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Friday, July 10, 2015

Columns:  Orioles, Nationals bring plenty of history to regional rivalry The Sun 7/10  Leftovers on Orioles reliever Chaz Roe The Sun 7/10  Chaz Roe's long journey leads to The Sun 7/9  Orioles officially release Delmon Young, Nolan Reimold reinstated The Sun 7/9  to start All-Star Game for third straight year The Sun 7/9  Orioles to celebrate 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,131st consecutive game The Sun 7/9  Nats, Orioles to meet in Beltways battle MLB.com 7/10  Jones to start in All-Star Game MLB.com 7/9  O's reveal Ripken Jr. celebration plans MLB.com 7/9  Tonight's game and random notes MASNsports.com 7/10  Orioles release Delmon Young and reinstate Nolan Reimold MASNsports.com 7/9  Nats starter vs. Orioles, All-Star note, updates on Wright and Garcia (updated) MASNsports.com 7/9  How big is the series against the Nationals for Orioles fans? MASNsports.com 7/10  Nationals-Orioles Preview SI.com 7/10  Orioles release Young, reinstate Reimold from paternity list AP 7/9  Machado puts up big numbers as unorthodox leadoff hitter AP 7/9  Battle of the Beltways lands in Baltimore CSN Baltimore 7/10  O's celebrate 20th anniversary of 'The Streak' CSN Baltimore 7/9  Injury paves way for Jones to get big All-Star honor CSN Baltimore 7/9  A Look Back At 10 Years Of Orioles Vs. Nationals PressBoxOnline.com 7/10  Bob Haynie: Orioles Need To Swat The Nats CBS Baltimore 7/10  Friday Replay: Crush Gets Robbed (Twice) Baltimore Magazine 7/10  15 things to do in the D.C. area on the weekend of July 10-12 7/9  Miguel Gonzalez Exudes Style Baltimore Sports Report 7/9  The Orioles are giving away Hawaiian shirts, but only if you're old enough SB Nation 7/9

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-schmuck-column-0710-20150709- column.html#page=1

Orioles, Nationals bring plenty of history to regional rivalry

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun July 10, 2015

The Orioles and the are set to resume their interleague rivalry tonight at Oriole Park, and make no mistake about it. There is definitely a real rivalry between these two franchises.

Just ask their lawyers.

The combination of geographical proximity, two-sided competitive excellence (at least over the past few years) and the seemingly endless television rights litigation has infused the annual with plenty of passion and intrigue.

It is a rivalry, after all, with roots that sink much deeper than the recent configuration of the two baseball teams. Baltimore and Washington have been competing with each other for a couple of centuries now, and each has its own Washington Monument to prove it.

For the record, the monument in Mount Vernon came first and is a lot prettier than that big pointy thing on the National Mall. Baltimore's took just 14 years to build and was completed in 1829. It took 48 years to finish the one in D.C., or about the same length of time that the Nationals/Expos franchise has existed without appearing in a .

So much for your ancient history lesson. Here's a capsulized look at how the Orioles and Nationals organizations compare as they get ready to begin their 10th year of interleague competition.

The decade in review: The Nationals began playing in Washington in 2005 but did not start facing the Orioles in until the following year. Since then, the Orioles have won 29 of the 50 regular-season games between the franchises. The Orioles have been particularly dominant during the era, winning seven of the past nine games and going 13-7 since the start of 2011. The Nationals have won the season series only once, when they took four of six games in 2007, even though have won more regular-season games overall since the start of the 2006 season (737-723).

The stadiums: Oriole Park was an instant classic when it opened in 1992 and changed architecture forever. The designers of apparently didn't get the memo and created a nice, modern ballpark along the Anacostia waterfront that doesn't come up in a lot of conversations about baseball's great cathedrals. It does, however, look terrific in the opening credits of "House of Cards," a Netflix series about Washington that is mostly filmed in Baltimore. Yes, even the baseball scenes.

The young superstars: Each team features one of the brightest young stars in the sport. Orioles third baseman won the Platinum Glove a couple of years ago as the best defensive player in the American League and is having a career year at the plate. has overcome a long series of bad haircuts to put himself in the Crown conversation this season. And with on the shelf with a wrist injury, he just might win it.

The payrolls: The Orioles and Nationals had very similar payrolls when both reached the playoffs in 2012. Since then, the Nationals have increased their payroll substantially each year and entered the 2015 season with a payroll nearing $165 million. The Orioles also have stepped up their spending, but opened this season — according to payroll estimates — more than $50 million behind the Nationals. From 2013 through the end of this season, the Nationals will have spent about $100 million more than the Orioles on player salaries, but Washington has won just two more games (229-227, including playoffs) over that period and the Orioles went further in the postseason last year.

The : The Orioles have remained very competitive during the Showalter era without a true ace in their rotation. The Nationals have all sorts of front-line pitching talent and spent $210 million to add free-agent last winter. Scherzer has been phenomenal, pitching a no-hitter and fashioning a 2.12 ERA through the first half of the season after going 39-8 in his previous two seasons with the . Strangely enough, he hasn't been quite as dominant against the Orioles. He's 3-1 against them with a 3.92 ERA in regular-season play and gave up five runs over 7 1/3 innings in a loss to the Orioles in last year's American League Division Series. Still, it'll be a break for the Orioles if the Nationals defer to the All-Star Game and decide not to start Scherzer on Sunday.

The managers: Showalter is coming off a 2014 season that garnered him his third Baseball Writers' Association of America Manager of the Year award and recently steered the Orioles into first place in the AL East during a red-hot June. Of course, that was before they were struck by The Curse of the Buck Showalter Garden Gnome. Since the rain makeup game that included that popular promotional item, the Orioles have lost eight of 10 games and have lost three straight series. Matt Williams could have warned Buck about that. After the distributed a Williams throwback bobblehead in 2007, the club lost 13 of its next 18 games. Williams actually has a better winning percentage than Showalter since the start of 2014 (.577 to .562), in spite of the Orioles' 6-2 head-to-head record against the Nationals.

The MASN dispute: The Nationals need more of the local television profits to bankroll their top-six payroll, but the Orioles are waiting for a judge's ruling on how the dispute will be resolved. The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network deal is tilted heavily in favor of the Orioles, but that was the price of them stepping aside when wanted to move the Expos to Washington. Now, MLB and the Nationals don't like that deal anymore and are pressing for a much higher rights fee. The final arguments in the current phase of the litigation were in May and a decision is pending.

The situation: The Nationals have lost two games in a row and have split their past 10, but still reside at the top of the East standings, three games ahead of the second-place New York Mets. The Orioles have been in a tailspin after racing to the top of the AL East in June. They have lost six of their past seven games and were just swept by the at . They're obviously hoping that playing the Nationals at home will be an elixir, because it has been the past couple of years.

The series probably doesn't need a lot of extra promotion, but the Orioles have two giveaways this weekend. Friday is "floppy plaid hat night," and on Sunday, the first 20,000 fans 15 and over who share my fashion sense will receive an Orioles-themed Hawaiian shirt.

Hope it fits.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-leftovers-on-orioles-reliever-chaz-roe- 20150709-story.html

Leftovers on Orioles reliever Chaz Roe

The Baltimore Sun July 10, 2015

One of the great things about this job is getting a chance to tell stories that aren’t often told.

I’ve been intrigued by reliever Chaz Roe since . I assumed he was just a guy to absorb innings in the spring and may not even make the Triple-A roster if he didn’t pitch well.

But Orioles manager Buck Showalter kept running him out in exhibition games and he stuck to the end of the spring. And then, after going to Triple-A and starting off slow, he became one of the best relievers at Norfolk, putting him in line for a call-up to the majors.

And when he received that in late May – while the Orioles were in Miami – I still assumed he’d pitch a couple times and then by designated for assignment. He was out of options and couldn’t be sent back to the minors without going through waivers.

He was great, though, going six outings without allowing a . And Showalter kept putting him into tougher spots. And he kept surviving.

“I’ve put him in some pretty tough [situations]. Some of it was by design, some of it was by necessity,” Showalter said. “But he handled it, so I keep giving him a little more and he’s handled all of it. I feel as good with him in a game as any of our guys.”

That intrigued me. And so did the guy’s look: the tattoos, the mullet, the quiet nature. I had a chance to do a couple interviews with him and I was even more intrigued. He’s funny in an understated way. He has a story of perseverance that included a year in independent baseball and a suspension for taking Adderall without a prescription.

There’s also other things about him.

He was the Rockies’ supplemental first-round draft pick in 2005, the club’s second pick that year behind , who was taken seventh overall.

Roe went to the same high school in Kentucky as major league Austin Kearns and former big league Joe Cowley, among others.

His dad played three years as a defensive end/linebacker at the University of Kentucky, once tackling Herschel Walker. Roe’s great uncle is baseball Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, who was the 1960 World Series hero for the .

So here’s the story on Roe and here’s a look at one of the best pitches I’ve ever seen, a nasty slider he threw to Russell Martin in Toronto last month. It’s one his teammates are still talking about.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-chaz-roe-0710-20150709- story.html#page=1

Chaz Roe's long baseball journey leads to Baltimore

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun July 9, 2015

Start with the tattoos: roughly 20 of them on Chaz Roe's upper torso — some with sentimental meaning, others he thought just looked cool.

Go to the haircut, an old-fashioned 1980s mullet, with scraggly brown locks flowing out of the back of his Orioles cap. It's a departure from his previous look: a bushy beard and shaved head.

Observe the clothes, an assortment of Hurley surfer wear, T-shirts and shorts that hang off the right-handed reliever's lanky 6-foot-5, 190-pound frame.

Then there's the personality: quiet, a little mysterious. Speaks when spoken to, friendly, but in an "I-don't-really-know-that-guy" way.

Add in that he has spent most of his life living in Kentucky — a state that may lead the nation in shady-character jokes — and Roe knows he's going to absorb barbs in the highly judgmental world of Major League Baseball.

Reliever Tommy Hunter jokes that Roe is the most likely Oriole to drive a white van with tinted black windows. Closer Zach Britton, who proudly admits he researched Roe's backstory on Wikipedia, said the bullpen's intimidation factor increased exponentially when Roe joined it. And Adam Jones, who pulls no punches, walked past Roe recently while he was talking with a reporter and deadpanned, "Interview with a serial killer."

"I get that a lot," Roe said, smiling.

Like when Roe was with the in 2013 and was approached by veteran utility man Willie Bloomquist during batting practice.

"[Outfielder] A.J. Pollock was on the bench and Willie Bloomquist came up to me and goes, 'A.J. wants to know, but he's too scared to ask you himself, but he wants to know. Have you ever been in jail or killed anybody?'" Roe remembered. "And I just shook my head. That was like the third time since I got called up from Arizona that somebody had asked me that."

The polite, soft-spoken Roe said he's not sure why he gives off that vibe, but finds it humorous.

"I don't know, maybe it's because I don't talk that much," he said, contemplating his image. "I've always loved tattoos. I've gotten probably two or three every year [since about age 15]. The hair? I usually keep it buzzed. I usually don't grow it out. This year I grew it out and I came up with the idea to do this — somehow."

Then Roe laughs about his hairdo — an easy chuckle without a hint of serial killer embedded.

"Chaz is a great example of don't judge a book by its cover. You first get him in the spring and you see the [mullet] or whatever they call it, and the tattoos," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "But the more you are around him, you're going, 'Holy [crap], what did we stumble into here?'"

The right opportunity

Led by executive vice president , who was out of the majors for roughly a decade, and Showalter, who is managing his fourth big league team, the Orioles cherish their reputation as a castoff sanctuary.

Bring them your nearly retired, your underachieving, your tattooed. If they can play — and fit into a system that stresses team unity and attention to detail — they'll get an opportunity.

Whether it's Nelson Cruz, Miguel Gonzalez, Delmon Young or fill-in-the-blank, the common link is a fresh chance. Add Roe, 28, to that list.

He's with his eighth organization since being selected 32nd overall by the in the supplemental first round of the 2005 draft. He was suspended in 2012 for testing positive for amphetamines. He spent a season pitching in an independent league before making it back to affiliated ball two years ago.

Intrigued by his pedigree, control and nasty slider, the Orioles signed him to a minor league deal in December. They promoted him from Triple-A Norfolk on May 24 and Roe didn't allow a run in his first six appearances, spanning 9 1/3 innings. Despite giving up two runs in three of his past four outings, he still owns a 2.88 ERA through 19 games.

"Guys like that are pretty dangerous, because once they find something that clicks, that goes well for them, they keep it riding," Hunter said. "He is doing it right now, and he's doing a hell of a job for us."

Roe's last big league outing before this year was in mop-up duty at Camden Yards while pitching for the . He served up an RBI triple to Alejandro De Aza and walked off the mound in awe of the ballpark's electricity last September.

"I loved the atmosphere. It was unreal," Roe said. "Then I talked to my agent in the offseason and he said it was probably one of the best opportunities right here. I took it, and it was full of opportunities from the get-go."

In March, Roe became one of Showalter's most coveted JICs — "just in case" guys who are taken on most spring bus rides if a need arises for additional bodies.

"He knew the gig and he went on just about every trip as a backup and he got enough playing time," Showalter said. "He'd have a little bump and we kept watching him and we kind of went, 'That's a pretty good breaking ball. Let me look at his stats again. What am I missing here?'"

Perhaps the watershed moment for Showalter occurred away from the field. The manager walked outside of the Orioles' spring clubhouse and caught a glimpse of Roe playing with his daughter, Mila, who turns 2 this month.

"I watched them interact and I thought, 'There may be more here than meets the eye,'" Showalter said. "We've all screwed up, so instead of being so smug and saying there's the cover, that's got to be the picture, you look for more. But let's face it. If he hadn't been able to get anybody out, it'd been a short story."

A long journey

Roe's tale of overnight success took a decade to develop.

As the Kentucky High School Player of the Year in 2005, he agreed to a $1.025 million bonus, forgoing a baseball scholarship to the University of Kentucky.

Armed with a low-90s and a curve considered among the best in that draft, Roe also had impressive bloodlines: His father was a defensive end-linebacker at the University of Kentucky who once made a solo tackle against legendary running back Herschel Walker. Roe's great uncle is Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman who ended the 1960 World Series with a Game 7-clinching for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Despite the buzz that surrounded him as a teen, Roe was humble, hardworking and competitive, said Lafayette High School coach Chris Langston.

"He's never been the guy that wants to be out in front. He's always just wanted to do his job and do it well," Langston said. "He's just a guy you can trust."

Even now, Roe's close circle of friends has remained virtually unchanged, encompassing his former high school teammates, his parents and Czack, his older brother.

Alex York, one of Roe's best buddies and a former Lafayette reliever, remembers the first time Roe pitched in front of a cavalcade of 25 scouts. Before Roe went out to pitch, York asked him how he was doing, "And he said, 'I just threw up inside the bullpen bushes.'"

Still, Roe pitched well, with no lasting trace of nerves. Because his profile had surged, he was the subject of high expectations and occasional taunts. One opposition's student section wore an array of MLB T-shirts and carried hand-held blow dryers to mimic radar guns when Roe pitched.

"He handled it just like the Chaz we've always known," York said.

Roe, whose family moved to Lexington from Ohio when he was about 2, still lives there and returns to his high school each winter to throw bullpen sessions and tutor Lafayette's pitchers.

"For our boys, this is a big-time guy for them," Langston said. "And he is out here working out with us each winter. That's pretty cool."

Roe comes at his sense of community honestly. His mom, Kelly, has been a longtime office manager for local physicians, and his father, Don, spent years as a corrections officer at the Fayette County Detention Center before retiring. At 6 feet 4, 225 pounds, Don Roe was nicknamed Robocop and was often the first person a detainee would meet when entering the facility. He made sure his sons understood if they ever got into trouble, he'd know about it.

"I never really stepped out of the boundaries," Roe said. "I had my fun, for sure, but it was always in the back of my head, there's no chance I'm going down [to the prison] to see him."

Both the mother and father were active in the Roe boys' athletic careers — concussions ended Roe's football career as a high school sophomore while his brother was a first baseman who played some college ball. It was Don Roe who gave his sons their unusual names. He had played football against a guy named Chaz, and had a teammate whose last name was Czack, and Don Roe liked how both sounded — and were spelled.

"Their mother didn't have much of a choice on the names," Don Roe laughed.

Kelly Roe, though, was and is the glue of the family. Her big league son is still a "mama's boy," she says, still texting her often to check in. She was the one who first picked up the pieces when his baseball dream shattered.

A career turnaround

After spending six seasons as a starter in the Rockies system, Roe was traded to the for infielder Jose Lopez in December 2010. Roe had a miserable 6.59 ERA in 33 games for Seattle's Triple-A club and became a minor league free agent that offseason. He would have the opportunity to pick his own organization. Then everything crumbled.

One evening that offseason, he celebrated a friend's birthday by hanging out all night. The next morning he was going hunting with another friend, so to stay awake and alert, he said he took an Adderall pill — the same attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug that Orioles slugger Chris Davis tested positive for in 2014 — despite not having the condition. That same day, Roe learned an official would be at his house to administer a routine, random offseason drug test.

"I was dead. I knew it," Roe said. "It's a mistake I made. I can't take it back now. But I've learned from it and it's actually helped me out a lot."

Once he learned of the 50-game suspension, Roe's first call was to his mother.

"We sat on the porch and we both cried," Kelly Roe said. "I told him, 'You can't make stupid mistakes like that. You have to accept what you did no matter what, and pay the consequences.'"

Roe began researching colleges but caught a break when the independent American Association's Laredo Lemurs — with former Oriole Pete Incaviglia as manager — contacted him.

"Going though that whole process, thinking I'm about to have a 9-to-5 job, going back to school and not being able to do what I love every day," Roe said. "I'm glad [the suspension] happened and, then again, I'm not. It worked out for the best, though."

He became a reliever-only for the first time in his career, posting a 1.47 ERA in 49 games with the Lemurs and met his future wife, Sarah, while in . The Diamondbacks took notice of his season, offered him a minor league deal and allowed him to serve his 50-game suspension in 2013. By July of that year, Roe was in the majors, posting a 4.03 ERA in 21 games.

As a reliever, Roe didn't have to stew for four days after a bad start. He could give his all in one or two innings. His velocity improved and that once-unhittable curveball morphed into his signature slider.

Those close to him have noticed how confident and comfortable he is in Baltimore now, even when his command isn't particularly sharp. Even when he is being teased about his unique look.

"People can laugh, judge, do whatever they want," his teammate Hunter said. "If you come up to the majors and go 15 outings with a [0.90] ERA, you can look and dress however the [heck] you want."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-officially-release-delmon-young- reimold-reinstated-20150709-story.html

Orioles officially release Delmon Young, Nolan Reimold reinstated

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun July 9, 2015

The Orioles found no suitable trade partners for outfielder/ Delmon Young, so they released him Thursday while also announcing they have activated Nolan Reimold from the paternity list.

Young, 29, was designated for assignment July 1 after hitting .270 with a .289 on-base percentage and two homers for the Orioles in 2015.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said at the time of the roster move that he was hopeful he’d be able to trade Young before the 10-day window expired. The Orioles are expected to eat the roughly $1.2 million left on Young’s one-year contract – but that would change some if another team adds Young to its roster and pays him a prorated portion of the league’s minimum salary.

Young, 29, is best known for his heroics with the Orioles as a pinch hitter in 2014, most notably when he delivered the Orioles’ biggest blow of last postseason with a pinch- three-run double in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.

He has been in the postseason in each of the last six years, the current record for active players. But he became expendable with the emergence of players such as Chris Parmelee and Jimmy Paredes this season.

Reimold was placed on the paternity list on Monday and had to come off Thursday, even with the Orioles idle. The club had 24 active members on the 25-man roster after demoting first baseman Christian Walker following Wednesday’s game, so a corresponding move to make room for Reimold was not needed.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-jones-to-start-all-star-game-for-third- straight-year-20150709-story.html

Adam Jones to start All-Star Game for third straight year

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun July 9, 2015

With outfielder suffering a groin injury Wednesday that forced him to the disabled list, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has now been named to the American League starting lineup for Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Cincinnati.

It will be the third consecutive year in which Jones has started for the AL – he was elected to start the previous two years. This year, he was selected as part of the players’ vote while Gordon, Kansas City’s Lorenzo Cain and the Los Angeles Angels' were selected by fans. Jones had the most votes from the players among AL who weren’t starting.

The 29-year-old Jones, who will appear in his fifth All-Star Game and fourth straight, is hitting .284 with 11 homers in 74 games this season.

Gordon was hitting .279 with 11 homers at the time of his injury. New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner was named to the AL roster to replace Gordon. Gardner, 31, had been one of the five remaining AL players eligible as part of the game’s “Final Vote” selection.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-to-celebrate-20th-anniversary-of- cal-ripken-jrs-2131st-consecutive-game-20150709-story.html

Orioles to celebrate 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,131st consecutive game

By Dan Connolly / The Baltimore Sun July 9, 2015

The Orioles will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.’s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the 7:05 p.m. game against the . The celebration will recognize the iconic moment when Ripken played his 2,131st consecutive game, passing New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig, on Sept. 6, 1995.

Ripken will throw out the as part of a variety of commemorative events planned at Camden Yards to honor the anniversary. Beginning Thursday, the Orioles are holding a special 2131 sweepstakes, in which fans are encouraged to submit their photos from the historic record-breaking game, record-tying game, other Streak Week games or activities, or any photos taken with Ripken on Twitter or Instagram using #My2131. The Orioles will select one fan to receive four tickets to the Sept. 1 game along with a pregame on-field experience and an autographed copy of the Ripken authentic retirement commemorative program.

Additionally, the 2,131st person to check-in using the MLB Ballpark app the weekend of July 10-12 when the Orioles host the Washington Nationals will win four tickets to the game on Sept. 1 and a Ripken autographed commemorative item.

Ripken played in a major league-record 2,632 consecutive games before taking himself out of the lineup on Sept. 20, 1998. During “The Streak,” he was named the 1982 American League Rookie of the Year as well as the AL Most Valuable Player in 1983 and 1991. He retired from baseball after the 2001 season with the most career home runs as a shortstop (345). Ripken played in 19 All-Star Games and was named the All-Star Game MVP in 1991 and 2001. In 2007, Ripken was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the Sept. 1 game against the Tampa Bay Rays should call 1-888-848-BIRD or visit www.orioles.com/tickets. For additional information, visit www.orioles.com/2131.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20150708135488398?game_pk=414957

Nats, Orioles to meet in Beltways battle

By Betsy Helfand / MLB.com July 10, 2015

After an off-day Thursday, the Orioles and Nationals conclude first-half action with the first Battle of the Beltways of the season. Baltimore has a slight edge in the rivalry, holding a 29-21 advantage since 2005. The teams will play the opener on Friday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, as the Orioles return from a tough road trip against the .

Baltimore has won the season series for the past three years, but it is coming off three consecutive series losses.

First-place Washington will give the ball to Gio Gonzalez, who has allowed just one run over 14 innings in his past two starts.

Chris Tillman is expected to take the mound for the Orioles, though no announcement had been made as of Thursday. Tillman has a 4.86 ERA in three career games against the Nationals.

Three things to know about this game

• Manny Machado, who has a career-high 19 home runs this season, was announced as a participant in Monday's Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders. The No. 4 seed, Machado will face off with Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson in the first round.

• Nationals outfielder Denard Span has been experiencing back spasms and won't play in the series against the Orioles.

• Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters is likely to start the first two games of the series behind the plate before getting a day off Sunday. Wieters started back-to-back games this week against Minnesota for the first time since having Tommy John surgery last June.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/135746450/adam-jones-to-start-in-all-star-game

Jones to start in All-Star Game Process to name lineup replacements means Orioles outfielder goes in for Gordon

By Paul Hagen / MLB.com July 9, 2015

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones will start in Tuesday's All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile, replacing the injured Alex Gordon of the Royals, who had been elected to start in the outfield for the American League.

Jones, who finished seventh in the All-Star balloting that ended last week, will be making his fifth Midsummer Classic appearance and will start for a third consecutive year.

"I'm truly humbled that the players selected me," Jones said following Monday's announcement. "I think it's humbling because I just go out and play every day. I don't play for accolades except the [World Series] ring, and it's humbling that the players around the league see that I play every day and I play hard every day, and they see what I mean to this team and what the team means to me. ... I just do it for my teammates and the name across my chest, so it's humbling that the players around the league, they see that."

Gordon's groin injury on Wednesday night set off a series of dominoes that already has had a big impact on the AL roster. There are clear guidelines for how teams replace an injured player in the starting lineup, but the process for filling the roster spot is a bit more subjective. Jones automatically got into the starting lineup since he was the top vote-getter on the Player Ballot who was not selected to start by the fans. The manager is given discretion to name a replacement on the roster, and on Thursday afternoon, Royals manager Ned Yost tabbed Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, who was on the Final Vote ballot. Gardner, a left fielder like Gordon, was subsequently removed from the Esurance All-Star Game Final Vote ballot.

Assuming there are no more injuries, the one major "replacement" storyline that looms involves the starting pitchers. Per the rules, if a starting pitcher works on Sunday, it is up to him whether or not he remains on the active roster for the All-Star Game. If he opts out, he is still considered an All-Star, but another pitcher will be added to the roster for the game. If a replacement for a pitcher needs to be found, that's at the discretion of the manager.

That process could apply specifically to Oakland's Sonny Gray, who is scheduled to start on Sunday, as well as Washington's Max Scherzer, whose turn in the rotation was scheduled for Sunday before the Nationals were rained out on Wednesday.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/135752560/orioles-will-celebrate-cal-ripken-jrs-streak

O's reveal Ripken Jr. celebration plans Legend will throw out first pitch on 20th anniversary of record-breaking game

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com July 9, 2015

BALTIMORE -- On Sept. 1 , the Orioles will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.'s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game played.

That game on Sept. 6, 1995, featured one of baseball's most iconic moments, as Ripken passed New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig.

Ripken will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Orioles-Rays game on Sept. 1 as one of many celebrations.

Starting Thursday, the Orioles are holding a special 2131 sweepstakes, in which fans are encouraged to submit their photos from the historic record-breaking game, record-tying game, other Streak Week games or activities or any photos taken with Ripken on Twitter or Instagram by using #My2131. The Orioles will select one fan to receive four tickets to the Sept. 1 game, along with a pregame on-field experience and an autographed copy of the Cal Ripken Jr. authentic retirement commemorative program.

Additionally, the 2,131st person to check in using the MLB Ballpark app this weekend, when the Orioles host the Washington Nationals, will win four tickets to the game on Sept. 1 and a Cal Ripken Jr. autographed commemorative item.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/07/tonights-game-and-random-notes.html

Tonight's game and random notes

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com July 10, 2015

The Orioles are set to begin their final series before the All-Star break, hosting the Nationals through the weekend. They haven't announced their starters, but Chris Tillman is expected to pitch tonight.

It's his turn and there are no indications that manager Buck Showalter is pushing him back. Let's run with it.

Tillman has won his last four decisions. He didn't get one in his most recent start against the White Sox after allowing two runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings in the Orioles' 3-2 loss. Tillman doesn't have a decision in three career starts against the Nationals. He's allowed nine runs and 19 hits in 16 2/3 innings.

Denard Span is 5-for-12 with two doubles against Tillman. Yunel Escobar is 3-for-16.

Escobar is 3-for-7 with a double against closer Zach Britton, 5-for-8 with a home run against Brian Matusz, 8-for-25 with three doubles and two home runs against Tommy Hunter, 1-for-1 with a walk against Chaz Roe and 1-for-10 with a double against Darren O'Day. Span is 4-for-9 with two triples against Matusz.

Bryce Harper is a career .194/.326/.278 hitter in 10 games against the Orioles, going 7-for-36 with a double, a triple and seven . He's got a .167/.250/.222 slash line in five games at Camden Yards, going 3-for-18 with a double and six strikeouts.

The Orioles will try to improve on their 11-8 record against left-handed starters when the Nationals send Gio Gonzalez to the mound. He's 6-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 15 starts this season and has allowed one earned run in his last two games spanning 14 innings.

The venue may not work in his favor. Gonzalez is 4-1 with a 2.44 ERA in seven home starts this season and 2-3 with a 5.89 ERA in eight road starts.

Gonzalez is 1-4 with a 3.80 ERA in seven career starts against the Orioles and 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA in four starts at Camden Yards. Matt Wieters is 8-for-14 with a double and home run against Gonzalez, is 4-for-9 and Manny Machado is 2-for-5 with a double.

Nolan Reimold, off the paternity list, is 1-for-9 against Gonzalez and Chris Davis is 1-for-9 with four strikeouts.

The Orioles took three of four games from the Nationals last season, going 1-1 in Baltimore. They've won or split each series since 2008.

The Orioles are 26-16 at home this season. The issue is their 17-26 record on the road. They can work on it after the break when they start the second half with trips to Detroit, New York and St. Petersburg.

With eight losses in their last 10 games, the Orioles are in danger tonight of being .500 for the first time since they were 31-31 on June 14. They're 11-12 in one-run games and 7-13 in two-run games. Triple-A Norfolk pitcher was placed on the disabled list yesterday, retroactive to Tuesday, with a left torso strain.

Drake allowed three runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings with the Orioles this season. He was 1-1 with a 0.64 ERA and 14 saves in 26 appearances with Norfolk, allowing two runs and striking out 45 batters in 28 innings.

Former Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow last month while pitching for the independent York Revolution, according to an article in the York Daily Record, and he will miss the rest of the season. His career also may be over.

Another former Orioles pitcher, John Habyan, recently was named pitching coach at Hofstra University. Habyan spent 17 seasons as head varsity baseball coach at St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip, N.Y.

The Orioles will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken, Jr.'s record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game on Sept. 1. Ripken will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the 7:05 p.m. game against the Rays as part of the commemorative events planned at Camden Yards.

The Orioles are holding a special 2,131 sweepstakes and fans are encouraged to submit their photos from the historic record-breaking game, record-tying game, other Streak Week games or activities or any photos taken with Ripken on Twitter or Instagram using #My2131. One fan will be chosen to receive four tickets to the Sept. 1 game along with a pr-game, on-field experience and an autographed copy of the Ripken authentic retirement commemorative program.

Also, the 2,131st person to check-in using the MLB Ballpark app the weekend of July 10-12 when the Orioles host the Nationals will win four tickets to the Sept. 1 game and a Ripken autographed commemorative item.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the September 1 game against the Tampa Bay Rays should call 1-888-848-BIRD or visit www.orioles.com/tickets. For additional information, visitwww.orioles.com/2131.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/07/orioles-release-young-and-reinstate- reimold.html

Orioles release Delmon Young and reinstate Nolan Reimold

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com July 9, 2015

The Orioles announced today that they released outfielder Delmon Young and reinstated outfielder Nolan Reimold from the paternity list.

Reimold had to be added to the 25-man roster today despite the Orioles being idle. A stint on the paternity list lasts up to three days.

Reimold flew home to Jacksonville on Sunday night for the birth of his daughter, Charlotte Rose. He's batting .244/.340/.463 (10-for-41) with a double, triple, two home runs, five RBIs and seven runs scored in 17 games since the Orioles purchased his contract from Triple-A Norfolk on June 9.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette was unable to work out a trade for Young after the Orioles designated him for assignment on July 1.

Young, the hero in Game 2 of last year's American League Division Series, batted .270/.289/.339 with six doubles, two home runs and 16 RBIs in 52 games in his second season with the team. He was 2-for-19 in his last eight games.

The Orioles couldn't keep Young due to their roster crunch. They were hoping to make a trade - Duquette talked to executives from both leagues - and perhaps reacquire him later in the season.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2015/07/nats-starter-vs-orioles-all-star-note-updates- on-wright-and-garcia.html

Nats starter vs. Orioles, All-Star note, updates on Wright and Garcia (updated)

By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com July 9, 2015

The rotations for the Orioles-Nationals series that begins Friday night at Camden Yards are mostly a blur. Only one pitcher has come into focus.

The Nationals announced today that left-hander Gio Gonzalez will start the opener. Max Scherzer also figures to pitch against the Orioles before the All-Star break, though the club is keeping the rest of the rotation a secret.

At least the Nats have passed along one name. The Orioles haven't even gone that far. Chris Tillman, Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-Yin Chenwould start the three games if the Orioles stay in order.

Gio Gonzalez would have started yesterday if not for a rainout. He was supposed to be followed in the rotation by Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister and Scherzer.

Gonzalez has allowed only one run in his last two starts totaling 14 innings. Opponents batted .188 against him. He's is 1-4 with a 3.80 ERA in seven career starts against the Orioles and 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA in four starts at Camden Yards.

The Yankees announced today that outfielder Brett Gardner replaces injured outfielder Alex Gordon on the American League's All-Star team. Gordon is on the disabled list with a groin injury.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones should replace Gordon in the starting lineup. He finished second among outfielders to the Angels' Mike Trout in player votes with 424. Trout totaled 785.

Down on the farm, left-hander Wesley Wright retired all four batters he faced today in Triple-A Norfolk's 1-0 loss to Gwinnett. He threw eight of his 13 pitches for strikes.

Left-hander T.J. McFarland retired the side in order in the eighth, getting three ground balls and throwing eight of 12 pitches for strikes.

Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia walked two batters and struck out one for Double-A Bowie in a scoreless eighth inning.

Update: Jones will now be a starter for the AL All-Star team due to Gordon's recent DL stint.

http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2015/07/how-big-is-the-nationals-series-for-orioles- fans.html

How big is the series against the Nationals for Orioles fans?

By Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com July 10, 2015

So another Orioles-Nationals series is here. It seems to me the rivalary is getting bigger and better in recent years with both teams contending for the playoffs. It's been a matchup of two good teams. The games have been well attended and a nice rivalry is developing.

The Nationals (46-38) are playing better with this three-game series set to begin. While they lost on Monday and Tuesday to Cincinnati before Wednesday's rainout, the Nats swept the Giants last weekend and are 12-5 over their last 17 games. During that stretch, Washington has outscored its opposition 68-37 and has a 2.13 team ERA.

The Orioles are looking for offense as they return to Camden Yards, where they are 26-16 for the season and 11-4 over their past 15 games.

After a torrid stretch of hitting with runners in scoring position, the Orioles have now been on an eight-game run with very few hits with RISP. From June 19-30, the Orioles hit .380 with RISP, scored 60 runs and went 7-4 in those 11 games.

But since July 1, they are batting .093 (5-for-54) with RISP, have scored 23 runs and went 2-6 in those eight games. Guess which team is in desperate need of a few clutch hits this weekend?

The Orioles have scored just 11 runs in their last six losses and 30 total runs while losing eight of 10 games. And they scored nine runs in one of those games. They scored eight runs in losing three straight at Minnesota.

This series features two of the best young talents in the majors in the Orioles just-turned 23-year- old Manny Machado and the Nationals 22-year-old star Bryce Harper.

Machado: .301 avg., 19 HRs, 48 RBIs, .360 OBP, .535 slugging, .895 OPS

Harper: .343 avg., 25 HRs, 60 RBIs, .471 OBP, .709 slugging, 1.181 OPS

Seeing Machado and Harper on the same field reminds me of the time I saw them bat back-to- back in the same lineup. Machado hit second and Harper third on June 21, 2011 at Single-A Delmarva's Perdue Stadium in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. Click here to take a trip down memory lane from Machado's pregame interview that day.

Over his last 31 games, Machado is batting .371 with seven doubles, 11 homers, 15 multi-hit games and 25 RBIs. Machado has 13 homers his past 37 games.

While Max Scherzer has had a remarkable year and Jordan Zimmermann has been good too, the Nats rotation does rank sixth in the National League in ERA, and Washington is sixth in overall ERA in the NL at 3.58.

The Orioles are sixth in the American League at 3.74 but rank eighth in starting pitcher ERA at 4.18.

The Orioles have had the better of it in this series, winning the season series five times with two ties since 2008. The Orioles are 24-14 in that span, including a mark of 14-5 at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 10-4 versus the Nationals since 2012, and went 3-1 last year.

It should a fun weekend with big and enthusiastic crowds at the Yard. How big has this rivalry become for Orioles fans?

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/08/ap-bbo-nationals-orioles-preview

Nationals-Orioles Preview

SI.com July 10, 2015

The All-Star break will provide a respite for several injured Washington Nationals as the NL East leaders attempt to get healthy for a run at a third playoff appearance in four seasons.

Washington hopes having the last couple of days off will help it get on track offensively in the opener of a three-game Battle of the Beltways series against on Friday night at Camden Yards.

The Nationals (46-38) were already without Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and when joined them on the disabled list with an oblique strain suffered Saturday against San Francisco.

Denard Span then confirmed after Wednesday's series finale against Cincinnati was postponed that he would not be playing against the Orioles (43-42) and instead would see a specialist to deal with his lingering back pain.

"I'm definitely not helping the team by doing what I've been doing for the last three, four weeks," Span told MLB's official website. "Missing games here and there, (then) playing four games. Definitely, I've been putting the team in a bad spot."

The Nationals haven't been very good offensively lately, falling 3-2 on Monday and 5-0 on Tuesday to the Reds. They've scored three or fewer runs six times in a 3-4 stretch.

Baltimore had its own troubles at the plate during a three-game sweep at the hands of Minnesota, which concluded with Wednesday's 5-3 defeat. Manny Machado hit his third homer in five games and Chris Davis made it back-to-back shots leading off the eighth, but the Orioles have scored 19 runs over their last seven - nine coming during their only victory in that span.

''We're just not giving our pitchers much margin for error,'' manager Buck Showalter said.

Chris Tillman turned in another rough start in an inconsistent season his last time out, though he's won four straight decisions.

Tillman (6-7, 5.57 ERA) gave up six runs in 1 1-3 innings of a 13-9 victory over Toronto on June 21, then bounced back to pitch seven innings to beat Cleveland 8-0 on June 28.

The right-hander struggled again Saturday, though, giving up two runs and 10 hits while throwing 103 pitches in 4 2-3 innings of a 3-2 loss to the .

''It was a grind,'' Tillman said. ''They spoiled a lot of good pitches. I felt for the most part I had command of most of my stuff.''

Tillman has posted a 4.86 ERA in three career starts against the Nationals, failing to get a decision. He gave up two runs in seven innings of an 8-2, 11-inning win the last time he faced them July 7, 2014.

He'll oppose Gio Gonzalez, who has lost his last four starts against the Orioles with a 4.97 ERA. Steve Pearce, hitting .391 over his last seven, homered off Gonzalez in the Orioles' 4-3 victory last July 10 and improved to 4 for 9 in their matchups.

Gonzalez (6-4, 4.16) was scheduled to start Wednesday but now looks to snap his skid against Baltimore on six days' rest. He's won back-to-back starts, pitching seven scoreless innings of a 9- 2 victory over Pittsburgh on June 21 and allowing one run in seven innings of last Friday's 2-1 win over San Francisco.

Both of those outings came at home, though, and the left-hander is 2-3 with a 5.89 ERA in eight road starts. Washington, loser of three of four on the road, has dropped 14 of 19 at Camden.

Baltimore reinstated outfielder Nolan Reimold from the paternity list Thursday and released Delmon Young.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/07/09/ap-bba-orioles-moves

Orioles release Young, reinstate Reimold from paternity list

Associated Press / SI.com July 9, 2015

BALTIMORE (AP) The Baltimore Orioles have released outfielder Delmon Young and have reinstated outfielder Nolan Reimold from the paternity list.

Young, 29, had been designated for assignment on July 1. He was hitting .270 and had a .289 on- base percentage with two homers and 16 RBIs in 52 games for the Orioles.

Reimold, 31, was placed on the paternity list on July 6. He has batted .244 and has a .340 on- base percentage with two homers and five RBIs in 17 games.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/07/09/ap-bba-orioles-machado

Machado puts up big numbers as unorthodox leadoff hitter

Associated Press / SI.com July 9, 2015

BALTIMORE (AP) In his return from two straight seasons cut short by injury,Manny Machado is at the top of his game as the No. 1 hitter in the BaltimoreOrioles' lineup.

The 6-foot-3 third baseman bats right-handed and swings for power, qualities not usually found in a leadoff hitter. Though manager Buck Showalter never has been one to follow standard baseball procedure, he acknowledged that this move was more about desperation than statistics.

''I can't tell you I looked at him last year and thought that's where he would end up,'' Showalter said. ''A lot of it is by necessity. If not him, then who?''

Nick Markakis was not a prototypical leadoff hitter, but he did a decent job of it with the Orioles before departing as a free agent last winter. Alejandro De Azawas thrust into the role on opening day, batted miserably throughout April and was replaced by Machado on May 2.

''You get more at-bats, you get to see more pitches. It's been fun,'' said Machado, who was named to the AL All-Star team for a second time Monday, the same day he celebrated his 23rd birthday.

Machado would have been happy to bat ninth after what he went through the past two years. He missed the end of the 2013 season with torn ligament in his left knee and spent the first month last year on the disabled list. He returned to play in 82 games before a right knee injury cut short his season on Aug. 11.

Machado underwent surgery less than three weeks later so that he would be ready for opening day this season. He hasn't missed a game yet, and has no intention of sitting one out unless Showalter absolutely insists.

''It's a blessing to be playing, to be healthy, to play the game we love every day,'' Machado said. ''It's something you can't take for granted.''

Any question about the lingering effect of his knee surgery has been erased. Machado has already set a career high with 19 homers, tied for the team lead. He's batting .301, leads the Orioles with 18 doubles and ranks second with 48 RBIs.

Although those numbers are more typical of a cleanup hitter, Machado has a team-high 13 steals and is on pace to score 100 runs.

''Every time someone talks to me about moving him down in the order, I tell them it's tough to mess with,'' Showalter said. ''Manny brings the ability to get to second with one swing of the bat, as opposed to a single and a .''

The opposition has taken notice, mainly because it's tough to overlook a tall, lanky leadoff hitter with that kind of pop in his bat.

''I wish they weren't doing it, because it's working,'' Cleveland manager said. ''It's nice to have at the top of the lineup, but if they're not getting on base, sometimes I think that can be a little bit misplaced. Getting on base is probably more important than being able to run.''

Machado has already reached a career high in walks with 32, three more than he had in 156 games in 2013.

''If he can continue that selectiveness, he's going to have one of those years that we all know he's capable of,'' Showalter said.

When Machado broke into the majors in 2012 as a 20-year-old, the former No. 1 draft pick showed his prowess with the glove. Now, he's a complete player.

''I just think he's really coming into his own as a hitter,'' Orioles first basemanChris Davis said. ''He's starting to figure things out, realizing he doesn't have to do everything with one swing.''

Machado attributes his success to growing up. When he first joined the Orioles, he wasn't even old enough to drink beer on the team's chartered flights. Now, he's an All-Star for the second time and arguably one of the best leadoff hitters in the game.

''I've learned the game a little bit - when they're going to pitch to me, when they're not, what they're trying to do with you,'' he said. ''I wouldn't say I'm more patient. It's a thing where you learn as you go.''

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/battle-beltways-lands-baltimore

Battle of the Beltways lands in Baltimore

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore July 10, 2015

Tonight’s Game:

Washington Nationals (46-38) vs. Baltimore Orioles (43-42), Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.

Starting pitchers:

Gio Gonzalez (6-4, 4.16) vs. Chris Tillman (6-7, 5.57)

Keys to the Game:

Can the Orioles get hot against the Nationals? After winning 17 of 22, they've lost eight of 10.

Can the Orioles continue their success against the Nationals? Over the last three years, the Orioles have won 10 of 14 between the teams.

News and Notes:

Tilmman hasn't lost in his last six starts.

Gonzalez is 1-4 with a 3.80 ERA in seven starts against the Orioles.

Matt Wieters is 8-for-14 (.571) against Gonzalez.

Chris Parmelee is stuck in a 1-for-23 slump.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/os-celebrate-20th-anniversary-streak

O's celebrate 20th anniversary of 'The Streak'

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore July 9, 2015

Cal Ripken’s record-breaking consecutive games streak will be 20 years old on September 6. The Orioles aren’t home then, but they’ll be celebrating the streak on Sept. 1.

Ripken will throw out the first pitch when the Orioles play the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Orioles are holding a sweepstakes to commemorate the streak. Fans are encouraged to submit photos from the week the enduring record was set. They can also submit any photos with the Iron Man on Twitter or Instagram using #My2131.

One fan will receive four tickets for the game along with what the Orioles are calling “a pre- game on-field experience.” They’ll also receive an autographed copy of the Ripken retirement commemorative program.

The 2,131st person to check in using the MLB Ballpark during this weekend’s series against the Nationals will win four tickets for the game and a Ripken item.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/injury-paves-way-jones-get-big-all-star-honor

Injury paves way for Jones to get big All-Star honor

By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore July 9, 2015

Adam Jones will get to start his third consecutive All-Star Game. Because Kansas City’s Alex Gordon was injured, Jones, who was second in the player’s balloting will join Los Angeles’ Mike Trout and the Royals’ Lorenzo Cain in the outfield.

Trout led the player balloting.

It will be Jones’ fifth All-Star Game, his fourth consecutive and third as a starter.

New York’s Brett Gardner was added to the team to replace Gordon.

Jones finished seventh in the fan voting for Tuesday's game in Cincinnati

NOTES: Unable to work out a trade, the Orioles released Delmon Young, eight days after they designated him for assignment.

Young batted .270 with two home runs and 16 RBIs in 52 games. He’s now free to sign with any major league team who would have to pay him the minimum salary. The Orioles are obligated for about half of his $2.25 million contract.

After a productive 2014 when he batted .302 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs, Young was expected to play a more important role this season, but he was caught in a roster crunch of outfielders who could do more.

He’ll be most remembered for his bases-clearing double in the second game of last October’s Division Series with Detroit.

The Orioles also reinstated outfielder Nolan Reimold from the paternity list.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/07/09/a-look-back-at-10-years-of-orioles-vs-nationals

A Look Back At 10 Years Of Orioles Vs. Nationals

By Paul Folkemer / PressBoxOnline.com July 10, 2015

The 2015 "Battle of the Beltways" kicks off in Baltimore June 10-12, as the Orioles and Washington Nationals square off for the first time this season. The O's lead the all-time series, with 29 wins to the Nationals' 21.

With this being the 10-year anniversary of the Nationals' arrival in Washington, let's take a look back at the Orioles-Nationals matchups during the past decade.

2005: The Orioles and Nationals didn't face each other during the Nationals' inaugural season. The 2005 schedule had been created during the 2004 season -- when the Nationals were still the Expos -- so the regional rivalry wasn't yet built into the schedule.

2006: The first game between the Orioles and Nationals took place at RFK Stadium May 19, and the Birds rode a complete game by starting right-handed pitcher Kris Benson to a 5-1 victory. But the Nationals recovered to win the next two games of the series, roughing up O's starters Rodrigo Lopez and Bruce Chen.

The Nationals visited Baltimore for the first time June 23-25. Lopez got revenge by pitching seven strong innings to win the opener, and the next day, catcher Ramon Hernandez delivered a walk-off RBI single in the ninth inning to deliver a 3-2 Orioles victory. The finale was all Nationals, as veteran righty Livan Hernandez beat the Birds for the second time that year, 9-5.

2007: This season marked the first and (thus far) only time the Nationals won the season series against the Orioles. Every game was close, with each decided by three runs or fewer. The O's won the first two games of the matchup -- both in Washington -- as second baseman went 4-for-5 during a 5-4 victory May 18, and left fielder Jay Payton stroked a two-run double in the top of the 11th May 19 to break a 1-1 tie.

But the Nationals won the final four games between the two teams. On May 20, after O's starter lefty Erik Bedard pitched seven brilliant innings, relievers Chad Bradford and Danys Baez coughed up three runs in the eighth en route to a 4-3 loss. Then, the Nationals swept the Birds in Baltimore June 12-14. That included a wild game June 13 that featured five lead changes, capped by a bases-loaded triple by Nationals second baseman Felipe Lopez in the 11th to give Washington a 9-6 win.

2008: The first series, in Baltimore May 16-18, was dominated by left-handed starting pitchers. and Brian Burres each picked up wins for the Orioles, and John Lannan did the same for the Nationals.

The Nationals responded by taking two out of three in Washington June 27-29, the Birds' first visit to newly opened Nationals Park. The Nationals won a 12-inning marathon during the finale on third baseman Ronnie Belliard's two-out, two-run homer off O's left-handed closer George Sherrill. Center fielder Adam Jones -- then in his first season with the Orioles -- went 8-for-13 during the three-game set.

2009: The Orioles won the season series against the Nationals for the first time, which they've done during five of six seasons since. The Birds' first two victories in Washington were close -- they won a 12-inning game May 22 on a Jones two-run double, then eked out a 2-1 win the following night. The O's held a seventh-inning lead during the finale, but Adam Dunn crushed a off lefty reliever Jamie Walker to lead the Nationals to victory. Walker's career ended within two weeks.

In Baltimore, the O's trounced the Nationals, 11-1, June 26 behind an eight-run sixth inning, and rode homers by catcher Gregg Zaun, left fielder Nolan Reimold and first baseman Aubrey Huff to victory June 27. The Nationals salvaged the finale, 5-3.

2010: The Orioles lost two of three in D.C., which included Nationals left fielder Josh Willingham's walk-off home run in the 10th May 23. At the end of that game, the Orioles had a 14-31 record on the year under soon-to-be-fired manager . A month later, when the Nationals visited Camden Yards June 25-27, the O's were in even worse shape, entering the series with a 20-52 record and an interim skipper, Juan Samuel.

Yet, the O's caught fire long enough to sweep the series, winning each game by one run. During the opener, Nationals second baseman Christian Guzman and shortstop Ian Desmond committed two errors apiece -- including a walk-off throwing error by Guzman in the ninth -- to let the O's rally back from a 6-0 deficit to win, 7-6. The next day, the Orioles erased a 5-0 deficit en route to a 6-5 win. Then, they overcame a 3-0 deficit during the finale and won that one, too, 4-3. The Nationals were plenty bad that season, finishing 69-93, three games better than the Birds.

2011: The season series got off to an ominous start for the Orioles when the Nationals crushed them, 17-5, during the opener in Baltimore May 20. Righty starter Jake Arrieta and four relievers combined to allow 19 hits and six home runs, including a pair of blasts by Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth. But the O's bounced back to win the next two, taking the finale, 2-1, on a two-run homer by designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero.

The Orioles' 8-4 loss at Nationals Park June 17 was a bizarre one for the Orioles, who pounded 18 hits -- including first baseman Derrek Lee's 5-for-5 performance -- yet were held to four runs, stranding 12 runners on base. The Nationals won the next one, too, but the O's claimed the final game, 7-4.

2012: This was the year the Orioles and Nationals -- after years of losing -- broke out as contenders, with each winning at least 93 games and making the playoffs. But the Birds retained bragging rights during the season series, winning four of six. The O's went 11 innings to win the first game in Washington May 18, 2-1, with right fielder hitting the game-winning homer. Markakis then homered again the next game, as did Jones, for a 6-5 O's win. But during the finale, Nationals righty ace Stephen Strasburg outpitched the Orioles' Wei-Yin Chen -- and also hit a three-run homer off him.

During three well-pitched games in Baltimore June 22-24, the teams combined for 10 runs. The O's eked out a pair of 2-1 victories, the first featuring eight shutout innings by Orioles righty starter Jason Hammel and the second a comeback victory on catcher Matt Wieters' two-run homer in the eighth. The Nationals won the middle game, 3-1, beating Chen again.

2013: Starting in 2013, the alternating three-game series went by the wayside, and instead the Orioles and Nationals played four consecutive games, two at each park, May 27-30. The Nationals jumped on O's righty Kevin Gausman -- who was making his second major league start -- for seven runs on their way to a 9-3 blowout May 28, but that was the only game they won.

Hammel dominated the Nationals again for eight innings May 27, and righty Freddy Garcia pitched the finest game of his otherwise unmemorable Orioles career May 30, blanking Washington during an eight-inning, three-hit effort. The Birds also notched a 9-6 win May 29, even though Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit three home runs during the game.

2014: The Orioles' 8-2 win July 7 might look like a blowout, but it was actually an 11-inning game. The O's plated six runs in the top of the 11th on homers by first baseman Chris Davis, shortstop J.J. Hardy and third baseman Manny Machado. The next game in Washington wasn't played until a month later, thanks to a rainout. The Orioles won that one, too, with Markakis and catcher Caleb Joseph both homering. In between, the teams split the two games at Camden Yards July 9 and 10.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/07/10/bob-haynie-orioles-need-to-swat-the-nats/

Bob Haynie: Orioles Need To Swat The Nats

By Bob Haynie / CBS Baltimore July 10, 2015

After a brutal 1-5 road trip, the Baltimore Orioles return home for a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. Performing in front of the friendly fans at Camden Yards could be just what the doctor ordered for manager Buck Showalter’s team as they head into the All-Star break.

Since sweeping a doubleheader from the on June 28, the Birds have gone just 2-8 over their last ten contests. They lost three of four from the , two of three at the White Sox, and were swept in Minnesota by the Twins.

The sweep at the hands of the Twins left the Orioles with a 17-26 road record. That unimpressive mark is the second-worst in the American League.

They do, however, play well at home. They have won 11 of their last 15 at Camden Yards and are 26-16 overall.

The main issue for the Orioles of late, has been their inability to score runs and produce with runners in scoring position. After hitting .273 and scoring 148 runs in June, they have tallied only 23 runs and are batting .209 in July.

With a .297 team average, the Birds are still one of the better hitting teams with RISP. Over their last few games, not so much. They are mired in a 5-for-54 slump in those situations and are hitting an anemic .093.

Even with all of their recent struggles, the Orioles (43-42) are in second place and only three games behind the first place Yankees in the AL East.

The bats will try and come alive against the first place Nats. Washington (46-38) has gone 12-5 over their last 17 and lead the NL East by three games. The Nationals have a 21-22 record on the road.

Heading into this weekend’s series with Washington, the Orioles have 77 games left to play. The AL East is far from decided and the Birds will be in it for the long haul.

It would behoove them, of course, to continue their fine play at home and get some momentum rolling before they hit the All-Star break next week.

http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2015/7/10/friday-replay-crush-gets-robbed-twice

Friday Replay: Crush Gets Robbed (Twice) And four other things that happened in sports this week.

By Max Weiss / Baltimore Magazine July 10, 2015

1. Chris Davis hits two home runs…or not.

It’s been a rough week for the Baltimore Orioles (as in, lost 5 of their last 6 games rough), but no one had it worse than Chris Davis. On Saturday, July 4 he had a home run snatched out of the air when White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia jumped high and made a spectacular (and can we say a little lucky?) catch. That one really smarted, because it would’ve tied the game. The very next day, Sox outfielder J.B. Schuck made an only slightly less spectacular catch, robbing Crush of yet another homer, this one over the left field fence. That one didn’t hurt quite as badly, though. The O’s went on to win the game, 9-1.

2. Four Orioles named to the All-Star team. Jones to start; Machado in Home Run Derby.

Fan voting was nearly sabotaged by those incredibly annoying Kansas City Royals but, nonetheless, four Orioles were named to the All-Star team: Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Zach Britton, and Darren O’Day. Jones and Machado were selected by player vote and O’Day and Britton, both first-time All-Stars, were selected by American League All-Star skipper Ned Yost. Thanks to their voting hijinks, Royals managed to vote in four starters, but outfielder Alex Gordon is injured and will be replaced by—hooray!—Adam Jones. In another surprising and fun twist, Machado is also participating in the Home Run Derby. We’ve always thought Machado, who gets stronger every year, will one day be a legitimate slugger, but he’s not there yet. On the other hand, it’s Manny Machado. Are you voting against him?

3. Ravens picked to win AFC North by The Sporting News and Pro Football Weeklyand to be the best team in football by SI’s Peter King.

Okay, this makes us nervous. We prefer our Ravens to live under the radar—a hilarious place for them to live, when you think about it, since they’re recent Super Bowl champs and make a strong playoff showing pretty much every year. But this year, the writers at both The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly are onto us, having predicted that the Ravens will win their division. And worse still, Peter King from Sports Illustrated predicts the Ravens to be the best team in football! Uh oh. But all hope is not lost! Pro Football Weekly thinks the Ravens will take the AFC North with a weak 9-7 record. Better still, TheSporting News picked the dreaded New England Patriots to come out of the AFC. Whew! We can still play the underdog card, after all!

4. Joe Flacco doppelgänger wanted by Anne Arundel County Police.

The Anne Arundel County Police posted a photo of a suspect in a car robbery to their Facebook page and anticipated the response. “We know how you all are, before you start, it isn't Joe Flacco. But who is it?”—they said of the fit looking white dude in a blue jersey sporting Flacco- esque facial hair. “It’s his brother, Moe Flacco,” one wag offered. As of today, the Not!Flacco bandit has yet to be found.

5. Women's World Cup final, most watched soccer match ever in U.S., was awesome.

It just wouldn’t feel right to do an overview of this week in sports without offering a hearty congratulations to the amazing, inspiring, we’ve-run-out-superlatives-to-describe-them U.S. Women’s World Cup soccer team. With the U.S. team scoring four goals against Japan in the span of 15 minutes, the game almost seemed tailor made to shut up all those naysayers who think soccer is “boring” or that women’s sports aren’t as exciting as men’s. (Ha!) And the ratings don’t lie. The match—which the U.S. won by a final score of 5-2—was the most-watched soccer match in this country ever, with Baltimore as the 7th biggest market. We know a great team when we see one here in Baltimore.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-out-guide/wp/2015/07/09/15-things-to-do-in-the-d- c-area-on-the-weekend-of-july-10-12/

15 things to do in the D.C. area on the weekend of July 10-12

By John Taylor / The Washington Post July 9, 2015

Friday-Sunday: The Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioleshead into this final series before the all-star break at Camden Yards each in the thick of their divisional playoff race, and with Washington sitting in first place in the . And if you need more of a reason to catch this Battle of the Beltways, Baltimore will be giving away plaid floppy hats (all the better to catch Bryce Harper home runs with) on Friday and Hawaiian shirts on Sunday. The Orioles visit the Nationals in September. Games this weekend are Friday at 7:05 p.m., Saturday at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday at 1:35 p.m., and tickets are $16-$95.

Friday: The Black Squirrel holds its annual Christmas in July party, serving up nine Santa seasonals, including Great Lakes Christmas Ale and Fitzmas Porter; Troegs Mad Elf; Bison Organic Gingerbread Porter; and Mother Earth Silent Night Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, among others. So, make your list and check it twice, maybe three times. The party starts at 5 p.m., and you'll get free Christmas cookies until 8 p.m.

Friday: Get it while you can, as Flying Dog is releasing its new, small-batch Double Dead Rise at a party at the brewery in Frederick. Double Dead Rise has twice as much Old Bay seasoning in the recipe, but it's also made spicier by incorporating the new Old Bay Hot. (Naturally, Fritz Hahn loves it.) You'll only be able to try this at the brewery, as Flying Dog is not bottling nor distributing this beer. The party runs from 6 to 9 p.m., and tickets cost $40, which also covers beer samples and snacks.

Friday-Sunday: The Capital Fringe Festival is one of the largest fringe festivals in the country, and it's growing even larger with its new home in Northeast Washington and a 10th-anniverary celebration that will last almost a month. Capital Fringe will feature 129 groups, with a majority hailing from D.C., and . The festival runs through Aug. 2, and individual shows cost $17 after the purchase of a $7 Fringe button. There also are multi-show passes available.

Friday-Sunday: Ben Platt, who starred as the nerdy Benji in the a cappella comedy “Pitch Perfect” and its recent sequel, keeps singing this summer at Arena Stage as the star of “Dear Evan Hansen.” The original musical has a book by Steven Levenson and is directed by Michael Greif, a three-time Tony Award nominee. The musical runs through Aug. 23, and tickets are $40-$100.

Friday-Sunday: Alexandria is launching a new event, Alexandria Live Music Week, featuring 10 days of music performances throughout the city's restaurants and other venues. Those venues range from the expected, such as the Birchmere and Murphy's Irish Pub, to the unexpected, such as the Torpedo Factory and the new Blackwall Hitch restaurant. For the full list of performances, check out the Web site: www.livemusicweek.com. The celebration runs through July 19, and admission varies by each venue.

Saturday: The Kogod Courtyard at the Smithsonian American Art Museum gets a shot of adrenaline during the Sports Family Festival, when some of Washington’s professional athletes and celebrity mascots take over the usually serene space. Kids can take shots on goal with D.C. United players and shoot baskets with members of the Washington Mystics. And the ever- popular Racing Presidents will be on hand for photos, as will United’s mascot, Talon the Eagle. The event runs from from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it's free.

Saturday: If the Fourth of July didn’t satisfy your thirst for fireworks, catch the Alexandria Birthday Celebration. The city is partying for its 266th birthday — yes, it has a few years on the — with a celebration at Oronoco Bay Park, complete with music from the Tower House Band and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and, naturally, birthday cake. The festivities start at 6:30 p.m., and the fireworks start at 9:30 p.m., accompanied by the “1812 Overture” and cannons fired by Marines from Quantico. And it's all free.

Saturday: The second annual Port City Old Town Pub Crawl starts at Pizzeria Paradiso in Old Town. That's where you pick up your pass (between 2 and 3 p.m.); if you get that punched at all of the participating venues, take it to Union Street Public House between 5 and 6:30 p.m. and you'll receive a limited-edition Port City Pub Crawl pint glass. (You'll also receive 20 percent off your food tab at Union Street.) The pub crawl runs from 2 to 6 p.m.

Saturday: The All-American Beer Fest hits the Fairgrounds near Nationals Park for two sessions for one of the last big beer festivals of the season. A few breweries you don't often see will be pouring, such as Atwater Brewery out of Detroit and Calvert Brewing out of Maryland, as well as familiar national and local names, including Heritage, Starr Hill, Devils Backbone and Flying Dog. The first session runs from 1 to 4 p.m., and the second session runs from 7 to 10 p.m. (VIP tickets add an hour at the beginning of each.) Tickets are $35 regular, $45 for VIP.

Saturday: The 10th annual Sondheim Artscape Prize exhibition returns this year to the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the awards ceremony and reception take place at the museum on Saturday night. Work by the six finalists, all from Baltimore, are on view in the museum's Thalheimer Galleries through Aug. 9. The reception and awards ceremony runs from 7 to 9 p.m., and it's free.

Saturday: The difficult to define, but always loud, Death Grips plays 9:30 Club, touring in support of their double album, "The Powers that B." The show is sold out, but you can of course grab tickets. Besides, who knows when Stefan Burnett and drummer Zach Hill might call it quits again? Doors for show open at 6 p.m.

Saturday: "Vietnam's Ceramics: Depth and Diversity" opens at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery with 23 vintage pieces, the newest of which was made a century ago in Saigon. The opening date of this exhibition comes on the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States. The exhibition will run indefinitely, and admission is free.

Saturday: Alejandro Escovedo plays the Hamilton, bringing his stripped-down roots-rock sound back to D.C. for the first time since playing with the Fauntleroys at the Hamilton last fall. This time, the Texan alt-country legend is playing with his regular band, the Sensitive Boys. The show starts at 8:30 p.m., and tickets are $25-$30.

Saturday-Sunday: The annual Baltimore/Washington One Caribbean Carnival celebration continues in Charm City with a parade on Saturday and a two-day festival in Lake Clifton Park. The colorful, flamboyant parade is expected to last five hours, with the party rolling into the park at 5 p.m. Expect two days of island music and Caribbean food and drink throughout the weekend. The festivities start each day at noon; the parade is free and the festival is $10 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday.

http://baltimoresportsreport.com/miguel-gonzalez-exudes-style-59268.html

Miguel Gonzalez Exudes Style

By Zach Wilt / Baltimore Sports Report July 9, 2015

The Baltimore Orioles have some awesome giveaways coming up at Camden Yards. Friday July 10 is the annual floppy hat night — a must have for any O’s fan in this blogger’s opinion.

Sunday July 12, the Birds are giving away a Hawaiian shirt which will be perfect for those casual Fridays at the office.

Then on Friday August 21 you can snag a pair of orange Orioles high socks which will go perfect with your short shorts and boat shoes (if that’s your style) or will like good on the softball field (more of my look, personally).

Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez couldn’t contain himself. He modeled all three fashion items and looked rather dapper.

http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2015/7/9/8924867/the-orioles-are-giving-away-hawaiian-shirts- but-only-if-youre-old

The Orioles are giving away Hawaiian shirts, but only if you're old enough

By Whitney Medworth / SB Nation July 9, 2015

Here we are in the heart of baseball season where sunny afternoons are filled with pop flys, 7th inning stretches, and GAME GIVEAWAYS! From bobbleheads and rally towels to free hot dogs and posters, game night giveaways are always a special treat. With that being said, the Baltimore Orioles have really gone and done something interesting here. They're giving away Baltimore Orioles themed Hawaiian shirts with a slight disclaimer: YOU MUST BE 15 YEARS OLD TO RECEIVE.