Jake Noll hit his first home run in Triple-A yesterday in Salt Lake City. It was an opposite-field hit over the right field fence that helped guide Fresno to a 2-0 win. Alec Keller added the second run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fifth. Keller is hitting .381 (8-for-21) in the season's first six games. Right-handed starter Kyle McGowin went 5 2/3 shutout innings, allowing only four hits and no walks, striking out six. The Grizzlies led 8-1 in the third inning of game two of the...

We could not have known he would even be on the Orioles' opening day roster when spring training began. He wasn't even in the organization yet. But Pedro Severino, the O's backup catcher, joined the club when he was claimed off waivers from the Nationals on March 23. He is still settling in with his new team. Severino is 3-for-14 (.214) in four games as an Oriole. Washington signed him out of the Dominican Republic in December 2010. He was ranked among the Nats' top 16 prospects by Baseball...

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE AMTRAK NORTHEAST CORRIDOR - There's nothing quite like covering a road trip via the train. It's the way they used to do it all the time a few generations ago, and we still get a few opportunities to do it in the 21st century, like when the Nationals play the Mets and Phillies in succession. What a road trip this turned out to be to cap off a wild two weeks to begin this season. The Nats have survived their 11-game gauntlet against two division rivals and emerged with a...

PHILADELPHIA - The Nationals left town one week ago having survived a ragged homestand against the Mets and Phillies, with a mess of a bullpen, a shortstop with a broken finger and a daunting road trip looming against those same two division rivals. The Nationals will return home tonight owners of a winning record, thanks to a potent lineup that scored 49 runs in six games, quality starting pitching, better bullpen work, and a renewed vibe that has allowed this club to relax and enjoy the ride...

Dylan Bundy is attempting today to lose a little of the consistency that he's brought into his first two starts. Bundy has lasted 3 2/3 innings and allowed three runs against the Yankees in the Bronx and in Baltimore. Perhaps a new opponent is needed, with the Orioles closing out their four-game series this afternoon against the Athletics before flying to Boston. The ERA is frozen at 7.36, with seven walks and nine strikeouts over his 7 1/3 innings. Asked about his side work this week, Bundy...

It has been a homestand where Orioles pitchers have simply given up too many homers. And it happened again tonight. Oakland homered three times in the first five innings and five times in the game to beat the Orioles 10-3 at Camden Yards. The A's (8-8) have won two of three in this series. The Orioles (5-7) are 1-5 on this homestand and have lost six of seven since their 4-1 start. O's pitchers began this game leading the majors in homers allowed with 27. They've given up 23 in the six games...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had the plan set up in his mind, with little chance that he'd stray from it. Dan Straily would make his first start since last September, with rookie Josh Rogers backing him up. Use the veteran right-hander against an Athletics lineup heavy in right-handed hitters before turning to the young lefty. The leash on Straily would be shorter than usual due to his inactivity since late in spring training, the Marlins releasing him on March 25 and the Orioles signing him...

PHILADELPHIA - Matt Adams knows the situation here. He's not going to be regular playing at first base as long as Ryan Zimmerman is healthy. So the big slugger knows he's going to have to get himself into a rhythm at the plate even when he's only getting one at-bat a night as a pinch-hitter. "It's tough coming from spring training when you're playing every other day," he said. "You're getting pretty steady at-bats. And then you come in, and I knew I was going to be Zim's backup. He's...

After splitting the first two games of a four-game series, the Orioles host Oakland again tonight at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Birds won 12-4 Monday and lost 13-2 last night. Since starting the year 4-1, the Orioles have lost five of six games and been outscored 51-28. Meanwhile, the Baltimore offense, held to seven hits last night, has produced four runs or less in six of the past seven games. The O's bullpen ranks 14th in the American League with an ERA of 7.87. O's pitchers have...

While the rest of his teammates were inside the clubhouse today or headed to the ballpark, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis grabbed a bat and met up again with hitting coach Don Long for an early batting session on the field. Davis hit off a tee again, but without the slow-motion camera set up behind him. He's working on staying shorter to the ball, tweaking his swing while trying to change the direction of his season and career. The lineup doesn't include Davis again tonight, more unusual...