nate mclouth

Entering Sunday's series finale with Detroit, the Orioles bench had struggled throughout the year in contributing late in games, hitting just 1-for-18 in pinch-hit situations.

The Orioles (32-25) captured two of the three games in the home series against the Tigers (30-25), winning both after trailing early.

The way Friday night's game played out, it was the same opponent, the same deficit and the same scenario as the night ¿Orioles Magic¿ was born.

Left fielder ranks second in American League with 17 stolen bases this season

Anchored by eight scoreless innings from 36-year-old Freddy Garcia, the Orioles beat the Nationals 2-0 in front of an announced 30,655 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles raised some eyebrows when reliever Pedro Strop was seen taking grounders at shortstop and making throwing to first before Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals.

Over the past few days, Orioles manager Buck Showalter has spoken optimistically about getting some of the club¿s injured players back soon.

Veteran pitcher Freddy Garcia was able to hold off that scary Toronto Blue Jays lineup for five innings on a bright Saturday afternoon when the ball was flying out of Rogers Centre, which is a testament to his ability to move the ball around and make the most of what¿s left in his 36-year-old arm. But don't give him too much credit.

In the sixth inning, Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth raced into foul ground and went into the stands full speed giving chase to a fly ball off the bat of Colby Rasmus. As McLouth went back to his position, an opened aluminum can was thrown onto the field.

Kevin Gausman arrived in the visiting clubhouse of the Rogers Centre on Thursday to find about $300 worth of powdered mini doughnuts stacked inside and at the base of his locker, another nice welcoming gift from center fielder Adam Jones.

Each Wednesday, Baltimore Sun blogger Matt Vensel will highlight five statistics that really mean something for the Baltimore Orioles.

It's not a surprise that Orioles prospect Kevin Gausman is making the jump from Double-A.

With the possibility of freefalling into their worst losing skid in nearly two years, the Orioles received one of their best pitching performances of the season, two homers from reserve Chris Dickerson and a walk-off blast from Nate McLouth to finally beat the New York Yankees in extra innings.

If they are going to continue to be successful, if they are going to hang around toward the top of the American League East standings all year, the Orioles have to buck this recent trend of short, uneven starts from their rotation.

Jim Johnson's blown save wasn't an ugly one anyway.

Orioles closer Jim Johnson blew a one-run ninth-inning lead as the Padres dealt the Orioles a 3-2 loss Tuesday night in San Diego's first game at Camden Yards since 2002.

Orioles left fielder Nate McLouth entered Thursday's game with 11 stolen bases, second most in the American League. McLouth credits Manny Machado's patience at the plate hitting behind him with allowing him to be aggressive on the basepaths.

For the third straight game, the Orioles won despite being out-hit by their opponent, using stingy defense, clutch late-inning pitching and opportunistic baserunning for a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals at Camden Yards.

As a veteran of 14 major league seasons, it took a while for right-hander Freddy Garcia to get used to those long bus rides in Triple-A.

Left fielder Nate McLouth is one of the Orioles' hottest hitters at the plate over the past two weeks, but it still hasn't been enough to earn everyday starts against left-handed pitching.

Each Wednesday, Baltimore Sun blogger Matt Vensel will highlight five statistics that really mean something for the Baltimore Orioles.

In a 7-2 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night, the Orioles posted four runs in the first, had a 13-hit attack and were in control all game.

Orioles GM Dan Duquette must pinch himself every time he sees Nate McLouth victimize another pitcher or catcher as he further establishes himself as one of the best leadoff hitters in the American League this year.

Zach Britton's line wasn't good Monday but it was also a little misleading.

On his first off day as an Orioles minor leaguer, Double-A Bowie outfielder Henry Urrutia took a trip to Baltimore, where he got a tour of Camden Yards — the place he hopes his uphill and divot-filled baseball journey reaches its pinnacle.

Catcher Chris Snyder, whom the Orioles acquired Sunday from the Los Angeles Angels in a deal for minor league right-hander Rob Delaney, was at Safeco Field on Monday, but he has not been activated.

Leading by five runs in the sixth, the Orioles appeared to be cruising to their first four-game sweep of the Oakland A¿s in Oakland Coliseum in 26 years.

The Orioles' Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Nate McLouth homered in a 7-3 win over the Oakland A's.

Wei-Yin Chen didn't leave things to chance in the Orioles' 3-0 victory over the Oakland A¿s on Friday night.

Jake Arrieta, who was demoted from the Orioles Monday after compiling a 6.63 ERA in four big league starts, made his 2013 Triple-A debut Friday night for the Norfolk Tides at the Charlotte Knights.

A collection of quotes from after Thursday night's game between the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland A's.

Starter Jason Hammel pitched six solid innings, leadoff hitter Nate McLouth continued his recent torrid streak and all nine Orioles starters had at least one hit in a 10-2 win over the Oakland A's.

Before "Moneyball" hit the best sellers list and before Brad Pitt brought Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane to the big screen, Dan Duquette's Montreal Expos were perhaps the first incarnation of the Moneyball concept.