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Cuddyer’s double propels Rox to series win over Crew
MILWAUKEE — Bruised toe and all, Michael Cuddyer just keeps on hitting.
With two on and one out in the eighth on Sunday, Cuddyer ripped the first pitch he saw from Milwaukee reliever Francisco Rodriguez into the gap. The result was a go-ahead double, as Cuddyer drove in a pair of runs and set up the Rockies for a 4-1 victory over the Brewers at Miller Park.
Every time a big late-game situation comes up this season, Cuddyer seems to be there to deliver for the Rockies. He had a game-winning pinch-hit on Friday before coming through again Sunday.
The veteran slugger seems to enjoy such opportunities, as well.
“Who doesn’t?” Cuddyer said. “A man in scoring position and a one-run game, the worst that can happen is you fail. And that happens a lot. So yeah, you’ve got to relish those opportunities.”
Cuddyer collected his team-leading 10th and 11th RBIs of the season. He also leads the Rockies in hits (19), doubles (8) and extra-base hits (11).
Perhaps more impressive is the fact that Cuddyer’s big hits this weekend came against a pair of the best relievers in the game, in John Axford and Rodriguez. With every Cuddyer at-bat, the Rockies’ biggest offseason acquisition looks better and better.
“The biggest thing is, every time he steps up to the plate, I think 24 other guys and the coaching staff have confidence that he’s going to get a big hit,” Rockies starter Jeremy Guthrie said.
Along with everything he’s done at the plate so far this season, Cuddyer can play a pretty good right field as well. He showed that Sunday not long after he delivered the game’s big blow.
Cuddyer made a great read on an Aramis Ramirez line drive to right to help snuff out a potential Brewers’ rally in the eighth. Milwaukee had the tying runs on base at the time.
Cuddyer then fired a strike toward second that could have doubled up Rickie Weeks, but Marco Scutaro cut the ball off.
“As I was letting go of the ball I was yelling, ‘Let it go, let it go, let it go,'” Cuddyer said. “But he didn’t. So then Matty [Belisle] was able to make a couple big pitches.”
But as impressive as his eighth-inning heroics were, Cuddyer was quick to share the spotlight.
As he saw it, the pitching was the story of the game.
In his fourth start of the season, Jeremy Guthrie gave the Rockies everything they needed. Coming off a pair of rough home starts, Guthrie had his best outing yet, tossing seven innings and allowing just one run on three hits with three walks with two strikeouts.
“It wasn’t just seven innings, it was seven quality innings,” said Rockies manager Jim Tracy, who earned the 800th win of his managerial career. “He had great movement with his two-seam fastball today, great command of his fastballs, period. Two- or four-seam. Which helped to make the breaking ball and the changeup that much more effective.”
A leadoff walk issued to Ryan Braun in the fourth inning led to the Brewers’ only run off Guthrie. First baseman Mat Gamel plated Braun with a two-out single to right field on a 1-1 cutter from Guthrie.
But the run wouldn’t have happened without the help of an unusual stolen base by Braun. Guthrie struck out Aramis Ramirez looking at a 3-2 pitch, and the throw beat Braun to second base, but Scutaro did not tag the runner, apparently thinking the pitch was ball four.
Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo matched Guthrie’s solid outing with an impressive one of his own. The right-hander went seven strong innings, giving up just one run on six hits with eight strikeouts against one walk.
In addition to Cuddyer and Guthrie’s big performances, the Rockies got a boost from Belisle in the eighth inning, who retired the heart of the Brewers lineup in order.
Entering the game with two on and no outs, Belisle got Braun to pop out, Ramirez to line out to Cuddyer — on the aforementioned near-double play — and struck out Corey Hart.
It was a big moment for the Rockies en route to the road series win, and an even bigger missed opportunity for the Brewers.
“When you don’t have many opportunities through the game, then you get that one shot at it and you feel like everything is on the line in one inning,” Roenicke said. “Unfortunately, it should be a lot of different innings. It’s tough.”
Jordan Schelling is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Orioles notebook, 8/25
Guthrie felt special connection to Flanagan
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
“Since the day I was given No. 46, I’ve had thousands of people tell me that was the number of their favorite pitcher for the Orioles when they were growing up,” Guthrie said. “So from Day 1, I think I’ve been reminded of the legacy and of the work that Mike did not only as a player, but also as a member of the community in Baltimore.
“It’s always been special, and now I think it takes on even a new level. He’s not going to be forgotten soon, that’s for sure.”
After thinking about it overnight, Guthrie is considering hanging up his No. 46 for the rest of the season in honor of Flanagan.
Guthrie is looking for input from a number of people, including fans.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of emotions flying around right now … but it’s a response that doesn’t surprise me from Jeremy,” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “We’ll see. I’m not going to really weigh in on whether [he should do it]. It’s a nice gesture.”
Jones sits out finale with soreness
MINNEAPOLIS — After leaving games early on consecutive nights, center fielder Adam Jones was out of the Orioles lineup for Thursday’s series finale with the Twins.
Jones left Tuesday’s game after just one inning and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. On Wednesday night, Jones left after six innings with soreness in his neck, shoulder and chest.
“Hopefully, today will be good for him, and he’ll get back in there tomorrow,” said manager Buck Showalter. “I’ve got some options with him off the bench.”
The soreness Jones experienced on Wednesday and was still dealing with on Thursday morning likely was related to what forced him out of the game on Tuesday, when he had trouble catching his breath.
“Sometimes things like that could bring on the symptoms and some of the stuff he had,” Showalter said. “He felt great in BP yesterday, so I’ll take that as a positive.”
Guerrero returns in finale vs. Twins
MINNEAPOLIS — Orioles designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero was back in the lineup on Thursday afternoon after missing Wednesday’s game with a left wrist contusion.
Guerrero, who was hit on the underside of his wrist by a ball during batting practice, was held out of the lineup as a precaution.
In the clubhouse after Wednesday’s game, Guerrero had his wrist heavily wrapped and iced, but said he was fine.
“It was a little puffy [on Wednesday],” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “We probably could’ve pushed the envelope on him [on Wednesday], but with the quick turnaround with the day game and [lefty Francisco] Liriano pitching [on Thursday], we wanted to be careful.
“So far so good, but we’ve got some options if he gets in there and can’t go.”
Showalter said Guerrero was intent on playing on Wednesday, despite the injury, but the manager decided otherwise, making him a late scratch from the lineup.
“He was all taped up and ready to go and trying to play yesterday,” Showalter said. “I just stopped him and said, ‘Let’s be smart with this.'”
Flanagan family issues statement for fans
MINNEAPOLIS — The Flanagan family issued a statement on Thursday regarding the death of former Orioles pitcher, executive and broadcaster Mike Flanagan.
The statement read:
“We thank you for your support and kind words at this difficult time. Thank you for respecting our privacy as we grieve.
“A private memorial will be held at a later date.”
–The Flanagan Family
Pie clears waivers, faces decision
MINNEAPOLIS — Felix Pie cleared waivers on Thursday, and the Orioles left fielder was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.
Pie now has the option to become a free agent, which would mean forfeiting what is left of his $985,000 salary for 2011. He can also accept his assignment and report to the Tides, but he must make his decision by Saturday morning.
“It’s good for us, not particularly good for him right now,” said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. “But it may work out real well in the long haul for both of us.
“[Pie] and his agent and his family will make a decision, what’s best for him in his career. We hope it includes us.”
The Orioles designated Pie for assignment on Tuesday in an effort to get him some at-bats in the Minors and perhaps solve his offensive struggles.
Pie has batted just .220 this season, while slugging .280 with a .264 on-base percentage. All three numbers are well below Pie’s career numbers. The former Cubs top prospect has also struggled defensively and on the basepaths.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Guthrie delivers as O’s win with heavy hearts
MINNEAPOLIS — If it were not for Mike Flanagan, right-hander Jeremy Guthrie may never have joined the Orioles in 2007.
So, it was only fitting that Guthrie — who wears the same No. 46 that Flanagan donned for 15 years with Baltimore — would pitch a gem in a 6-1 victory over the Twins on Wednesday, the night of Flanagan’s death.
Flanagan was the executive vice president of baseball operations at the time, and he made the waiver claim to acquire Guthrie from the Indians. When he joined the club, Guthrie asked for and received permission from Flanagan to wear No. 46.
“Since the day I was given No. 46, I’ve had thousands of people tell me that was the number of their favorite pitcher for the Orioles when they were growing up,” Guthrie said. “So from Day 1, I think I’ve been reminded of the legacy and of the work that Mike did not only as a player, but also as a member of the community in Baltimore.
“It’s always been special, and now I think it takes on even a new level. He’s not going to be forgotten soon, that’s for sure.”
Flanagan’s death overshadowed a brilliant outing by Guthrie and the Orioles’ third straight win, the first time the O’s won three straight on the road since April 29-May 1 against the White Sox. Baltimore also picked up its first series win since June 24-26 versus Cincinnati, snapping a streak of 15 winless series.
And the Orioles won a road series for the first time since taking two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays May 13-15.
But all of that mattered less to the O’s once they heard of Flanagan’s death. Hall of Fame right-hander Jim Palmer, a former teammate of Flanagan’s and current O’s broadcaster, said he heard the news about the third or fourth inning.
“Well, it kind of makes the game insignificant,” Palmer said. “It just makes you kind of re-evaluate how lucky we were and it makes you take a look at what’s going on, what’s important and what’s not.”
Guthrie allowed a first-inning triple and a run on back-to-back doubles in the third, but was otherwise stalwart on the night. After those doubles, Guthrie retired 12 straight batters until issuing a two-out walk to Luke Hughes in the seventh.
Guthrie allowed one run on five hits in seven innings with five strikeouts. He snapped a three-start winless streak, picking up his first win since July 29 at New York.
Still, his postgame focus was more on Flanagan than on his own success.
“It’s a really sad day,” Guthrie said. “He’s so close to so many people in this organization and he’s touched the lives of thousands in the Baltimore community, and the baseball world. So, the news of him passing is a big blow to this team, to this family, to this organization, to the city and to Major League Baseball.”
Twins right-hander Kevin Slowey shut down the Orioles’ offense for four innings, but the O’s jumped all over him in the fifth, collectively hitting for the cycle in the inning. Mark Reynolds kicked things off with a homer, though he thought he had popped it up off the bat.
Though he never got to know Flanagan as well as some others with the Orioles, Reynolds shared his thoughts on the situation.
“It’s sad,” Reynolds said. “I didn’t really get a chance to know him on a personal level, it’s my first year here. But I’ve seen him around, and from what I hear from everyone, he’s a great guy. … He was a big part of the club.”
Two batters after Reynolds’ homer, with Jake Fox on first and one out, Nolan Reimold tripled, followed by a Ryan Adams double, J.J. Hardy single and a Nick Markakis walk.
Slowey then got Adam Jones to flyout to left, but a Matt Wieters double knocked him out of the game. Slowey only allowed one hit and a hit batter through the first four frames, but finished with five runs allowed on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.
Even with the success the Orioles have enjoyed this week at Target Field, manager Buck Showalter did not talk about the win in his postgame meeting with reporters.
“Mike made a point of making me feel welcome from Day 1,” Showalter said. “The first time I spent time with him, he was in the line at a ‘Welcome Home’ banquet. I remember it like it was yesterday. He was trying to help me help our left-handers with their moves.
“I always looked forward to him coming in, sitting down and drinking coffee with me. Not only talking about baseball, but talking about life. He was a passionate man about the Orioles and his family and he impacted a lot of people’s lives.
“He’s someone that our organization has always been proud, not only for the way he pitched but the way he treated people.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
A Schelling For Your Thoughts 