It started out pretty well. Cedric Mullins turned around a 96 mph fastball and hit it out 405 feet. A few innings later, DJ Stewart got his first big league hit, and two errors later it turned into a Little League homer. Dylan Bundy was looking at times like Dealin' Dylan again. But this being the 2018 Orioles, a pothole is around every corner. Some are more the size of craters. They all seem to lead to disappointment and heartache. The Orioles defense would come up short yet again. This time...

MIAMI - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg was masterful at times, but also had to dig down deep to get key outs in the Nationals 4-2 win over Miami at Marlins Park. Strasburg (9-7) went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and a season-high matching 11 strikeouts. He struck out at least one batter in every inning, striking out nine in his first four innings. "I'm just trying to execute pitches," Strasburg said. "When I get to two strikes, you want to try to put them away....

The modest gathering of fans during the current homestand generate the most noise when Adam Jones is introduced and steps to the plate. He hears it and provides an amusing explanation. "I think they're cheering louder because they don't know anybody else," he said with a laugh while sitting at his locker before last night's 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays, the club-record 108th of the season. "They don't really know who's in the lineup. They're like, 'Oh. Huh? Who?' But to be honest with...

Cedric Mullins clubbed his first home run in Baltimore tonight and DJ Stewart picked up his first major league hit and later stole his first base. Two of the potential rebuilding blocks contributing to a lead that carried into the seventh inning. It was squandered in stunning fashion, with the Jays scoring four unearned runs for a 6-4 win before an announced crowd of 9,096 that handed the Orioles a club-record 108th loss. The milestone was achieved in appropriate fashion. Defense has been...

Proceeds to benefit the National Federation of the Blind Tonight, the Orioles hosted National Federation of the Blind Night at Oriole Park, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the organization moving its headquarters to Baltimore. Orioles players and coaches wore specially-designed jerseys with Braille lettering, becoming the first American professional sports team to wear Braille-lettered jerseys. The game-worn, authenticated, and autographed jerseys are available at...

MIAMI - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg started off well with a 1-2-3 first inning where he had to throw only seven pitches. In the second he allowed a leadoff homer by Peter O'Brien. After hitting Brian Anderson with a pitch, it looked like something bad was about to happen. But Strasburg got control of the inning with three impressive strikeouts in a row of Lewis Brinson, Austin Dean and Magneuris Sierra. He began the third by catching his counterpart right-hander Sandy Alcántara looking...

When right-hander Evan Phillips went two innings in a spot start for the Orioles last night, it was the latest outing where the Orioles starter did not get deep into the game. Right-hander Dylan Bundy (8-14, 5.48 ERA) will try to change that tonight in the second game of a series versus Toronto. Over the past eight games, O's starters have thrown a total of 25 innings. Five times in that stretch, their starter went two innings or less. That includes when Alex Cobb, Andrew Cashner and Luis...

Given the chance to remain in his current role, Orioles manager Buck Showalter would make defense one of his points of emphasis in spring training. Defending at a level that they need get back to or the losses will continue to mount. "There are some things offensively," he added, "without delving into it too deeply." Establishing leadership within the clubhouse also could aid the process, but who's a logical candidate with Adam Jones expected to leave as a free agent? The large roster...

MIAMI - The Nationals announced they have signed a player development contract with Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo said the club had preferred to go to Nashville, Tenn., after the New York Mets purchased the Syracuse Chiefs. But the Nashville Sounds agreed to a four-year deal with the Texas Rangers. That left the Nats with Fresno. The Houston Astros had left Fresno to...

Hunter Harvey had another setback today in the fall instructional league. He felt some discomfort in his right elbow while throwing on flat ground and has been shut down again. Harvey underwent an MRI on Aug. 22 that didn't reveal any structural damage in the elbow and he was allowed to resume throwing a week later. He initially had been cleared on Aug. 6 to get back on his program after experiencing some stiffness in his right forearm that removed him from the mound, but the Orioles shut him...