., to be closer to his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

The hotel stay was the same way he started his full-time Baltimore tenure.

He had held a fill-in play-by-play role for WBAL’s broadcasts in the 1970s, and later worked for ABC, covering professional sports and the Olympics.

When he returned home in 1993 — Manfra is a Patterson graduate — he soon became one of the most recognizable voices around the team.

He used to listen to former Orioles broadcaster Chuck Thompson call games while playing outside his East Baltimore childhood home and would sneak his transistor radio into bed at night.

That taught him the sport and developed his love for broadcasting, Manfra said, which he used when teaming with Joe Angel to form one of the longest-tenured broadcasting duos.

MASN broadcaster Jim Hunter will play a large role in filling Manfra’s spot.

“I’m gonna miss him,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Fifty years. You going to do this 50 years and be as good at it as he was or is? Fred’s a good listen.”

Manfra, however, had trouble maintaining the team’s grueling schedule after two hip replacement surgeries in 2014 and a back surgery. He expects to need two knee replacements in the future but plans to attend Orioles games when they travel to Tampa.

“You don’t know as a broadcaster how many lives you touch until you start making your way around the city and it’s time to say goodbye,” Manfra said. “And then it comes to life.”

That was evident when Manfra received a standing ovation when he was recognized on the videoboard before the fourth inning Sunday, with the entire Orioles dugout looking to the press box broadcast level and clapping, and several players on the field joining in as well.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-acquire-minor-league-infielder- ruben-tejada-from-yankees-20170604-story.html

Orioles acquire minor league infielder Rubén Tejada from Yankees By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun June 4, 2017

The Orioles acquired minor league infielder Rubén Tejada from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations, the team announced Sunday.

Tejada, 27, was playing for the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and was hitting .269/.345/.462 with 13 extra-base hits (seven doubles and six homers) and 21 RBIs in 148 plate appearances.

He was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk, where he will provide infield depth at second, shortstop and third, especially after the Tides lost infielders Paul Janish to a big league call-up and and Robert Andino to a suspension for violating the minor league drug and treatment policy.

Tejada might best be known for suffering a broken leg while playing for the New York Mets in the 2015 National League Division Series caused by Chase Utley’s late slide into second base, a gruesome injury that prompted rule changes the following year to protect fielders from illegal slides.

The trade to acquire Tejada is a minor league deal, so he isn’t added to the 40-man roster.

Earlier Sunday the Orioles cleared a spot on the 40-man roster by outrighting left-handed reliever Paul Fry to Norfolk after clearing outright waivers.

Fry has a 6.56 ERA over 23 1/3 innings this season for the Tides, a mark that has ballooned over his past four outings, when he allowed 12 earned runs over seven relief innings.

The move comes on the eve of two extended opt-out dates for right-handed reliever Edwin Jackson and outfielder Pedro Alvarez, who can both request release of their contracts Monday. Both would have to be added to the 40-man and 25-man rosters.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-early-orioles-notes-castillo-s-obstacles- wright-s-foundation-and-bullpen-survival-with-ubaldo-20170604-story.html

Early Orioles notes: Castillo's obstacles, Wright's foundation and bullpen survival with Jimenez

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun June 4, 2017

In monitoring catcher Welington Castillo’s recovery from a testicular injury when a deflected pitch hit him in the groin, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he plans to bring in Caleb Joseph for advice on how he came back from the same injury.

“It’s probably something we’re going to talk to Caleb a little bit [about] as we get closer. What, do you not squat as good? Do you stand up more? I don’t know. Actually it’s probably a conversation we should have with Caleb and probably will. We’re lucky in some aspect to have somebody who has gone through it. It’s one of those things you don’t wish on anybody.”

Castillo was injured Monday when a pitch deflected off New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius and hit him in the groin area, prompting a postgame emergency room visit. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list the following day and, even though he is eligible to return Saturday, that will be a challenge.

Castillo played catch Saturday but Showalter said he’s still sore, and like Joseph, his biggest challenge before his return will be getting back into a crouch behind the plate, and also the mental hurdle that comes with getting back there after that sort of injury.

“I don’t want to lessen it, but it wasn’t as serious and as recuperative as Caleb’s was. I was talking to him in the replay room. He’s been in there watching the pitchers and everything and he’s still a little sore. What is this, day four or five? In a perfect world, he’d catch day nine and 10, somewhere in there, so he could go right from there and be on time. You really don’t want to test it out in a big league game, no pun intended.”

Wright raising dementia awareness

The Wright State of Mind, a nonprofit created by Orioles right-hander Mike Wright and his sister Tiffany created to raise awareness, research dollars and help caregivers for those with dementia, set up a community booth along the Camden Yards concourse Sunday.

Wright’s mother, Sherry, was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, and a main focus of the organization is to inform caregivers about the disease.

“It’s research and also for caregivers to actually get people prepared to take care of their family members and just make it a better all-around situation when the time comes,” Wright said. “When my sister had to move in with my mom, she really didn’t know what to expect. She didn’t know what route my mom was going to take and didn’t really know how to be prepared for it. … So it’s our goal to really enlighten people in this situation and really help them ... get through this as much as possible. Dementia it means something is wrong with the brain, and Alzheimer’s is like 80 percent of those patients, so all the research goes to Alzheimer’s, and right now I think the caregivers are very important.”

This was the second time the organization has had a booth at Camden Yards this year. The club had a booth in spring training, too.

Showalter: Everyone in 'pen must pitch

Showalter said he had few options other than right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez in the eighth inning of Saturday night’s 4-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

Showalter planned to pitch Brad Brach and Darren O’Day only with a lead, and he said Sunday that right-hander Mychal Givens was unavailable, as was Mike Wright after pitching two straight

nights. A one-run deficit turned into a three-run hole after Jimenez allowed two runs in the eighth.

“In the American League, if someone is in your bullpen, he’s going to have to pitch or else you’re not going to have a bullpen because guys like Mike and Darren and Brad won’t be here at the All-Star break. We have to keep them away from the league leaders in appearances,” Showalter said.

Jimenez hadn't worked since Sunday in Houston and was unavailable for the next several days after throwing 93 pitches.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/234329350/fred-manfra-calls-last-game-at-camden-yards/

O's broadcaster Manfra calls last game at home

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com June 5, 2017

BALTIMORE -- It was the end of an era on Sunday afternoon, as longtime Orioles radio broadcaster Fred Manfra called his last game at Camden Yards, capping a 50-year broadcasting career that included the past two-and-a-half decades with his hometown team.

"You think back and when you look at this ballpark, coming to this office for 25 years, I don't know of any better view that anyone would have than Oriole Park at Camden Yards," said Manfra, an East Baltimore native and Patterson High School graduate who joined the Orioles radio broadcasts in 1993.

"I'm sure it will be a bittersweet experience. Bitter [to swallow] in the way that I've been blessed to do my hometown team for 25 years, sweet in knowing that when I make my new life it will be with our grandkids down in Tampa … we are looking forward to that."

Manfra leaves behind a legacy, one that includes NBA All-Star Games, the Olympics, NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Triple Crown Races and MLB All-Star Games, including the one at Camden Yards his first year in '93. He was in the booth with former President Bill Clinton and Hall of Fame broadcaster Jon Miller during Cal Ripken Jr.'s streak-breaking game, and still cherishes being on the field when the O's clinched the American League East in 2014.

"He's been a best friend in the booth, he's been my best friend," said Manfra's counterpart, Joe Angel. "And to go to the ballpark every day with the same guy, knowing how he's going to react, pretty much being able to predict what he might say in a certain situation and how he might react to something I might say, there's a certain comfort factor in that.

"I think it's important and it comes across on the air, which is why people have received it so well. I'm going to miss him. He's my best friend."

Added Orioles manager Buck Showalter: "One, if they're around that long, they got to be really good at what they do. Fred's a Baltimore native. A lot of people have grown up listening to Fred. I know how serious he takes it. Makes sure he's prepared. I know my mom, a lot of people will watch the game and listen on the radio.

"I've seen on some of the road trips, some of the [health] issues he's had. Never complained. Getting up the steps on that bus. Going back and forth off that plane. He worked through it. He played hurt. Posted up. Always upbeat. Loves the Orioles and always walked that fine line between being a homer and reporting what was wrong."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/234466754/os-manny-machado-hosts-4th-annual- basebowl/

Machado hosts 4th annual BaseBOWL

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com June 5, 2017

BALTIMORE -- Manny Machado traded in his spikes for strikes on Sunday night.

A few hours after Baltimore's 7-3 loss to Boston at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the All-Star third baseman was all smiles as he hosted his fourth annual BaseBOWL celebrity bowling tournament at Mustang Alley's to benefit the Baltimore City Foundation and Baltimore Parks & Recreation's Play Baseball summer program for children.

The event also featured a silent auction and a dinner.

"Any time you can help kids out just by a single word or a single donation, it goes a long way, and they will remember it forever," Machado said. "We are just trying to do our best to give back to the community, something I didn't have growing up."

Machado was joined by several Orioles coaches and teammates, a long list that included Ubaldo Jimenez, Chris Davis, Chris Tillman, J.J. Hardy and Adam Jones.

"All my teammates have supported me and have been behind me," Machado said. "It's nice to see them have fun and enjoy themselves out there. I couldn't ask for anything more."

"Manny's not out there trumpeting it or boasting about his charity. He does it because it's the right thing to do," manager Buck Showalter said. "I watch him interact with the kids and the fans. There are a lot of people pulling on him, but he seems to always make time."

Since its inaugural year, in 2014, Machado's BaseBOWL has raised more than $250,000 to support Baltimore Parks & Recreation's eight-week "Play Baseball" campaign. In all, the program has helped more than 3,100 youth players, ages 9-12, by supplying equipment, uniforms, transportation and field repair.

"It's important to be here, because Manny is doing this for a good cause," Jimenez said. "As a friend and as a teammate, we are all here to support him. This is the city where we play, and it's important to contribute to the community."

Showalter is pleased that such events as BaseBOWL give others a chance to see the Machado he knows, and said Machado is much more than just an elite baseball player with a highly competitive streak.

"He loves to laugh and doesn't take himself so seriously," Showalter said. "He has some style to his game, but there is a lot more substance than there is style. He's a very grounded person."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/234404480/error-in-sixth-costly-for-orioles-in-loss/

Two-out sixth-inning error costly for O's in loss

By Mandy Bell / MLB.com June 4, 2017

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles' offense had one of the Major Leagues' best pitchers on the ropes with a three-run first inning. And heading into the sixth inning, with the game tied at 3, Red Sox ace Chris Sale had thrown 101 pitches and wasn't going to last much longer.

But a costly error in the sixth inning broke the tie and led to the Orioles' 7-3 loss in the series finale.

Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland led off the sixth with a single, but Orioles starter Chris Tillman came right back with a strikeout of Hanley Ramirez for the first out. The righty then gave up back-to-back walks to load the bases, prompting a mound visit from catcher Francisco Pena.

"[He was] just giving me time," Tillman said. "It was kind of a long inning. Giving me time to regroup and focus on the next pitch. Trying to keep the snowball effect from happening. Get off the mound for a couple seconds and make some pitches."

Tillman came back with a clutch strikeout of Sandy Leon for the second out before Deven Marrero stepped to the plate.

Jumping ahead to an 0-2 count, Tillman didn't want to throw anything in the zone, so the righty threw a 75-mph knuckle curve in the dirt that bounced in front of the plate, causing Pena to have to quickly pop out of his squat in front of the large hop. Pena pulled off the impressive block and saw that Moreland had strayed far away from third base.

The catcher grabbed the ball and threw down to third in an attempt to pick off Moreland, but the ball sailed wide of Manny Machado at third and into left field, allowing two runs to score and break the 3-3 tie.

"It was a tough play right there, a tough block. I had it in front of me. I just think I hesitated a little bit," Pena said. "Yeah, [the runner's path] was [an issue]. It was, but as a catcher you're always aggressive. He's giving you an out right there. You've got runners on base, and a guy that puts the ball in play a lot. I thought I had an opportunity, and I took it, but ... bad throw. All I can do is come back [Tuesday] and try and win a ballgame."

"I don't know how the ball stayed in front of [Pena] like it did, and in reach," Moreland said. "I just tried to get in the baseline a little bit -- and hopefully he made a bad throw, and we were fortunate enough he did, and it ended up paying off for a couple of runs right there."

After the play, the Orioles produced only four more hits, causing them to settle for a series split after taking the first two games.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/234325618/nova-takes-on-gausman-in-rare-bucs-os- tilt/?topicId=26688732

Improving Gausman gets call vs. Bucs

By Adam Berry / MLB.com June 4, 2017

Ivan Nova has years of experience pitching at Camden Yards. He made eight appearances with the Yankees in the Orioles' home ballpark, putting together a 5.44 ERA in 48 innings. But Nova was a different pitcher then, and he'll get his first shot at Baltimore in a Pittsburgh uniform when the Bucs and O's open a two-game Interleague series Tuesday night.

Nova has been exactly the kind of stabilizing veteran the Pirates needed in their young rotation. He has pitched at least six innings every time out this year, and nine of his 11 outings have been quality starts. Nova has worked at least seven innings in his last three starts, most recently holding the D-backs to three runs on six hits and a walk on Tuesday.

Right-hander Kevin Gausman will start for the Orioles, looking to continue his recent run of success. After a rough stretch to begin the season, Gausman owns a 3.00 ERA with a pair of quality starts over his last three starts. He beat the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) despite giving up eight hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Things to know about this game

• Both of Nova's complete games this season have been on the road, in St. Louis on April 17 and in Miami on April 29. In his last road outing, Nova fell two outs short of his third complete game in a 9-4 win over the Braves. Two of Nova's seven career complete games came against the Orioles when he pitched for the Yankees.

• The Orioles are 4-2 in Interleague Play this year, having taken two of three from the Reds in Cincinnati (April 18-20) and the Nationals at home (May 8-10).

• Catcher Francisco Cervelli (illness) returned to the Pirates' lineup on Sunday. The Bucs should be at full strength Tuesday with Gregory Polanco -- off Sunday and recently sidelined by a twisted ankle -- back in right field.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/06/leftovers-for-breakfast-63.html

Leftovers for breakfast

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com June 5, 2017

The Orioles’ decision to outright left-hander Paul Fry yesterday and open up a spot on their 40- man roster naturally led to speculation that they’re going to select the contract of someone at Triple-A Norfolk with an opt-out clause.

Pitcher Edwin Jackson remains the most logical choice based on need and the lesser degree of difficulty. The Orioles can remove a reliever without any hassle and bring up a fresh arm that can assist at any stage of a game.

Jackson has started in the past and is able to provide length. He’s thrown three innings for the Tides on two occasions, which qualifies as long relief in the majors. His mid-90s fastball and a slider could make him a weapon later in the game.

The lack of a minor league option has no bearing on the Orioles’ decision. If Jackson is good, they’re going to hold onto him. If he can’t get anyone out, he’ll be thanked and shown the door.

The team is off today and may wait until Tuesday to adjust the roster. Of course, it may do nothing, but the timing of Fry’s outright is at least curious.

“We felt the timing was good to get him through waivers,” said executive vice president Dan Duquette. “The reason we did it was the timing.”

Maybe it’s not curious. I’m not going to keep guessing.

Mike Wright has options and threw 32 pitches yesterday in his third appearance in five days. Being an off-day provides some relief, so to speak, but he’d be a candidate to hop back on the shuttle.

Richard Bleier pitched in back-to-back games, but he’s the second left-hander in the bullpen. The Orioles may want to hold onto him, especially as he’s gotten better against right-handers. More on that later.

(And this is more of me guessing)

Wright made back-to-back appearances on Wednesday and Thursday, entering in the ninth and eighth innings. He replaced Tillman yesterday to begin the seventh and gave up Andrew Benintendi’s home run.

Wright also was charged with a run in the ninth after Bleier inherited his runner.

Meanwhile, the debate continues whether he should remain a starter in the minors or transition to the bullpen, where his upper-90s fastball might be a weapon later in games. He also could work in long relief, of course, with his starter’s background.

“That’s always been in everybody’s mind, including mine, that if it didn’t work out, that is where we felt like he could fall, but because of the premium and the need, we ask everybody to go down the starting role first,” said manager Buck Showalter.

“It’s kind of like the guy...you want to see if (Ryan) Mountcastle can play shortstop before you do something else. You take him at the premium position and then take it from there. I think the possibility’s always what everybody’s talked about, but not...The first topic when you’re talking about him as a pitcher, you want him to see if he can handle starting.”

I wrote yesterday that the Orioles signed left-handed reliever Lucas Luetge to a minor league contract and assigned him to Norfolk. They view him as a specialist and with good reason.

Left-handers are hitting .209 against Luetge in parts of four major league seasons with the Mariners. Right-handers are hitting .299.

Luetge was holding left-handers to a .225 average at Triple-A Louisville before the Reds released him on June 1. Right-handers were hitting .347.

Luetge made 63 appearances with the Mariners in 2012 and posted a 3.98 ERA in 40 2/3 innings. Left-handers hit .193 and right-handers hit .318.

So, you get the idea. He’s a specialist and the Orioles might be able to use him this summer.

I also wrote yesterday that left-hander Donnie Hart has registered a 4.41 ERA in 22 appearances this season. In the same amount of games last summer, he carried a 0.49 ERA and pretty much already had a job secured as he arrived in spring training.

The Orioles seem confident that Hart will improve his fastball command and get back into his previous form, when left-handers were 5-for-38 (.132) against him. They’re 9-for-29 (.310) with two doubles and a home run this season, though there have been some cheap hits along the way.

Meanwhile, Bleier’s importance grows as the other left-hander in the bullpen. He tossed two scoreless innings Saturday night before turning over the game to Ubaldo Jiménez in the eighth inning and recorded two outs in the ninth yesterday.

Bleier has allowed four earned runs (eight total) in 15 1/3 innings, with only one home run surrendered. Right-handers were batting .216 against him, a noticeable improvement over the .265 career average.

Xander Bogaerts struck out yesterday, another success for Bleier versus a right-handed hitter.

“Now he’s got a way to defend himself against right-handed hitters,” Showalter said. “Not getting into some repertoire changes he’s had in the last year or so. One of the reasons why we were intrigued by him to take him was because of that. And he’s always done well against left- handed hitters for the most part.

“He’s got his feet on the ground that he can kind of show us what he can do and he’s not looking over his shoulder after every outing like, ‘Am I out of here?’ And that’s tough, but that’s the way it is. He’s got a left-hander’s mentality. I like him.”

Bleier was one of those under-the-radar acquisitions in spring training, obtained from the Yankees on Feb. 21 for a player to be named later or cash - the fourth consecutive day that they made a move.

The Orioles added to their infield depth last night by acquiring Rubén Tejada from the Yankees for cash considerations and assigning him to Norfolk. It’s a minor league deal and he isn’t added to the 40-man roster.

Steve Melewski wrote about him last night while I was attending Manny Machado’s BaseBOWL event at Mustang Alley to benefit the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Play Ball baseball program.

Tejada was batting .269/.345/.462 with seven doubles, six home runs and 21 RBIs in 37 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had an opt-out and the Yankees traded him.

Tejada, 27, is a career .252/.327/.320 hitter in 616 major league games.

“He’s versatile. He can play shortstop, second base and third base, he’s got a good arm and he can hit,” Duquette said.

“He can be an asset.”

I was impressed by the turnout for BaseBOWL, the list of Orioles including Chris Davis, Kevin Gausman, Chris Tillman, Brad Brach, Dylan Bundy, Wade Miley, Joey Rickard, Jonathan

Schoop, Ubaldo Jiménez, Mychal Givens, J.J. Hardy, Hyun Soo Kim, Darren O’Day, Welington Castillo, Caleb Joseph, Trey Mancini, Francisco Peña, Alec Asher and coaches Wayne Kirby and Scott Coolbaugh.

“It’s always tough, especially after a game, to come out here and chat a little bit with some fans, but all my teammates always support me and they always come out here and they do their best to have fun and enjoy themselves out there,” Machado said. “I couldn’t ask for any better teammates than that.

“It’s for the kids. It’s always good to do what we can and give them something to support. We’ve been raising a lot of money and helping kids get out there to the ballpark and getting them back into sports. I know it’s been dying down a little bit. Anything we can say or do, that’s going to help these kids out a lot.”

Early estimates had the event raising around $80,000.

Machado wants to make an impact on the city, similar to what Adam Jones has done.

“I’m going to continue to do it,” he said. “It’s one of the things we have as baseball players. We have the opportunity to do these types of things. Anytime you can help kids out, just by a single word or a simple donation, it goes a long way and they remember it forever. We’re just trying to do our best to give back to the community, something that I never had growing up. Whenever you can do that, it’s unbelievable.

“That’s what we’re grateful for. We’re blessed to be in this situation to help out others. So, we’re going to do everything possible to try to do that and hopefully one of these little kids will be playing against me one day.”

Machado listed Kirby and Bundy as the top two bowlers. Where does he rank?

“I’m down low,” he said. “I suck. I still can’t get it. I’m an average bowler. I’m not going to throw myself down there. I’m average, probably better than Schoop.”

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/06/orioles-settle-for-split-with-7-3-loss.html

Orioles settle for split with 7-3 loss

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

A pitch in the dirt, a wild throw and a broken tie.

It happened that quickly.

The Red Sox scored two unearned runs off Chris Tillman in the sixth inning on catcher Francisco Peña’s error to take the lead and they kept the Orioles in third place with a 7-3 victory before an announced crowd of 31,819 at Camden Yards.

Andrew Benintendi recorded his first multi-homer game, his solo shot off Mike Wright in the seventh inning expanding Boston’s lead. Benintendi added an RBI single off Richard Bleier in the ninth, the run also charged to Wright.

Benintendi tied his career high with three RBIs. He’s done it twice against the Orioles.

The Orioles settle for a split of their four-game series while dropping to 29-26 overall, 21-13 in the American League East and 19-10 at home. They remain 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Yankees.

Tillman was charged with three earned runs (five total) and six hits in six innings, with four walks, three strikeouts and a home run. He threw 103 pitches, 59 for strikes.

“A lot of it has got to do with who you’re facing,” said manager Buck Showalter. “They make you grind. And Chris held it together, gave us a chance to win. I thought he was better than last time out. A little crisper earlier, found his way and gave us a chance against a really good pitcher and a good team.”

The walks hurt, as they so often do. Two of them in the first inning, followed by Jackie Bradley Jr.’s two-run single.

“Yeah, he’s not the only one,” Showalter said. “We ended up with five walks today, which extends pitches. You know, warm day, you’re making them work more than he already is. You’ve got to keep in mind, too, they’re the guys who take close pitches that a lot of people swing at. They make you do that.”

Tillman retired nine in a row before Mitch Moreland singled to lead off the sixth. Bradley and Pablo Sandoval walked with one out to load the bases, but Tillman came within a strike of escaping the jam.

Sandy Leon struck out and Deven Marrero fell behind 0-2. Tillman buried a knuckle-curve in the dirt, Peña blocked the ball and fired it to third base in an attempt to nab Moreland. He missed his intended target, however, and two runs scored as the ball rolled up the left field line.

“What I saw was an unbelievable stop on a wild pitch,” Showalter said. “It’s one of those things, you see and you go for it. It’s just a tough lane to throw through. We weren’t able to get an out there. But I’m more about blocking the pitch. I try to dwell on that part of it. I’m more about that part of it.

“Unbelievable block. I don’t know how these guys do what they do.”

Peña tilted back his head in disgust, eyes skyward, knowing that his throw might decide the outcome of the game.

“It was a tough play right there, a tough block,” Pena said. “I had it in front of me. I just think I hesitated a little bit. I didn’t see Manny (Machado) because Moreland was right in front of the

line. I just tried to be too quick, tried to put a perfect throw and I messed it up right there and I just cut the ball a little bit too much and it went by Manny.”

The Orioles worked left-hander Chris Sale for 39 pitches in the first inning while scoring three runs to erase the Red Sox’s 2-0 lead. Sale had been dominant in the opening frame before today, allowing no runs and one hit with 17 strikeouts in 11 innings.

Sale gave up three runs on a single, two doubles, a walk and a double steal executed by Joey Rickard and Machado.

Chris Davis singled in two of the runs and scored on the first of Jonathan Schoop’s two doubles. Schoop leads the Orioles with 17 doubles.

There wouldn’t be any more runs for the Orioles. Sale’s pitch count grew to 56 after two innings - Adam Jones made him throw 10 before striking out - but the left-hander cleared six innings on 110 pitches.

“You figure he’s going to get right and pitch,” Showalter said. “We were fortunate, Chris got a jam shot over there and we got deep in counts with some foul balls. But winning those first two games and trying to take a shot at those two guys, it’s a challenge especially when their team is in need like it is.

“I think he found his way and got through. You knew when they scored and got ahead he was going to go to another level. He was good, but I thought our guys were good off him. They’ve got a bunch of good arms. You look at all the arms they run out at you, it’s a challenge.”

The Orioles won’t face the Red Sox again until August at Fenway Park, the teams having already played 13 games against each other. Showalter isn’t celebrating the break.

“No, not at all,” he said. “We don’t live in that world. Pittsburgh scored 11 runs today. Another challenge around the corner. I’m more happy our guys are going to finally get an off-day at home before we play 20 games in a row. So, it starts up again.

“No, it has nothing to do with (Boston). Good teams every day. These are the best players in the world.”

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/06/showalter-on-bullpen-castillo-manfra-and- more.html

Showalter on bullpen, Castillo, Manfra and more (we’re tied)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

The Orioles didn’t make any roster moves this morning after considering the need for another reliever.

Mike Wright is available today after manager Buck Showalter stayed away from him in last night’s 5-2 loss to the Red Sox. He also didn’t want to use Mychal Givens, and he was going to call upon Darren O’Day or Brad Brach only if the Orioles were ahead.

Ubaldo Jiménez worked the eighth inning and allowed two runs to increase Boston’s lead to 4-1. “In the American League, if somebody’s in your bullpen, they’re going to pitch. Otherwise, you’re not going to have a bullpen,” Showalter said.

“Guys like Brad, Mike and Darren won’t be here at the All-Star break. We’ve got to keep them from those league-leaders in appearances.”

Donnie Hart was charged with a run in the ninth inning to raise his ERA to 4.41 in 22 appearances. He had a 0.49 ERA last summer in 22 games.

“Command of the fastball hasn’t been there consistently like it was and will be again, hopefully,” Showalter said. “When Donnie kind of got on the radar, he was a good locator of the fastball. Once a left-handed reliever locates the fastball down and away to a left-handed hitter, the whole world opens up to him.

“He’s made some mistakes with the breaking ball strike, instead of strike to ball, that’s hurt him a few times.”

Showalter said he can be mechanics, but that’s not always the sole reason. There’s also the mental side of the game.

“It’s not always just one thing, especially with young guys who aren’t really established over a long period. It kind of weighs on them a little bit, especially when they know how you’re constantly trying to have people here to cover things. That weighs into it, too. It’s a tough way to pitch, but that’s the nature of the beast.”

Catcher Welington Castillo threw in the outfield again this morning and apparently will go on an injury rehab assignment before coming off the 10-day disabled list. His injury wasn’t nearly as bad as the one suffered by Caleb Joseph last year, though no one is downplaying it, considering the delicate nature.

“I was talking to him in the replay room,” Showalter said. “He’s been in there watching the pitchers. He’s still a little sore. This is day four or five. In a perfect world, he’d catch day nine or 10, somewhere in there, so he can go right from there and be on time, but you really don’t want to test it out in a big league game. No pun intended.”

The Orioles will seek Joseph’s input as Castillo gets closer to a return date.

“Will he not squat as good? Should he stand up more? I don’t know,” Showalter said.

“That’s probably a conversation we should have with Caleb. It’s one aspect to have somebody with us who’s gone through it. It’s one of those things you don’t wish on anybody.”

There’s nothing new on closer Zach Britton and infielder Ryan Flaherty. Britton is still playing a “firm catch” down in Sarasota and Flaherty is waiting to be cleared to start throwing, which is expected to happen this week.

Showalter keeps saying that Britton is “right on schedule” and the team left some wiggle room in case the left-hander is ready earlier - depending on how many rehab games are needed. Pedro Álvarez is playing right field again today at Triple-A Norfolk. He still hasn’t exercised his latest opt-out and the Orioles still haven’t found a roster spot for him.

Showalter began his media session by honoring Fred Manfra, who’s broadcasting his final game today on 105.7 The Fan. Manfra is retiring after nearly 50 years in the business, including 25 with the Orioles.

The East Baltimore native and Patterson High School graduate joined Orioles radio broadcasts in 1993. He’s also covered the NBA Finals and All-Star Games, Olympics, Stanley Cup Finals and All-Star Games, the Breeder’s Cup and Triple Crown races, among other marquee events.

“Going to miss him,” Showalter said. “Fifty years. Are you going to do this 50 years and be as good as it as he is? Fred’s a good listen. Last night for some reason, one of our (trainers) as saying they were inside there and radio broadcast was on and he was talking about how good Fred was. I don’t ever listen to it, but I’ve heard a lot of things about it.

“If they’re on that long, they have to be really good at what they do. Fred’s a Baltimore native. A lot of people have grown up listening to Fred. I know how serious he takes it about being organized, prepared. A lot of people will watch the game and listen to the radio. I know my mom did that for some reason. She liked Fred.”

Manfra, 70 underwent two hip replacement surgeries in 2014 and a back procedure that forced him to reduce his work schedule. He agreed to work 11 home games this season, the last one today, before heading down to Florida to begin the next phase of his life.

“It’s kind of sad,” Showalter said. “I hope he’s happy about it. I’ve seen some of the radio trips, the (physical) issues he had. Struggling, never complained, getting up those steps on the bus. Tough a few times, back and forth off that plane, but he worked through it. He played hurt. He posted up.

“He was always upbeat. He loves the Orioles. But he always walked that fine line between being a homer and reporting what was wrong, like we all try to. Well, not all of us. I’ll speak for Fred anyway.”

Update: The Orioles signed left-hander Lucas Luetge, 30, to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

Luetge was 1-2 with a 4.55 ERA in 20 relief appearances with Triple-A Louisville. The Reds released him on June 1.

Luetge is 25-21 with a 3.86 ERA in nine minor league seasons. The former 21st-round pick out of Rice University was 3-5 with a 4.35 ERA in 111 games with the Mariners from 2012-2015. Update II: Chris Davis dumped a two-out, two-run single down the left field line in the bottom of the first inning to tie the score after Joey Rickard and Manny Machado executed a double steal.

Rickard was ruled out before the call was overturned.

Trey Mancini reached on a fielder’s choice and Davis scored on Jonathan Schoop’s double to left field to give the Orioles a 3-2 lead.

Chris Tillman threw 24 pitches in the top of the first and allowed a two-out, bases-loaded single to Jackie Bradley Jr. that gave Boston a brief 2-0 lead.

Update III: Andrew Benintendi led off the third inning with a game-tying home run. Chris Sale threw 39 pitches in the first inning and 17 in the second.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2017/06/orioles-lineup-vs-red-sox-25.html

Orioles and Red Sox lineups

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

Francisco Peña is catching this afternoon and the Orioles are breaking out another right-handed lineup against Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale.

Joey Rickard is in right field and Trey Mancini is in left. Mark Trumbo is the designated hitter.

Chris Davis is batting .354 (17-for-48) when leading off an inning.

For the Orioles: Joey Rickard RF Adam Jones CF Manny Machado 3B Mark Trumbo DH Chris Davis 1B Trey Mancini LF Jonathan Schoop 2B Francisco Pena C J.J. Hardy SS

Chris Tillman RHP

For the Red Sox: Mookie Betts RF Andrew Benintendi LF Xander Bogaerts SS Mitch Moreland 1B Hanley Ramirez DH Jackie Bradley Jr. CF Pablo Sandoval 3B Sandy Leon C Deven Marrero 2B

Chris Sale LHP

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/06/did-os-steady-the-ship-with-4-3-run.html

Did O’s steady the ship with 4-3 run?

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com June 5, 2017

After going through a 3-13 stretch through the end of a series at Houston a week ago yesterday, the Orioles went 4-3 over their past seven games against the Yankees and Red Sox.

A 4-3 record against those teams would be pretty solid most of the time, except maybe when they started the stretch 4-1, then lost the next two games as the Orioles just did.

They took the first two games against Boston before losing the last two. They have played four series against Boston and have not lost a single one. But they’ve won only one. Three times these clubs split a series, going 1-1, 2-2 and 2-2 again over the past four series.

The Orioles are now 21-13 in American League East games. They have played 11 series against division opponents, losing just one. That was when they dropped two of three at New York April 28-30. They are 7-1-3 in AL East series.

So getting back into AL East play a week ago today turned out to be a good thing. They stabilized the ship after the three wins in 16 games stretch. In their next 17 games they have just one AL East series and that is when they play at New York starting Friday night.

Manny Machado doubled in the fifth and eighth innings Sunday and hit safely in all four games of the Boston series, batting .400 (6-for-15) with two home runs. Machado has 10 extra-base hits in 13 games against the Red Sox for the season. Is his bat finally starting to heat up?

Chris Davis extended his hitting streak to six games with his two-out, two-run single in the first inning off Chris Sale. Davis is batting .304 (7-for-23) during the streak with two homers and six RBIs. He recorded his fifth multi-RBI game.

Joey Rickard doubled in his first at-bat Sunday. He is hitting .325 (13-for-40) in 19 home games this season. He stole third base in the first inning for his team-leading fourth stolen base.

On the farm Sunday: Triple-A Norfolk lost 2-1 to Rochester to fall to 23-33. Left-hander Jayson Aquino took the loss allowing six hits and two runs over 6 2/3 on 107 pitches. He is 1-5 with an ERA of 4.62.

David Washington went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Tides. Johnny Giavotella and Jesús Montero added two hits each. Washington has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games with an at-bat, over which he’s batted .390 (16-for-41) with three doubles, four home runs and nine RBIs. Giavotella extended his on-base stretch to 21 consecutive games. He has also hit safely in 10 straight, matching the longest streak by a Tides player this season.

Double-A Bowie beat first-place Altoona 7-6 with a walk-off win in the bottom of the 11th. Steve Wilkerson led off the frame with a double and scored on Erick Salcedo’s single to win the game. Bowie is 30-27 and moved to within 1 1/2 games of first.

Wilkerson has four straight multi-hit games, going 10-for-19 with two homers for the Baysox. Aderlin Rodriguez went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs and Salcedo drove in two.

Outfielder Cedric Mullins finally returned to the Bowie lineup on Sunday. He was out since April 20 with a left hamstring injury. He made a nice return, going 2-for-5 with a solo homer. Mullins is batting .369 in 15 games.

Single-A Frederick beat Potomac 4-2. The Orioles’ minor league Player of the Month for May, shortstop Ryan Mountcastle, led the Keys at bat. He went 3-for-5 and hit his 12th homer. Mountcastle is batting .332. Third baseman Shane Hoelscher added two hits and is batting .294.

Left-hander Keegan Akin had his best start of the year with six scoreless innings allowing just two hits. He didn’t walk a batter and fanned seven. Akin is 4-4 with a 5.16 ERA through 10 starts. Right-hander Tanner Chleborad picked up his fourth save The Keys are 26-29.

Single-A Delmarva lost 8-6 at home versus Hickory to fall to 23-32. Right fielder Cole Billingsley reached base in all five plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with three walks. He also stole two bases and leads all O’s farmhands with 14 stolen bases. Chris Clare drove in two runs. Losing pitcher Matthias Dietz gave up six runs (five earned) on nine hits over six innings and has an ERA of 5.13. Dietz had allowed just one run in 12 2/3 innings over his two previous starts.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/06/the-orioles-acquire-infielder-ruben- tejada.html

Orioles acquire infielder Rubén Tejada

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

The Orioles tonight added a right-handed hitting infielder when they acquired 27-year-old Rubén Tejada from the New York Yankees for cash considerations. Tejada is not on the 40-man roster and will report to Triple-A Norfolk. He can play second, third and shortstop.

A veteran of 616 major league games since 2010, Tejada was playing at Triple-A Scranton this season. In 37 games, he is batting .269/.345/.462 with seven doubles, six homers, 21 RBIs and an OPS of .806. He posted strong stats against left-handed pitching, batting .344 with an OPS of 1.024.

Tejada was originally signed by the New York Mets in July 2006 as an amateur free agent. He played for the Mets from 2010-15. He was released by the Mets in March 2016 and signed with the Cardinals. The Cardinals released him on June 1, 2016 and he signed with the Giants. He became a free agent after the season and signed with the Yankees on Dec. 12, 2016.

In 78 major league plate appearances last season for both the Cardinals and Giants, he hit .156/.270/.250. For the 2015 Mets, Tejada hit .261/.338/.350 with 23 doubles, three homers and 28 RBIs in 116 games.

Tejada has made major league opening day rosters six times, five with the Mets and once with the Cardinals. For his major league career, he has hit .252/.327/.320 in 616 games and nearly 2,000 at-bats.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/06/francisco-pena-on-key-throwing-error-and- chris-tillman-on-his-outing.html

Francisco Peña on key throwing error and Chris Tillman on his outing

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

Orioles catcher Francisco Peña saw a great chance to get a key out this afternoon and he took it. But he didn’t get the result he wanted.

In the sixth inning of a 3-3 game, his costly throwing error allowed two Boston runs to score and the Red Sox went on to a 7-3 victory in the series finale.

With two outs, Chris Tillman had an 0-2 count on No. 9 hitter Devon Marrero and wanted to try and get him to chase a curveball to end the inning. Even with the bases loaded, Tillman wanted to bounce a pitch, perhaps a short-hop into Peña’s glove that would induce a strikeout.

But he threw it short of the target. Peña blocked the ball, but it strayed away from him far enough for Mitch Moreland, the runner at third, to come down the line. Peña was sure he could throw behind the runner for the key third out. But he threw it past Manny Machado to the foul side of the third base line. Two runs scored and the 3-3 game turned into a 5-3 Boston lead.

“It was a tough play right there,” Pena said. “Tough block. I had it in front of me. Just hesitated a little bit. I didn’t see Manny because Moreland was right in front of the line. I tried to be too quick, tried to put a perfect throw and I just messed it up right there. I just cut the ball a little too much and it went by Manny.”

Was Moreland blocking his throwing lane, making it a tough play and throw?

“Yeah, it was,” Peña said. “It was. But as a catcher, you are always aggressive. He’s giving you an out right there. You’ve got runners on base and a guy that puts the ball in play a lot. So I thought I had an opportunity and I took it. But bad throw. All I can do is come back tomorrow and try to win a ballgame.”

Tillman said of the play: “It was a great block. I was way short with it, trying to bounce it, but not there. And he made a good block. That was awesome. He was aggressive. I’d do that all over.”

The Orioles split the four-game series with Boston after winning the first two games. They have won one series and split three with Boston, going 7-6 overall.

“As a team, you are trying to win every series you play. But we’re still confident. Guys are still positive,” Peña said.

Tillman took the loss after giving up two runs in the first, a solo homer to Andrew Benintendi in the third and those two unearned runs in the sixth. Over six innings, he gave up six hits and five runs (three earned) and is 1-3 with an ERA of 5.59 over six starts. He had gone just 2 2/3 innings on Tuesday versus the Yankees.

“Little off in the first, but got better as I went and made some better pitches as the game got going,” Tillman said. “Today was much better. I am glad I was able to take that step. But early on, (I need to) make a few better pitches. Especially with the off-speed stuff. It was out of the zone and it forces you to use the fastball more in counts you normally wouldn’t. So have to be a little better with the off-speed stuff early on.”

Tillman was also a bit frustrated by issuing a season-high four walks that directly contributed to two Boston rallies.

“Especially early on, sets a (poor) tempo,” he said. “Guys got off to a pretty good start and to give that lead away is not good. Got to be better from the get-go.”

Tillman threw 103 pitches, 59 for strikes, and had 43 after the first two innings. He needed just 34 pitches over the next three innings before that jam he got into in the sixth. The Red Sox hitters made him work today.

“It’s a good team. I’ve felt like I’ve thrown the ball well against them, but they’re spoiling a lot of good pitches right now as you saw last night and today,” Tillman said. “They don’t swing at stuff very much for swing and misses. It’s more like foul off to make you work and make you make an adjustment on them. They’re a good team, but if you make your pitches you’ll be all right.”

Tillman has taken the loss in three straight starts for the first time since Aug. 27-Sept. 6, 2015. He is 1-6 in his last seven decisions at Oriole Park.

Jonathan Schoop had three hits today, two doubles and a single. He has 25 extra-base hits and began today fourth in the major leagues in extra-base hits among second baseman. He is batting .356 with eight RBIs against Boston in 2017.

But after winning the first two of this series, the Orioles lost the last two games. They scored seven runs Thursday, but just eight in the last three games of the series. O’s batters went 4-for-26 with runners in scoring positon in the series.

At 29-26 and 21-13 at home, the Orioles take Monday off and end this homestand hosting Pittsburgh on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/06/os-get-three-early-runs-but-nothing-after- lose-series-finale.html

O’s get three early runs but nothing after and lose series finale

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning today off Boston left-hander Chris Sale. But they could not muster any offense after that. Then a costly throwing error gave Boston the lead and the Red Sox beat the Orioles 7-3 to split the four-game series.

It was a disappointing last two games of the series for the Orioles that leaves them at 29-26 and 1 1/2 games behind Boston for second place. The Orioles fall to 19-10 at home and are 4-3 on this homestand that resumes Tuesday. Boston has won 10 of 14 and is 31-25.

In a 3-3 game, Boston loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on a single and two walks. O’s starter Chris Tillman got a huge second out when he fanned Sandy Leon. And then he appeared on the verge of keeping the game tied and stranding three runners when he got ahead 0-2 on the count to Deven Marrero.

But he then threw a pitch that bounced and catcher Francisco Peña blocked it. Mitch Moreland strayed a little too far off third and Peña tried to pick him off. But his throw sailed past Manny Machado to the foul side of the bag and down the left field line as two runs scored for a 5-3 lead. It was a crushing error in a tie game and the O’s handed Boston the lead with two walks and the error. Both runs were unearned.

The game got off to a wild start as the Orioles led 3-2 after an inning. Tillman had more first- inning issues and has allowed seven runs in six first innings on the year. Jackie Bradley Jr.’s two-out single scored two runs. It scored Mookie Betts, who led of the game with an infield single, and Andrew Benintendi, who walked.

The Orioles got even and moved ahead in the home first. Joey Rickard doubled and Machado walked with one out. They moved up on a double steal and scored on a Chris Davis two-out, two-run single to left off Sale. Davis punched a 93 mph fastball into left to plate two. When Jonathan Schoop doubled, the Orioles had a 3-2 lead.

In the first innings of his 11 previous starts, Sale had allowed no runs, one hit and struck out 17. He allowed three runs on three hits in the first today.

Benintendi hit two solo homers today. The first off Tillman in the third tied the game 3-3. The second, off Mike Wright in the seventh, added a run to the 5-3 lead. It was Benintendi’s first career two-homer game. He also added an RBI single in the ninth to score Boston’s last run.

Tillman took the loss to fall to 1-3 with an ERA of 5.59 through six starts. Over six innings, he allowed six hits and five runs (three earned). He threw 103 pitches.

Sale got the win and is 6-2 with an ERA of 2.89. He gave up six hits and three runs over six innings with one walk and nine strikeouts on 110 pitches.

The Orioles will take Monday off and host the Pirates on Tuesday night to start a two-game series.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/06/os-game-blog-chris-tillman-faces-boston- in-series-finale-1.html

O’s game blog: Chris Tillman faces Boston in series finale

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

The Orioles have played Boston in four series now and they have not lost one. They won’t lose this current series either after taking two of the first three games. But they lost last night 5-2 and need a win today to take this series.

Earlier, they split two games with Boston, won two of three and split a four-game series. The Orioles are 7-5 on the season versus Boston and 4-2 at home. Since the 2012 season they are 61- 45 (.575) versus the Red Sox. Since the start of last year they are 10-5 at home against Boston. At 30-25, the Red Sox begin today a half-game ahead of Baltimore at 29-25 for second in the American League East. The Orioles have won four of six, but over a longer stretch have lost nine of 13. Boston has won nine of its past 13 games.

On the mound today, right-hander Chris Tillman (1-2, 5.87 ERA) faces Boston lefty Chris Sale (6-2, 2.77 ERA).

On Tuesday, Tillman allowed seven hits and five runs on 59 pitches in a loss to the Yankees. It was the fourth time in five starts he pitched five innings or less and was his shortest start since going 1 2/3 innings on Sept. 22 against Boston.

After that start, Tillman said his shoulder was sound. After a December platelet-rich plasma injection and a cortisone shot in March, Tillman didn’t make his first start this year until May 7. “I mean, I felt really good actually,” Tillman said Tuesday night. “It’s been getting better every start. To be honest with you, I haven’t even thought about it (his shoulder soreness) since I got back here. That is an excuse and not one I will use. That’s behind me.”

Tillman was asked if arm strength is a concern for him. After averaging 92.6 mph on his fastball in 2015 and 92.9 mph last year, Tillman’s average fastball velocity is at 90.4 mph this season.

“I don’t think so, I really don’t,” Tillman said. “It’s more an execution thing than it is arm strength. And mechanically, too. That is an easy excuse. When you are off mechanically, I feel like you are out there trying to search and search and search to find the right one to make pitches. It kind of snowballed tonight. They came out hacking and they never stopped.”

Sale is coming off his worst start of the year. On Tuesday in Chicago, he gave up 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in five innings against his former team, the White Sox. He allowed season highs in runs and hits.

Sale had gone at least seven innings in his first 10 starts on the year until his last outing. His last loss was April 27 against the Yankees and he is 5-0 in six starts since.

Left-handed batters are hitting just .200 against him and right-handers are batting .197. He gives up an average of .324 when pitching with runners in scoring position.

On May 2, Sale beat the Orioles. Over eight innings, he gave up three hits and two runs with two walks and 11 strikeouts. In six career starts against the Orioles, he is 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA against Baltimore. In four starts at Oriole Park, he has a 2.74 ERA.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/06/mike-wright-on-his-familys-charity-out- today-at-camden-yards.html

Mike Wright on his family’s charity today at Camden Yards

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com June 4, 2017

It is a charity very near and dear to Orioles right-hander Mike Wright. And today at Camden Yards, his sister will have a community booth set up on the main concourse to raise money.

It is all about helping families dealing with an Alzheimer’s disease or dementia patient. Mike’s mom is dealing with this now and the Wright family wants to educate and help other families that may have to deal with such a situation.

Wright hopes that money raised can go toward hosting a conference this summer in his home state of North Carolina. But most importantly, he and his family want to help other families who have to deal with a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

“My mom has dementia,” Wright said this morning. “So this is about research and for caregivers and getting people prepared to take care of their family members. Really just make this an all- around better situation when the time comes.

“When my sister had to move in with my mom, she didn’t know what to expect, what route my mom was going to take. Didn’t know how to prepare for this. It is our goal to enlighten people in this situation and help them get through this as best as possible.

“Dementia means something is wrong with the brain and Alzheimer’s is like 80 percent of their patients. A lot of research goes to Alzheimer’s. We do research, as well, but caregivers are very important. We are trying to help families out and make their life quality, as well.”

So, yes, this is a great cause. Go to their website at wrightstateofmind.org.

Wright posted this on his Twitter account yesterday. And today you can stop by this booth to win some autographed items.

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2017/06/05/tim-kurkjian-if-orioles-have-chance-to-make- playoffs-they-should-keep-manny-machado

Tim Kurkjian: If Orioles Have Chance To Make Playoffs, They Should Keep Manny Machado

By Glenn Clark / PressBoxOnline.com June 5, 2017

As the Baltimore Orioles have experienced ups and downs during last couple of weeks, the topic of third baseman Manny Machado's future has again been front and center.

Recently, ESPN's Buster Olney told Glenn Clark Radio the team had "no chance" of signing Machado long term and should explore the possibility of dealing him before this year's July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline to try to get as much as they can for him.

Olney's ESPN colleague Tim Kurkjian was a guest on Glenn Clark Radio May 30 after working the Orioles/Yankees broadcast for the network May 29. He disagreed with the idea of the team trying to deal the All-Star third baseman before the deadline.

"I think the window is open truly for one more year, and this is the year," Kurkjian said. "And as long as you have a chance to make the playoffs, you have to keep Manny Machado on your team. That's how I view it. Now if you get to Aug. 1 and you're not going to make the playoffs, you're hopelessly out of it, which I do not see happening, ... maybe then you consider trading Manny Machado. But I think for the team, for Manny, for the fanbase, for everyone, you have to give the Orioles the chance to make the playoffs again. And I think the only you do that is with a great Manny Machado -- not by trading Manny Machado."

One of the popularly held opinions by fans and analysts who are opposed to trading Machado early is that it is impossible to fully recoup his value in a deal. Count Kurkjian among those who believe the Orioles wouldn't be able to do as well as they'd want to in putting Machado on the market.

"Manny's going to get to free agency after 2018 as certainly the best defensive third baseman in the league, a guy who can play shortstop, a guy with a tremendous resume and incredibly young to be a free agent," Kurkjian said. "It's virtually impossible to get what you want for Manny Machado in a trade because you're going to want the world because of the value that he brings, not just right now (slump included), but where this is going the next five or 10 years for Machado.

"I just don't know how you get equal value for him at the moment, and I don't know how a team can give you what the Orioles are going to ask for Manny Machado. So that's why I think keeping him is the better option, as long as you have a chance to win at any level."

If the Orioles end up holding on to Machado through the end of the season there is real reason to wonder whether they're good enough to win with him. As has been evident in recent weeks, their starting pitching remains a significant concern. If they don't trade away Machado, should this be the year the Birds boldly attempt to acquire a major arm at the deadline?

"Yes, I would agree with that," Kurkjian said. "That if you're going to acknowledge that the window is only open maybe, maybe for one more year -- 2017 -- then you have to go for it and do what it takes. Within reason, of course.

"I covered the Orioles in the late, late 70s and the 80s, of course with [former manager] Earl Weaver. And Earl used to tell me, 'Look, if you got a chance to win this year, you got to take the chance to win. You got to win now, no matter what. And then you figure out next year, next year. So you can't be looking ahead [and asking] hey is the window next year?' If it's open now, then you have to do whatever it takes to win now. But again, within reason, and you're right, they don't exactly have a million pieces they can trade. So it's a tricky spot, and we'll see what they do here."

Ultimately, Kurkjian doesn't expect the team to pull off such a significant deal.

"My guess is they're not going to make a massive trade, a huge trade, to get them into the playoffs this year," Kurkjian said. "I just don't think they have the pieces to do that."

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2017/06/04/fred-manfra-says-goodbye-to-generations-of- orioles-fans

Fred Manfra Says Goodbye To Generations Of Orioles Fans

By Rich Dubroff / PressBoxOnline.com June 4, 2017

BALTIMORE -- For 24 years, Fred Manfra has been an important part of Baltimore Orioles' fans lives, and on June 4, he's scheduled to call his final game.

For the past two seasons, Manfra has called a reduced schedule, and after hip replacement surgery, the 70-year-old Baltimore native needs two knee replacements.

Traveling has been difficult for Manfra, and now he'll move from Harford County to Tampa, Fla., to be near his grandchildren and away from the snow.

Manfra is the only Baltimorean to call Orioles games, and it's something he's aspired to his entire life. As a youngster in East Baltimore, Manfra played baseball and wanted to be a catcher. His favorite player was Gus Triandos.

"I was a slow footed catcher with power," Manfra said.

"Off the field, we'd listen to Chuck Thompson, and Chuck was my idol as a broadcaster," Manfra said, "I would hear Chuck do the Colts. I would hear Chuck do the Orioles, and when we were playing curb ball on Gusryan Street in East Baltimore or in the alley on Kane Street, I would be broadcasting the ballgame in the manner of Chuck Thompson."

In the military, Manfra played baseball in Hawaii, and in the second games of doubleheaders, the catcher would broadcast games in the bullpen to the pitchers. They quickly grew annoyed not knowing the man who was talking would call Olympics, NBA Finals, Triple Crown races and 24 years of major league baseball for his hometown team.

"One day I'm going to do this," Manfra would tell his fellow soldiers. "I lived up to what I wanted to do."

He's at peace with his decision to call it a career.

"The road trips were becoming very tedious, and that's why I couldn't continue with those," Manfra said. "Getting around is not the easiest. I try not to allow that to overtake everything in life, but it had to here."

A year ago, with Manfra cutting back dramatically on his schedule, he found he enjoyed life. He missed working with longtime broadcasting partner Joe Angel, but otherwise, it was fine.

"Last year, I got a taste of what summertime was like, sitting on the back deck, grilling hamburgers, listening to Joe on the radio, and I thought: 'This is pretty comfortable.'"

Orioles manager Buck Showalter, who obviously doesn't get a chance to listen to Manfra, has enjoyed his personal interactions with him.

"If they're on that long, they have to be really good at what they do," Showalter said. "A lot of people have grown up listening to Fred. I know how seriously he takes it about being organized and prepared."

Manfra still enjoys the work. "I think I can still do the job, at least play-by-play-wise, but all the

other things become very tedious."

As an Orioles broadcaster, Manfra got to see Cal Ripken's greatest accomplishments. Two years after Manfra joined the Orioles broadcast in 1993, Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak.

"I know 2131 was a special night, sitting in the broadcast booth with Jon Miller and the President, President Clinton, and Clinton there when he hit the home run, calling the shot," Manfra said. "2130 was special because that was the night when the players really showed their gratitude to what Cal was all about."

Manfra remembered the players presenting Ripken with a boulder and former Oriole Brady Anderson reading a poem.

"That was really kind of one of those heartfelt things where the guys who wouldn’t ordinarily come to the microphone to say something, did, and they did it eloquently," Manfra said.

His biggest regret is obvious. No World Series.

"If there's one thing I would like to do in my career, and I've done a lot of things, that would be to call the Orioles in the World Series. Maybe this year," Manfra said. "That's the one void I've had in my broadcasting career."

Angel announced on Twitter June 2 that this was Manfra's final series.

"A good relationship, a special relationship with Joe and me as we sit there and talk," Manfra said. "We talk baseball. I think we make it a comfortable listen for people."

The native Baltimorean is ready to sign off for now knowing he's meant so much for several generations of Orioles fans.

"I enjoy Baltimore. I enjoy Maryland. I don't enjoy the snow in the winter, and that's one of the reasons we're moving south to Tampa," Manfra said, "I gave my brother-in-law my snow blower."

"When you're a Baltimorean, this is a big, small town. You go to a restaurant, and my wife and I could be talking about ordering something on the menu, and somebody will come over, and say 'excuse me,' with this, let's just say, very timid look on their face, 'Are you Fred Manfra?' I say, 'Yes, I am.' They say, 'I knew it. I knew your voice. I've listened to you since I was a kid.'

"And they have grey hair now. Baltimoreans are people that don't like pretense, and I think that's what you have to be to live here in Baltimore and be part of the fabric of this city."

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/06/04/longtime-baltimore-orioles-radio-announcer-fred- manfra-calls-last-game/

Longtime Baltimore Orioles Radio Announcer Fred Manfra Calls Last Game

By Tracey Leong / CBS Baltimore June 4, 2017

BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Longtime Baltimore Orioles radio announcer Fred Manfra called his last game Sunday, bringing an end to a 25-year run with the Orioles.

After 25 years with the Orioles Radio Network, Manfra retired from broadcasting.

The East Baltimore native and Patterson High School graduate joined Orioles Radio broadcasts in 1993.

In his 48-year broadcasting career, Manfra has covered NBA Finals and NBA All-Star Games, the Olympics, NHL Stanley Cup Finals and All-Star Games, the Breeder’s Cup, and Triple Crown races, among other marquee events.

“More emotional than I thought it would be when I was driving over from the hotel to the ball park, so many thoughts just washing through my mind,” he said. “For a guy who wanted to play for the Orioles or broadcast for the orioles, I lived my dream.”

Manfra and his wife will be moving to Tampa, Florida to be closer to their daughter, her husband and their grandchildren.

Manfra, however, had trouble maintaining the team’s grueling schedule after two hip replacement surgeries in 2014 and a back surgery, according to the Baltimore Sun. He expects to need two knee replacements in the future but plans to attend Orioles games when they travel to Tampa.

“As I walked through the ballpark, so many people wishing me well, how much they enjoyed the broadcast over the years, and it really shows you how you touch people by being part of their life on the radio.”

MASN broadcaster Jim Hunter will play a large role in filling Manfra’s spot.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/06/04/bowling-cause-manny-machado-orioles/

Bowling For A Good Cause With Manny Machado & Orioles

CBS Baltimore June 4, 2017

BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Orioles’ third baseman Manny Machado hosted a fun-filled event downtown.

Machado’s fourth annual bowling event Sunday night at Mustang Alley benefited the “Baltimore City Foundation,” supporting the City’s “Play Baseball” summer program for kids.

ADVERTISING

Last year’s event raised more than $90,000.

Machado was joined by teammates Wade Miley, Kevin Gausman, Jonathan Schoop and a few more Orioles.

Each team of bowlers was paired up with a celebrity participant.

Orioles’ fans at the event were able to bid on sports memorabilia during a silent auction.

http://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2017/06/05/thoughts-fred-manfras-retirement-ruben-tejadas- acquisition-arrest-suspect-murder-melvin-moras-sister-law/

Thoughts on Fred Manfra’s retirement, Ruben Tejada’s acquisition and the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Melvin Mora’s sister-in-law

By Dan Connolly / BaltimoreBaseball.com June 5, 2017

It’s kind of weird how – and when — things happen.

Since I’m at most Orioles’ home games – and have been for the past 17 seasons – I don’t listen to the team on the radio much anymore.

When I’m away from the team, I’ll mainly watch the games on MASN.

So, my exposure to the Orioles’ radio crew has been limited in recent seasons. However, I did have Sirius XM Radio for several years and listened to a lot of West Coast games while driving home from Camden Yards. I stand by my oft-written opinion that the Orioles’ play-by-by announcers are among the best in comparison with other teams’ broadcasters.

That point was driven home – pardon the pun – this weekend when a sudden family situation forced me to leave Saturday’s game while it was ongoing.

So, I listened to 105.7 The Fan while heading home Saturday night and again Sunday afternoon while running errands that kept me from attending the game.

In a bizarre sense, it was fortuitous timing for me, because I had the opportunity to listen to Fred Manfra and Joe Angel combine for two final broadcasts together.

Manfra, who has been part of the Orioles Radio Network for 25 years and a broadcaster for roughly 50, called his last game Sunday afternoon. He has been dealing with health issues in the last few years and had scaled back the number of games he did per season. He’s now headed toward a new career as a full-time grandfather.

On Sunday, Manfra and his long-time partner, Angel, talked on the air about their relationship, and how it was so comfortable for them to work together all these years.

And I think that’s what I’ll most remember about the duo: the seamless camaraderie between two different, but talented men. Angel is the wisecracker and Manfra was the straight man. It worked. Worked great.

For me, it goes beyond that, of course.

I’ve written it before, and I’ll reiterate it here. There are very few people I’ve met in this business who are as gracious and kind as Manfra. I’m proud to call him a friend.

And though he may have been overshadowed in his career by some tremendous radio partners, Manfra was a consummate pro and very good at what he did. He also was a local guy – East Baltimore resident, Patterson High graduate – with deep institutional knowledge of the franchise, and that always meant something to me.

He’ll be missed. That was evident this weekend with the outpouring from so many.

O’s acquire Tejada

No, not Miguel Tejada again. I’m pretty sure that 43-year-old ship has sailed.

On Sunday, the Orioles announced they had sent cash to the New York Yankees to acquire infielder Ruben Tejada, the 27-year-old former New York Mets infielder who was hitting .269 with a .345 on-base percentage in 37 games at Triple-A. Tejada will be assigned to the Orioles’ top affiliate in Norfolk.

A couple things about this move: First, it is stunning to me that Tejada is 27. He has been around for a long time, making his debut with the Mets in 2010. He was 20 then.

Tejada’s never been a particularly good hitter. His career average is .252 and he batted .167 in 36 games with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants last year. But he is a versatile defender with the ability to play shortstop, second base and third base. Those guys, especially ones with major league experience, are good to have at Triple-A.

And Tejada’s not taking up a 40-man roster spot, though the Orioles created one Sunday by passing lefty Paul Fry through waivers and outrighting him to Norfolk.

So, this is another low-risk move by Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette which likely will not affect the big league club this year. Then again, we’ve said that before (how about it, Alec Asher?), so I guess you never know.

Accused killer of Mora’s sister-in-law arrested

There’s some comforting news in what was a terrible tragedy involving the extended Orioles’ family recently.

The man accused of murdering the sister-in-law of former Orioles star Melvin Mora in New York City late last month was captured by police in Delaware on Friday, according to various reports.

Gabino Genao, 30, was arrested in a Delaware hotel room by a regional police task force. He is expected to be extradited to New York and formally charged with the death of his estranged wife, 30-year-old Iveliss Alvarado-Genao.

Alvarado-Genao, a mother of two who lived much of the past decade in Maryland, was shot in the face and killed outside of her uncle’s home in Brooklyn, N.Y., on May 26.

She was the younger sister of Gisel Mora, the wife of the longtime Orioles’ third baseman who was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2015.

The Mora family reached out to the media to try and help find Genao, who reportedly fled the scene after the shooting.

http://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2017/06/04/myriad-orioles-thoughts-costly-error-sale-sale- trends-one-third-mark/

Myriad Orioles Thoughts: A costly error, Sale being Sale, and trends at the one-third mark

By Paul Folkemer June 4, 2017

The Orioles, like any team, have had a few tough losses this season. Sometimes the bats go quiet; sometimes the pitching implodes.

What they’ve rarely had, though, is a loss that boils down to a pivotal fielding mistake. Until Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the Red Sox.

The game-deciding error occurred in the sixth, with the bases loaded and two outs, as starter Chris Tillman tried to escape the jam to keep a 3-3 tie intact. Catcher Francisco Pena, making his first start since rejoining the Orioles May 31, impressively corralled a Chris Tillman wild pitch on an 0-2 count.

But when Mitch Moreland broke too far off third base and Pena tried to throw behind him, he sailed the ball down the left-field line. Two runs scored to give the Red Sox a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“I just think I hesitated a little bit,” Pena said. “I just tried to be too quick, tried to put a perfect throw and I messed it up right there. And I just cut the ball a little bit too much, and it went by Manny [Machado].”

The Orioles usually don’t let errors haunt them. Entering the day, the club had surrendered just 12 unearned runs this season, second-fewest in the AL behind the Royals (seven).

They added two to that tally Sunday, and they came at a most inopportune time.

Chris Sale does Chris Sale things

The Orioles knew they had their work cut out for them against Red Sox ace Chris Sale. The five- time All-Star, who has finished in the top six of the AL Cy Young voting five consecutive years, entered the game 6-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 11 starts.

So if you merely looked at the box score for Sunday’s game, you probably wouldn’t be surprised to see another quality start from Sale — six innings, three earned runs.

But how he got there was perhaps his most impressive feat.

Sale had to slog through a laborious, 39-pitch first inning in which everything went wrong for the Red Sox. That included an overturned call in which Joey Rickard, who was seemingly dead meat in trying to steal third, was found to have eluded Pablo Sandoval’s tag.

Later, a routine grounder to third that should’ve been the final out turned into a gift baserunner for the Orioles. Sandoval air-mailed a throw to second baseman Deven Marrero, who was late in covering the bag. On the next pitch, Jonathan Schoop laced an RBI double.

When the inning finally ended, the Orioles had tagged Sale for three runs, the first he’d allowed in the first inning all season.

The Orioles had Sale on the ropes. But, like any great pitcher, he wriggled free.

Sale reverted to his normal dominant self from that point on, mowing through the next five innings while facing just two batters over the minimum. He didn’t put more than one runner on base in any of those five frames, striking out six during that span (and nine in the game). He finished with a pitch count of 110, despite throwing 57 in the first two innings.

“You figure he’s going to get right and pitch,” manager Buck Showalter said. “I think he found his way and got through. You knew when they scored and got ahead he was going to go to another level. He was good, but I thought our guys were good off him.”

Orioles fans may be frustrated that the club couldn’t tack on any runs after the first. The criticism is understandable. But, in this case, the Orioles simply got held in check by one of the game’s best hurlers after a one-inning blip. It happens.

A look at the Orioles at the one-third mark

The Orioles reached the official one-third mark of their 2017 schedule after Saturday’s game, their 54th of the year. So let’s take a look at the club’s projected, full-season stats now that the math is easy. (These projections don’t take Sunday’s results into account.)

At the plate, the Orioles, who have had a 100-RBI hitter every season since 2013, don’t have anyone on pace to reach that mark in 2017. Mark Trumbo would be their leader with 84. Trumbo is also on pace for just 24 homers, nearly half his total from last season (47).

In fact, no Orioles hitter is currently on pace to finish in the top 10 in the AL of any major offensive category — unless you count strikeouts. Chris Davis is projected for 255 whiffs, which would obliterate the major league record of 223, set by Mark Reynolds in 2009. For reference, last year Davis had 219 strikeouts, third-most in MLB history.

On a more positive note, Caleb Joseph is on pace for 30 RBIs, which would top his total from last year by … [checking notes] … 30.

Rookie Trey Mancini is on pace to hit 21 homers and 75 RBIs in 120 games; not too shabby for a player who wasn’t expected to make the roster out of camp. The man he replaced in the regular lineup, Hyun Soo Kim, is on pace to play just 78 games. (One of the strangest stats of the season, in my mind, is the fact that Kim has played seven fewer games with the Orioles than Craig Gentry, who was jettisoned from the roster nearly three weeks ago.)

In all, the Orioles are on pace for 723 runs, down a notch from the 744 they scored in 2016. As the weather heats up, though, expect to see the club score more runs than they did in the early- season, cold-weather conditions.

On the pitching side, Dylan Bundy’s breakout year has him on pace for 36 starts, 230 innings and 18 wins, but don’t etch those stats in stone. It’d be surprising to see him shoulder such a heavy workload in his first full season as a starter.

Meanwhile, Wade Miley is on pace for only six wins in 33 starts despite a 2.82 ERA, while Mychal Givens is on pace to go 15-0 out of the bullpen. (Have I mentioned that pitcher wins are a flawed statistic?)

Orioles’ pitchers gave up 246 runs through the first third of the season, putting them on pace for 738. Last year they allowed 715.

As for the Orioles’ projected record? It’s 87-75, two games worse than last season, when they snuck into a wild card spot.