It was another night when the Orioles got a short outing from a starting pitcher, but the way Tampa Bay's Tyler Glasnow was throwing it was not going to matter. Glasnow was dominant last night as Tampa Bay beat the Orioles 7-0 to take the series and homestand opener. It's not a bad combination for a pitcher when you throw 99 mph, as Glasnow did in the first inning, and combine that with a curveball that three batters took for called third strikes. It didn't get much better for Baltimore...

PHILADELPHIA - For all the agonizing over the pitching decisions made during Friday night's 4-2 loss to the Phillies, the continued lack of any sustained offense by the Nationals played just as much of a role in the club falling to 1-10 in series openers this season. "We didn't hit," manager Davey Martinez said. "We've got to score more than two runs. (Jeremy Hellickson) kept us in the ballgame. We had a couple opportunities, but we couldn't get that big hit." Given the injuries the...

Anthony Santander lasted only one game with the Orioles after serving as the 26th man in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader in Chicago. Hit a home run and hit the road. He won't be forgotten by the Orioles. Santander was wise to unpack his bags after returning to Triple-A Norfolk, but manager Brandon Hyde expects to write the outfielder's name on the lineup card again during the summer. "I think you're going to see Tony here at some point. I don't know when, but he'll be back up,"...

PHILADELPHIA - It doesn't happen every single night, but on occasion a major league manager faces a critical pitching decision in the latter innings of a tight ballgame, one that is likely to impact the outcome of the contest. Sometimes the pitchers involved get the job done and reward the manager for his decision-making process. Sometimes they fail and the manager is left to explain why he did what he did. Tonight, in the aftermath of an agonizing, 4-2 loss to the Phillies, Davey Martinez had...

In his first start since being named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April, Tampa Bay right-hander Tyler Glasnow proved to be a worthy recipient of the honor. And it didn't take long to note that. Staked to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Glasnow struck out the side in the home first. He showed a 99 mph fastball and then a big curveball that produced looking strikeouts of Jonathan Villar, Trey Mancini and Dwight Smith Jr. He was off and running toward his fifth win of the...

As if the Orioles needed any more reminders tonight that the baseball gods don't usually treat rebuilding teams with a gentle touch, a check-swing roller in the first inning reached the grass in shallow right field and put them behind only two batters into the game. A soft hit, but another hard lesson. Tommy Pham stood on second base with arms spread and a huge smile on his face, as if feeling a little guilty but also amused by his good fortune. The three-run homer from Mike Zunino in the...

PHILADELPHIA - At a time when they can't afford to lose any more middle of the order hitters, the Nationals now find themselves without yet another middle of the order hitter. Juan Soto, still dealing with back spasms, is not in the Nationals' lineup for the third straight night. And if this continues much longer, the club may have to consider putting the young outfielder on the injured list like it already did with Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner and Ryan Zimmerman. "I'm hoping that after...

The Orioles, following a 1-5 road trip, return home tonight to begin a 10-day, nine-game homestand. They'll host Tampa Bay, Boston and the Los Angeles Angels each for three games. Tampa Bay (20-11) is leading the American League East by 2 ½ games over the New York Yankees. The Rays are 9-7 at home and 11-4 on the road, including a 4-2 mark on their current nine-game trip that ends with this series. Rays pitchers lead the American League with an ERA of 3.07 and have allowed two runs or less...

PHILADELPHIA - Paul Menhart was walking his Australian Shepherd Husky Mix, Gracie, at home in Richmond Hill, Ga., three days ago when Nationals assistant general manager Doug Harris called. Menhart and Harris have worked together for years as two key members of the organization's minor league operation, and they kid around with each other plenty. So when Harris explained why he was calling, Menhart at first thought this might be a joke. Menhart was supposed to fly to West Palm Beach the next...

Left-hander Richard Bleier is making significant progress down at extended spring training, with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde passing along an update before tonight's series opener against the Rays. Bleier is on the injured list retroactive to April 10 with left shoulder tendinitis, but he's been pitching in extended spring training games. "Bleier's throwing the ball good," Hyde said. "He's had a few appearances and he's come out healthy in all of them. He's on the rehab track right...