November 7, 2011, 3:59 pm By JOANNE C. GERSTNER

BALTIMORE (AP)—Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is
moving on after running the front office of his childhood team for four-plus
seasons.

A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press about
MacPhail’s departure. The person spoke Friday night on condition of anonymity
because the Orioles hadn’t announced the move.

Baltimore went 69-93 during its 14th consecutive losing season, and
MacPhail’s contract expires on Oct. 31.

MacPhail took the job in June 2007 with the intention of bringing his
favorite team growing up back into prominence. He made several moves that paid
off, acquiring shortstop J.J. Hardy(notes), outfielder Adam Jones(notes) and All-Star catcher
Matt Wieters(notes), but Baltimore was hurt by its inexperienced pitching staff while
trying to navigate the tough AL East.

MacPhail was president of the Chicago Cubs from 1994-2006, also serving as
general manager from July 2000 to July 2002. He was general manager of the
Minnesota Twins from 1985-94, helping the team win World Series titles in 1987
and 1991.

His father, Hall of Famer Lee MacPhail, was Orioles general manager from
1958-65 and also was GM of the New York Yankees and president of the American
League. Andy’s grandfather, Hall of Famer Larry MacPhail, brought night games to
the major leagues while with the Cincinnati Reds in 1935 and was chief executive
of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Yankees.

Andy MacPhail’s departure wasn’t a surprise, and there was talk manager Buck
Showalter could move into the front office.

BALTIMORE – Twice the Orioles left men on second and third.
Twice they had runners thrown out at home.

And no matter how difficult the New York Yankees made it to push
the tying runs across, Baltimore got it done late.

Robert Andino atoned for foibles at the plate, in the field and on
the basepaths by driving in both the tying and winning runs for the
Orioles, who rode stellar relief pitching to come back for a 5-4
win in 10 innings in Thursday’s twice-postponed contest at Camden
Yards.

Andino had been thrown out attempting to steal third and didn’t
cover second on a grounder to shortstop J.J. Hardy. But in the end,
he had reason to smile.

“Everybody knows the Yankees have a good team. This is supposed to
be our day off, so to come out and win especially walk them off
like that, it’s gets good momentum going to Toronto,” Andino
said.

Baltimore (57-85) improved to 3-77 when trailing after seven
innings. However, New York (87-55) won the season series in
dominant fashion, 13-5.

The Orioles swiped the last two contests against the Yankees with
the bullpen deserving much of the credit for the latest
victory.

Starter Alfredo Simon walked a career-high six to put Baltimore in
a 4-1 hole after four frames before five relievers picked him up.
The bullpen held New York to no hits and just two baserunners (two
walks) over six scoreless innings.

Clay Rapada (1-0) earned the win despite facing one batter and
throwing three pitches. Jo-Jo Reyes was perhaps the key with 2 1-3
scoreless frames to follow Simon. Jeremy Accardo induced a double
play out of his only batter. Troy Patton and Kevin Gregg each
tossed 1 1-3 scoreless innings, and put together a stretch of six
consecutive strikeouts.

Rapada wrapped it by eliminating Robinson Cano to end the Yankees’
10th.

“We threw well,” Reyes said. “The last few weeks, we’ve really
concentrated on just pounding the zone and just letting it take
care of itself, and I think it showed today.”

Orioles manager Buck Showalter liked what he saw out of his
relievers, especially considering the opponent.

“The stress to go through that lineup that many times and not give
up any runs after that inning,” Showalter said, trailing off.
“You’d have to be real picky to say anything negative about the
pitching after the fourth inning.”

Baltimore began its comeback with one run in the bottom of the
fourth, cutting the margin to 4-2. The Orioles put runners on
second and third with two outs, but stranded them there when Andino
struck out to end the inning.

Baltimore pressured the Yankees with a similar situation in the
fifth, advancing runners to second and third with one out, but
again left them there.

The Orioles narrowed the margin to 4-3 on back-to-back doubles by
Nolan Reimold and Chris Davis in the sixth.

Baltimore had a shot at drawing even in the seventh when Vladimir
Guerrero doubled to right-center with Nick Markakis on first. The
Yankees executed a perfect relay, getting the ball to catcher
Francisco Cervelli at home a few feet ahead of the runner. Markakis
steamrolled Cervelli, but the catcher held on for the out.

“He’s sitting there with the ball in front of the plate,” Showalter
said. “People have done the same thing to [catcher Matt Wieters].
It’s a baseball play, a great play.”

After Mark Reynolds singled and moved up to third on left fielder
Brett Gardner’s error to start the next inning, the Yankees threw
him out at home two batters later on Davis’ single to center.

But Andino finally got the tying run home for the Orioles with two
outs. The team had begun the day 2-for-10 with runners in scoring
position before Andino’s RBI single to left knotted the score at
4-4.

In the 10th, Baltimore wrapped the win when Reimold hit a one-out
infield single, Davis walked and Andino scorched the game-winning
RBI single down the left-field line.

That ended a long couple of days for both teams, who played 11
innings 24 hours earlier in New York and hit the road right after
Thursday’s makeup.

“Knowing how much it means to the Yankees, and for our guys to play
on the same level of intensity, I’m pretty proud of them,”
Showalter said. “A lot of guys, at 4-1, 3-0, might have had
thoughts of getting through customs in Toronto. But our guys have a
lot of pride.”

Reach staff writer Josh Land at 410-857-7875 or
josh.land@carrollcountytimes.com.

 

© 2011 Carroll County Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Brian Matusz’s immediate future doesn’t appear to be particularly rosy.
The Baltimore Orioles pitcher lasted just 1 1-3 innings and 46 pitches against the New York Yankees on Thursday, allowing five runs, five hits and two walks. His ERA swelled to 9.84.
But it was the first time in half a season he didn’t lose. While the Yankees won 11-10, New York didn’t take the lead for good until the fifth.
“I’m doing the bullpen every day and doing all the things I need to do,” Matusz said. “There’s no putting excuses on it.”
Coming into Monday, the 24-year-old left-hander had lost seven straight starts since beating Oakland on June 6. Just 1-7 in 10 starts this year, and with an 11.42 ERA since his Aug. 16 recall from the minors, he may have pitched himself out of the rotation.
“Just like always, we’ll talk to him about different stuff,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “We’ll talk tomorrow, when emotions settle a little bit.”
Baltimore led 1-0 in the first before the Yankees scored twice in the bottom half, when Mark Teixeira hit a solo homer. While the Orioles took a 5-2 lead in the second, Curtis Granderson’s two-run double chased Matusz. Robinson Cano then hit a grand slam off Chris Jakubauskas to put New York ahead 8-5, Cano’s third slam in less than a month.
“This game will speed up on anyone if you don’t bear down and take control of the game,” Matusz said. “And a team like the Yankees will jump on you when you’re down.”
He wouldn’t speculate on whether he’ll get another start.
“That’s not my decision. I’m going to take the ball when Buck gives it to me,” he said. “I’m going to keep fighting, keep working hard.”
Mark Reynolds’ two-run homer against Freddy Garcia in the third and Robert Andino’s solo shot off Scott Proctor in the fifth tied it at 8.
Jesus Montero, a 21-year-old who made his major league debut last week, led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run off Jim Johnson (5-5), then hit a two-run drive against Johnson for an 11-8 lead in the seventh.
Nick Markakis singled in a run in the eighth and took second when the ball skipped from Yankees right fielder Chris Dickerson for an error. When the throw bounced away from second, Markakis was thrown out by Derek Jeter while trying for third. Showalter argued with third base umpire Bruce Dreckman to no avail.
What did Showalter plan to say to Markakis?
“I say to him he was safe,” the manager responded.
Still, the Orioles had a chance in the ninth.
Ryan Adams hit a two-out RBI single off Mariano Rivera, Nolan Reimold was hit by a pitch and Baltimore had a double steal. Rivera then struck out J.J. Hardy on a 2-2 pitch for his 38th save.
“He threw a cutter away,” Hardy said. “I think it was off the plate a little bit but still got me chasing.”
NOTES: Markakis also homered for Baltimore, which outhit the Yankees 17-12, and Mark Teixeira connected for New York. … Aaron Laffey (2-1) got two outs for his first win since the Yankees claimed him off waivers from Seattle on Aug. 19. … Orioles 1B Chris Davis is likely to be activated Tuesday after recovering from a strained right shoulder and completing an injury rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Bowie. … A day after making his big league debut, Baltimore’s Kyle Hudson singled in the third for his first major league hit. … The Yankees plan to recall reliever Hector Noesi from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Tuesday. … Phil Hughes (4-5) starts for New York on Tuesday against Tommy Hunter (2-1).

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Zach Britton had his third consecutive solid start, J.J. Hardy drove in two runs and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night.

Britton (9-9) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The left-hander was coming off starts against Minnesota and the New York Yankees where he gave up one run in a combined 12 innings. Vladimir Guerrero got Baltimore’s second hit off David Price (12-12) on a leadoff single in the seventh when the Orioles scored all their runs.

Guerrero went to third when Mark Reynolds and Robert Andino drew one-out walks. After Nolan Reimold hit a sacrifice fly and Ryan Adams re-loaded the bases on an infield single, Hardy put Baltimore up 3-2 with a two-run single.

Price was touched for three runs and four hits over seven innings. The AL All-Star, who struck out a team-record 14 in a 12-0 victory over Toronto last Sunday, had 11 strikeouts and three walks.

Evan Longoria gave the Rays a 2-0 lead on a two-run double in the first. He has 60 RBIs over his last 64 games.

After Jim Johnson threw two perfect innings, Kevin Gregg gave up one hit and two walks in the ninth en route to his 20th save. Pinch-hitter Sam Fuld opened the Rays’ ninth with a single and went to second on Sean Rodriguez’s one-out grounder. After Casey Kotchman and pinch-hitter Matt Joyce both walked to load the bases, Brandon Guyer hit a game-ending grounder.

The Orioles had two on with no outs during the second, but failed to score when Reynolds and Andino both struck out, and Reimold flied out.

After Guerrero drew just his 14th walk of the season leading off the second, Matt Wieters followed with an opposite-field single to right for the Orioles’ first hit. Price then retired his next 14 batters before Nick Markakis reached first on a two-out throwing error by third baseman Longoria in the sixth.

Notes: Baltimore RHP Tommy Hunter (flulike symptoms) remained at the team hotel. Tampa Bay LF Desmond Jennings had been hitless in his previous 12 at-bats before an infield single in the first. Orioles INF Chris Davis (strained right shoulder) is set to play in a minor league game Sunday and could rejoin the team next week. Baltimore LHP Jo-Jo Reyes left the team for the birth of his child. Orioles LHP Brian Matusz, skipped this time through the rotation, had a bullpen session and might pitch in next week’s series against the Yankees. Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis (8-8), 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA in two home starts against Baltimore this season, will face Orioles RHP Alfredo Simon (4-7) on Saturday night.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Read more: New York Yankees, Baseball, Baltimore Orioles, Curtis Granderson, Ivan Nova, Local Pro

BALTIMORE (AP) – Curtis Granderson homered twice to take over the major league lead with 38, rookie Ivan Nova won his 10th straight decision, and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-3 Sunday night for a split of a day-night doubleheader.

Granderson hit a three-run drive in the third inning and a solo shot in the seventh. He moved past Jose Bautista, who has 37 homers, and assumed the major league lead in RBIs with 107.

In the first game, rookie Zach Britton allowed four hits over seven innings to lead the Orioles to a 2-0 victory. It was Deter Jeter’s 2,402nd game with New York, breaking a tie with Mickey Mantle for most in a Yankees uniform.

But Jeter fouled a ball off his right knee in the third inning, and although he shook off the pain to finish the game, the Yankees captain was a late scratch in the nightcap with a bruised knee.

The second game was tied at 3 before New York hit three straight homers in a four-run sixth. After Robinson Cano connected with a man on, Nick Swisher and Andruw Jones also went deep. It was the first time the Yankees hit three successive homers since May 20, 2009, against Baltimore.

Nova (14-4) gave up three runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings, striking out seven and walking two. The right-hander has won seven straight starts and is 10-0 in 11 outings since June 3.

Brian Matusz (1-7) allowed six runs and six hits – including three home runs – in 5 1-3 innings. Adam Jones had two RBIs for the Orioles, whose six-game winning streak ended.

Baltimore led 2-0 before Granderson hit his first homer. He has 11 career two-homer games, including four this season.

In the first game, Britton allowed four singles, struck out five and walked one before being pulled after throwing a career-high 120 pitches. It was a vivid contrast from his previous start against the Yankees, when he yielded nine runs and got only one out in a 17-3 loss July 30.

“I wasn’t thinking about getting revenge or anything,” Britton said. “You have to have a short memory.”

Britton (8-9) has given up only one run over 12 innings since coming off the disabled list (strained left shoulder) on Aug. 22. Before going on the DL, he surrendered 23 runs in three starts.

“Not only was it like a break for me physically, but mentally, too,” Britton said of his time off.

The game was scoreless until the seventh, when Nick Markakis doubled and Vladimir Guerrero singled. Baltimore added a run in the eighth when Mark Reynolds led off with his third hit and scored on a two-out single by J.J. Hardy.

Jim Johnson pitched a perfect eighth inning and Kevin Gregg worked the ninth for his 19th save, getting Alex Rodriguez to hit into a double play after giving up a one-out single to Mark Teixeira, who had three hits.

Cano went 0 for 3, ending his 17-game hitting streak. He had also hit in 18 consecutive games at Camden Yards.

The Yankees failed to get a runner past first base in their first shutout loss since June 13.

Bartolo Colon (8-9) gave up two runs and seven hits in 7 2-3 innings. He had a two-hitter through six innings before faltering. He has lost his last three starts and is 2-6 in his last eight decisions.

But he considered this effort to be a breakthrough.

“I feel very happy. Thank God that everything is back together,” he said through a translator. “We’ll see how far we’re going to go.”

NOTES: The nightcap was rescheduled from Saturday’s doubleheader rainout. The other game will be made up on Sept. 8 at 1:05 p.m. … Five of Baltimore’s six shutouts this season have come at home. … Britton’s 120 pitches were most by an Oriole this season. … New York intends to activate RHP Freddy Garcia (cut index finger) from the DL to start in Monday’s series finale. Alfredo Simon (4-6) will pitch for the Orioles.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)