That sure could have gone better for the Orioles. They finished the first half going 5-4 and their starting pitchers went 4-3 with a 2.39 ERA in that span. Then Dylan Bundy allowed seven runs and eight hits in the first inning last night. The Rays led 9-0 in the second on their way to a 16-4 thumping of the Orioles. It was the 17th time that Baltimore pitchers allowed 10 or more runs. The 16 allowed tied their season high for the third time and they allowed a season-high 20 hits. Tampa Bay hit...

Back in the city where he's employed and no longer mingling with All-Stars, Orioles left-hander John Means can be certain that he's going to pitch tonight. The manager won't withhold him in case he's needed in extra innings. Means is returning to a normal routine that includes plenty of games against the Rays. Today marks his third appearance, his first half closing with two earned runs allowed (three total) in seven innings that matched his career high and lowered his ERA to 2.50. Means'...

PHILADELPHIA - Max Scherzer's back is still sore, and despite being scratched from Sunday's start here at Citizens Bank Park, he believes he will be back for Tuesday's series opener in Baltimore against the Orioles. "Tuesday's realistic," Scherzer confirmed Friday night after his club shut out the Phillies 4-0. "That's what we're hoping for. That's where we're just in a matter of days here. This is not a major thing. We know exactly what this is. We know it's muscular. "The pause...

Dylan Bundy began to notice some soreness in his right knee today while long tossing in the outfield and again throughout his bullpen session. He didn't say anything about it until after the first inning. After giving up seven runs and eight hits, throwing 37 pitches and watching someone else work the second. Bundy received treatment on the knee and the Orioles, coming off an embarrassing 16-4 loss to the Rays at Camden Yards, will evaluate him again Saturday morning while preparing to play a...

PHILADELPHIA - Stephen Strasburg wanted to pick up where he left off. Even with nine days between starts, the big right-hander returned from the All-Star break and continued to shut down opponents. The Nationals provided quick run support and Strasburg got out of an early jam, then fought through six innings in a 4-0 win at Philadelphia before a sold-out 42,318 at Citizens Bank Park. Strasburg has not allowed a run in his last two starts, spanning 13 1/3 innings, both victories over division...

The All-Star break enabled the Orioles to enter tonight's game with a rested bullpen. They reached a point where it appeared that they might need every reliever - and at least one position player. Dylan Bundy lasted only one inning and allowed a season-high seven runs and every Rays batter collected a hit by the second in a 16-4 victory over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 22,422 at Camden Yards. Eleven batters came to the plate in the first, with the Rays squeezing 37 pitches out of...

PHILADELPHIA - After making 28 appearances in the first two months of the season, left-hander Matt Grace has been called upon only nine times since June 1. He struggled in May, posting a 9.82 ERA in 12 appearances. After allowing runs June 20 and 22, he wasn't called on for almost another two weeks. Grace has started 0-1 with a 5.94 ERA in those 37 games. He has not given up a run in his two July appearances, so he feels like that is something to slowly build on. "It goes in waves. It is what...

John Means wasn't surprised that he didn't pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game, the lone Orioles representative unable to get back on the field until the final out of the American League's 4-3 win. He knew how his night would play out. AL manager Alex Cora kept Means in the loop as well as the bullpen. "I knew before the game I was extra innings," Means said earlier today. "He brought me in and was like, 'I've got to plan out 15 innings. I know you're a starter, you can go longer, so...

Right-hander Aaron Brooks officially joined his new team today. It's not his first time this year at Camden Yards, but it's his first time in the home clubhouse. On April 11, pitching for Oakland, he got the win in a start against the Orioles allowing three runs and three hits in six innings. He also faced them in relief throwing two scoreless on June 18 on the West Coast. So he's faced the Orioles twice and now he is an Oriole, claimed on waivers Saturday from the Athletics. "Excited....

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals have decided to push Max Scherzer's start back a couple more days. The right-hander will not start Sunday, as was orginally planned, due to continued back tightness. "He was sore after his last start," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He had an MRI during the break. Came back negative. But he is sore. So we talked and we decided just push him back a couple days and see how he feels. We are at a point now where he went through an unbelievable run and...