Tag Archives: Orioles

The surging Pedro Strop

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Pedro Strop was a key member of the Orioles bullpen when they made the postseason for the first time since 1997.

Pedro Strop was a key member of the Orioles bullpen when they made the postseason for the first time since 1997. (Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison/ Flickr)

The Baltimore Orioles were a selling team in 2011. As they had been for the better part of the last decade and a half, until 2012.

On August 31, 2011, Andy MacPhail sent reliever Mike Gonzalez to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later. The next day, that player was Pedro Strop.

The trade didn’t seem like much to Orioles fans then. Strop had a 3.72 ERA for the Rangers in 11 relief appearances. But since the trade, Strop has become an integral part of the Baltimore bullpen.

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Checking in with the O’s in the WBC

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Adam Jones celebrates with Jimmy Rollins after scoring a run against Canada on March 10. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

The World Baseball Classic is nearing the Championship Round and three Orioles are still in the thick of things.

The three members of the Baltimore Orioles organization still playing in the tournament are Adam Jones (USA), Pedro Strop (DR) and Jonathan Schoop (NED).

Schoop has played in seven game for the Netherlands, batting .250 with a couple homers and six RBIs. He played an important role in a stunning 6-2 win over the heavily-favored Cuba. Schoop was 3-6 and drove in four runs, including three on this home run:

Strop has appeared in four games for the Dominican Republic. His record of 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA ranks among the best in the tournament. In his 4.2 innings of work, Strop has allowed two hits while striking out five batters.

Jones has struggled for the United States, collecting just three hits in 14 at bats. Jones has managed to drive in four runs in his four games with the U.S.A.

Strop and Schoop have punched their tickets to San Francisco, the location to the Championship Round of the WBC. Jones and the Americans will play Puerto Rico on March 15, the winner of that game will join the Dominicans, the Dutch, and the Japanese in the Championship Round.

Orioles extend winning streak to 5-0, then fall to Minnesota

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Before Feb. 28, Baltimore (5-0), Kansas City (5-0) and the Chicago White Sox (3-0) were the only undefeated teams remaining in Spring Training. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Before Feb. 28, Baltimore (5-0), Kansas City (5-0) and the Chicago White Sox (3-0) were the only undefeated teams remaining in Spring Training. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

With two wins in split-squad action on Feb. 27, the Baltimore Orioles extended their winning streak to five games to start the 2013 Spring Training schedule.

The split-squad games were played against division rival Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Half of the O’s played host to the Sox in a 1 o’clock game at Ed Smith Stadium, while the other half traveled to Tampa to take on the Yanks.

In the matinee match-up, Baltimore trailed Boston, 2-1, entering the sixth inning. In the bottom of the inning, Chris Davis hit his first homer of the spring to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead. The O’s would add two more in the seventh on a two-run Taylor Teagarden single. Boston would get a run back in the eighth, but the birds held on for a 5-3 victory.

Pearce, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees on Sept. 29, leads the Orioles this spring in hits and RBIs.

Pearce, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees on Sept. 29, leads the Orioles this spring in hits and RBIs. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

In the night cap, the Orioles scored early and often against New York starter Nik Turley. After allowing five runs in just 1/3 of an inning, Turley was relieved by Cody Eppley who would allow two more runs in the second inning. The Yankees would score four runs in the  home half of the second and would add another three in the ninth, but Baltimore would get the win 10-7.

The Oriole offense in the late game was led by Steve Pearce, who went 2-3 with a double and three RBIs. This spring, Pearce has reached base five times in seven plate appearances, driving in a team-high six runs in the process.

The Orioles winning streak would end on Feb. 28 after a 7-1 loss against the Minnesota Twins.

Jair Jurrjens made his first spring start, lasting just one inning while allowing three runs and walking three.

The Orioles would collect eight hits but only managed to score one run. Minnesota was propelled by Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau as the 3-4-5 spot hitters, respectively, went a combined 6-7, drawing two walks while recording five RBIs.

On March 1, the Orioles and Pirates are slated to face off in Sarasota, while the World Baseball Classic tournament opens with Australia and Chinese Taipei in Taichung, Taiwan.