detroit tigers

As the Orioles ¿ losers of 10 of their last 11 games ¿ open their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays tonight, their starting lineup has a much different look.

Sometimes you need a little luck to make the postseason. And as the Orioles battle for a playoff spot with the final third of the season getting under way, it seems they have developed a knack for missing opposing teams' aces.

The recent numbers aren¿t encouraging, but the Orioles believe right-hander Miguel Gonzalez¿s uneven performances recently are not a concern despite another abbreviated outing in Tuesday¿s 5-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

Team chemistry is a largely undefinable concept. It's sort of like modern art, in that most people can tell whether it's good or bad, but not many can actually tell you why. During the past several years, the Orioles have gotten a lot of mileage out of their positive clubhouse environment and the eclectic array of players who have melded together to transform the organization from perennial loser to regular playoff contender.

The Aberdeen IronBirds returned home to Ripken Stadium Monday night and due to a power outage, the New York-Penn League game with the Connecticut Tigers was played without a scoreboard, videoboard and sound system. The IronBirds, who lost both series on the recent six-game road trip, were short of a little power themselves, falling 7-4.

Minutes after the Orioles¿ week-long homestand ended with a 6-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, manager Buck Showalter¿s mind was already on to the team¿s next challenge, their nine-game, 10-day West Coast road trip to Oakland, Anaheim and Seattle.

Rookie right-hander Tyler Wilson is slated to make Monday's spot start in Oakland in place of Chris Tillman, whose turn in the rotation will be skipped because of a left ankle injury.

For the third time in the past four games, an Orioles starting pitcher failed to get out of the fifth inning. Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits.

For a guy who said he used to fear giving up home runs at Camden Yards, right-hander Kevin Gausman park is putting those jitters to rest.

The Orioles rode starter Kevin Gausman and offense to seventh win in eight games, 6-2 over the Detroit Tigers.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he doesn¿t expect right-hander Chris Tillman to make his scheduled start Monday in Oakland. Tillman sprained his left ankle in the ninth inning of his start Wednesday, and while it is getting better, he missed his scheduled work day.

He had been in the Orioles clubhouse for less than a day, but trade-deadline acquisition Gerardo Parra had already made a positive impression on manager Buck Showalter.

The Orioles¿ 8-7 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night wasn¿t the way you typically draw them up, but they couldn¿t argue with the result.

The Orioles' acquisition of outfielder Gerardo Parra in Friday's trade-deadline deal with the Milwaukee Brewers marked the end of Bud Norris' time with the team. The Orioles designated the veteran right-hander for assignment shortly after announcing the Parra trade, parting ways with a key piece of their 2014 rotation.

In making their trade to acquire outfielder Gerardo Parra from the Milwaukee Brewers official, the Orioles also designated right-hander Bud Norris for assignment, parting ways with a key piece of their 2014 starting rotation.

Without having too much to trade, the Orioles did as well as can be expected in trading for the Brewers' Gerardo Parra.

In addition to free music and other entertainment, there will be several food trucks in attendance to balance out those bottomless drink passes, which entitle guests to unlimited beers, wine and crushes.

For four years in Baltimore, Moe Drabowsky conjured up the high jinks that duped teammates and opponents alike. He's No. 1 on The Baltimore Sun's list of The Daffy Dozen.

A tight wild-card race gives many teams, like the Orioles, optimism at the deadline. Still, every game is undoubtedly important. And after falling behind by seven runs in the fourth inning Thursday against the Tigers, the Orioles rallied to within one run before their comeback fell just short in a 9-8 loss in front of an announced 30,136 on a muggy night at Camden Yards.

As Friday¿s 4 p.m. nonwaiver trade deadline looms, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette is still attempting to improve the club¿s 25-man roster by adding an outfielder with on-base skills and potentially another pitcher. According to sources in and outside the organization, every indication is that Duquette will make at least one deal by Friday afternoon ¿ though it is not expected to be a blockbuster.

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman turned his right ankle running off the mound to cover first base in the ninth inning of the team¿s 2-0 victory over the Braves at Camden Yards.

Two days after acquiring Troy Tulowitzki, a hitter they didn¿t seem to need, the Blue Jays forked over top prospect Daniel Norris for two months of David Price, one of baseball's few unquestioned No. 1 starters.

A few weeks ago, we were talking about how the Orioles rely too much on the home run, but when their starting pitching is able to accomplish what it has over their current five-game win streak, a few solo homers will do the job.

Wednesday marked five years to the day that Buck Showalter was hired as Orioles manage on July 29, 2010, but Showalter was surprised when told about the anniversary.

By the time "New York, New York" rang through the PA system of Yankee Stadium following the Orioles' 9-3 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday afternoon, they couldn't get out of New York soon enough.

The Pittsburgh Pirates designated former Orioles infielder Steve Lombardozzi for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster for third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

The Baltimore Sun is counting down The Daffy Dozen, the 12 most memorable characters in the city's sports lore. No. 12 is former Orioles first baseman-designated hitter Kevin Millar.

The Orioles beat the Tigers, 9-3, to win the three-game series in Detroit. Center fielder Adam Jones hit a solo home run in the first inning and second baseman Jonathan Schoop hit a three-run home run in the fourth.

Though there is no question that Johnny Bench was one of the greatest catchers of all time, I'm still trying to figure out how he ended up being introduced before the All-Star Game as one of baseball's four greatest living players.

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman said throughout the first half that he felt like he was close to being the starter that gave his team a chance to win every outing; he just wasn't there yet. In his first start of the second half, Tillman was there ¿ and then some ¿ in a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers that halted the Orioles' three-game losing streak and returned them to .500 (45-45).

Matt Wieters has hit well against David Price in their careers.

In a 7-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers before an announced 36,378 at Comerica Park on Friday, the Orioles looked like the same beleaguered club that couldn¿t get anything going to close the first half.

Orioles reliever Darren O'Day didn't pitch in Tuesday's All Star Game, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have an on-field moment worth crowing about. "I robbed a home run at the wall in batting practice," said O'Day, who said he shagged a would-be homer by Los Angeles Angels outfielder Albert Pujols. "That was one of my goals."

Right-hander Jonathan Hughes, who the Orioles selected in the second round (68th overall) out of Flowery Branch High School in Georgia has decided to go to Georgia Tech, Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich said.

This is that point in the major league season when inquiring minds want to know about the true state of their team and, quite frankly, the state of the Orioles is not good.

The last time the voting populace elected a Seattle Mariners designated hitter as an All-Star Game starter, the club won 93 games and finished in second place in the American League West.

Manny Machado is having a great year and he's one of the game's top young players. He entered this weekend on pace to hit 36 home runs this year, so he deserves the chance to strut his stuff with the biggest sluggers in the sport. He should be in Monday's Home Run Derby.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Chris Tillman, and Miguel Gonzalez will each start a game in the Orioles' three-game set coming out of the All-Star break at the Detroit Tigers, manager Buck Showalter announced Saturday.

After one day of voting for the final American and National League spots for the All-Star Game, Johnny Cueto of the Cincinnati Reds and Mike Moustakas of the Kansas City Royals are the leaders.

The fact that the Orioles and Royals each will send two relief pitchers to Cincinnati next week is emblematic of the outsized role that their bullpens have played in the dramatic resurgence of both franchises. Sure, there have been some pundits grumbling about the presence of setup man Darren O'Day on the AL team, but the best seventh-inning and eighth-inning relievers have been getting more All-Star love in recent years and it's about time.

After being selected by player vote to play in next Tuesday's All-Star Game in Cincinnati, both Adam Jones and Manny Machado made it clear they were honored to be picked by their peers.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter and several players spoke of the difficulty of outfielder Delmon Young being designated for assignment.

Faced with a glut of outfielders that forced them to carry more outfielders than relievers for nearly a week, the Orioles on Wednesday designated outfielder Delmon Young for assignment to make room for reliever Tyler Wilson.

Wyatt Anthony, who can stake claim to the title of being Orioles outfielder Travis Snider¿s biggest fan, will get to reconnect with his hero.

As we approach the first day of summer (June 21!), we decided to look back at the top songs of summer over the past 56 years

In just another week, the Aberdeen IronBirds will open their 14th season and like a number of seasons before, the 'Birds will begin at home in the confines of Ripken Stadium. The 2015 season opener is set for 7:35 p.m. June 19 versus the Hudson Valley Renegades.

On Tuesday, Eduardo Rodriguez will be making his third major league start for the division-rival Boston Red Sox -- against the Orioles at Camden Yards. Rodriguez, who was hesitantly dealt to Boston for left-handed reliever Andrew Miller at last year's trade deadline, has been marvelous in his brief time with the Red Sox, allowing just one run in 14 2/3 innings over two starts, yielding just five hits while striking out 14 and walking four.

Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez will take the mound tonight as the Orioles finish their brief two-game series against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Softball teams from Harford County found out Tuesday what's ahead in the postseason as the regional playoff draw was held and many teams will begin play Thursday.