Chris Davis returns to the Orioles lineup tonight after coming off the bench last night and going 0-for-2, his line drive into the shift providing the final out in a 3-2 loss. Past success against Aaron Sanchez might factor into the decision. He's 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles, five home runs and 11 walks against Sanchez. Aaron Brooks continues to search for his first win with the Orioles. He's 0-2 with a 6.63 ERA and 1.579 WHIP in five starts over 19 innings. Brooks threw a season-high 97...

When they beat Roger Clemens and the Boston Red Sox on opening day in 1989, there would be no repeat of the previous season. The 1988 Orioles started 0-21 on their way to 107 losses. A year later, the pundits said Baltimore was headed for last place again. And the '89 team did not exactly tear it up after that win in the opener at Memorial Stadium. They were 13-17 after 30 games. But a hot streak in late May saw the team surge into first place, and they stayed there for most of the summer. But...

NEW YORK - Lost a bit in the 7-6 setback against the Mets was the pitching turned in by Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg. The right-hander recorded a quality start, twirling seven innings, allowing a couple of home runs, but only four total hits, with two walks and six strikeouts. It was a nice bounceback from the nightmare of Aug. 3, when he surrendered nine runs in just 4 2/3 innings in the 18-7 loss at Arizona. His only real blemishes came when he allowed back-to-back homers in the fourth...

NEW YORK - The game was set up for closer Sean Doolittle to do what he has done 25 times already this season for the Washington Nationals. With a 6-3 lead over the red-hot New York Mets in the bottom of the ninth, all Doolittle had to do was record three outs and the Nats would come away with another important divisional win. But the Mets pummeled Doolittle's fastball to the tune of four consecutive hits, highlighted by Todd Frazier's three-run game-tying homer down the left field line that...

Manager Brandon Hyde finally had to bite his tongue this week. And on this club, any movement is an injury risk. Hyde tore into the umpiring and review process Monday night after the blown call at the plate on the Jace Peterson-Chris Davis double steal attempt, and he didn't pull any punches - or muscles or tendons - after the pitching staff served up six more home runs the following night. I've read fan comments praising and criticizing Hyde for his bluntness. Way to go for not sugar-coating...

The Orioles had gone 11 straight games without a quality start. They just lost three straight to the New York Yankees and gave up 32 runs in getting swept. They could use a well-pitched game tonight. But could they get one against a surging and division-leading Houston Astros club? One that had won six in a row and nine of 10, and had scored 25 runs the last two games and 54 over its last six? The Orioles did get a well-pitched game from starter Dylan Bundy, but the O's offense was pretty...

The Orioles made it through nine innings tonight without any extracurricular activities in the dugout. Guys leaned on the railing or sat on the bench. They talked. They spit. They bonded. They watched another early deficit materialize and the Orioles lose for the sixth time in eight games since a .500 July. Given the unwanted attention that clung to them since the fifth inning Wednesday night, they were just glad to shift the focus back to the field. Being on the wrong end of the score must...

NEW YORK - April 7 was the last time the Nationals beat the Mets here at Citi Field. May 20-23, the Nats lost all four games. In that series, the Mets never scored more than six runs in a game. After that series, the Nats were 19-31. Nationals manager Davey Martinez said he made sure to keep his players upbeat during those trying times. The Nats have rebounded to win 42 games since that sweep. "Even when things were going bad I seem to always have fun," Martinez said. "I got to keep the boys...

Thirty years ago they went from worst to almost first. The 1989 "Why Not?" Orioles are one of the most popular clubs in team history. After starting 1988 with an 0-21 record and finishing with 107 losses, the '89 team went to the final weekend in Toronto playing the Blue Jays and trailing them by one game for the division title. That O's club lost close games Friday and Saturday and were eliminated, going 87-75 to Toronto's 89-73. But a team picked to finish in the cellar thrilled fans...

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is ready to move on from Wednesday night's dugout incident. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde feel the exact same way. The matter has been discussed internally, they've met individually with the media and now they want to drop it. Among the important points made today are how Hyde and Davis respect each other and have cleared the air, Davis won't be fined or face any disciplinary measures, leaving before the...