OAKLAND - It wasn't actually the first time this year the Orioles had allowed 16 runs in a game. But when it happened Tuesday night at Oakland, a manager who has had to handle interviews so many nights about a pitching staff that came up short, seemed to be exasperated to have to do it again. Who could blame Orioles skipper Brandon Hyde? That was indeed hard to watch. O's pitching allowed 16 runs to tie a season-high first set April 20 versus Minnesota, giving up 10 of them in the last of the...

OAKLAND - It was not hard to analyze this loss. There were no key throwing errors, late leads lost or controversial video reviews. Orioles pitching just got blasted. The Oakland A's scored 10 runs in the last of the sixth on eight hits and hit three homers that inning on their way to a 16-2 romp over the Orioles. Three O's pitchers were hit hard that inning, which began with the A's leading 4-2 and the Orioles still very much in this game. But Robbie Grossman's two-run homer off starter...

FREDERICK, Md. - The South Division had jumped to a quick 4-0 lead in the second when Single-A Frederick third baseman Willy Yahn went up and down the North Division dugout, trying to pump up his teammates. "I was just saying to the guys - semi-joking around and semi-serious - 'Greatest comeback in All-Star Game history coming up,' " Yahn said. "We're just trying to compete, no matter what the score is." Yahn capped a four-run sixth inning with a two-run double that shaved the South lead...

FREDERICK, Md. - Potomac Nationals right fielder Nick Banks arrived at the high Single-A All-Star break on a hot streak. Nothing has changed after the Carolina League All-Star Classic. Banks hit a three-run opposite-field home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Northern Division All-Stars to a dramatic, come-from-behind 8-7 win over the Southern All-Stars at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove stadium. The right fielder connected on a first-pitch 80 mph slider off Myrtle Beach...

Hey, let's give this another try, shall we? After waiting out Monday night's rain only to postpone the game, then after waiting out Tuesday night's rain only to postpone the game, the Nationals and Phillies are theoretically going to play a day-night doubleheader today. I say theoretically, because today's forecast is even worse, and it's going to be this way all day and all night. But they have to at least give it a shot, so first pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Patrick Corbin...

FREDERICK, Md. - When you are good enough to play elite Division I collegiate baseball in the Southeastern Conference, there is always a chance your paths will cross in the professional ranks. That is the case for a pair of minor league players on the Nationals' farm, Cole Freeman and Nick Banks. The duo got the opportunity to play against each other as opponents in college, in the SEC. Now they are teammates in for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. Tuesday night in Frederick, Md., the pair...

OAKLAND - Barring something unforeseen, the Orioles will use an opener tomorrow, and they intend to send right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis to the mound to start the Wednesday afternoon series finale in Oakland. Yacabonis had an impressive two-inning scoreless outing in last night's game, when he walked two and fanned three pitching the seventh and eighth innings of Oakland's 3-2 win. He pitched 1/3 of an inning on Sunday, throwing nine pitches. So starting tomorrow would have him on the mound...

Max Scherzer suffered a broken nose earlier today on an errant bunt attempt during batting practice, and his status for Wednesday's scheduled start against the Phillies is to be determined, the Nationals announced this evening. Scherzer was taking BP on the field this afternoon when he bunted a ball that caromed up and struck him in the face. The right-hander returned to the clubhouse alongside director of athletic training Paul Lessard, with blood visible around his nose, and retreated to the...

With less than a week remaining until the start of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League season, the Orioles are in the process of naming a new pitching coach after removing Wilson Alvarez. I've heard that Wilson was let go Thursday after six seasons with the GCL team. Minor league pitching coordinator Chris Holt is in Sarasota as the temporary replacement for Alvarez until the new hire is announced. Former Orioles pitcher and bullpen coach Alan Mills is beginning his first season as manager at...

The Orioles will try to break a six-game losing streak tonight with Hanser Alberto serving as the designated hitter and Renato Núñez playing first base while the Athletics start left-hander Brett Anderson. Rio Ruiz is playing third base. Pedro Severino is catching. Alberto leads the majors with a .432 average against left-handers. Severino has posted a .340 average. Gabriel Ynoa has allowed three earned runs or fewer in his four starts, though he's exceeded five innings only once. He's...