The sun was shining this afternoon at Camden Yards, with a first-pitch temperature of 68 degrees. The stands were nearly full, the festive atmosphere spiked by a Mother's Day celebration. Baseball weather had arrived, with rain leaving the forecast after a prolonged and unwanted stay, and manager Buck Showalter didn't want his team's performance to dampen the mood. The Orioles fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning before showering the Athletics with home runs - a season-high six of...

When Orioles starting pitcher Chris Tillman allowed three runs in the first inning today against Oakland, the Orioles knew they would have to come from behind. No one knew they'd hit five homers in the first four innings. Then get a grand slam several innings later. Manny Machado hit a two-run homer in the first and a grand slam in the eighth. He produced a career-high six RBIs as the Orioles bashed the Oakland A's 11-3 in front of 43,690 at Camden Yards. Machado has three career grand slams,...

The Orioles maintained their macho image today while replacing orange with pink. Real men are secure in their masculinity and mashing ability. They also appreciate and support the cause. Five home runs were hit in the first four innings and Manny Machado added his third career grand slam in the eighth, Chris Tillman blanked the Athletics after surrendering three runs in the opening frame, and the Orioles took the series with a 11-3 victory before an announced crowd of 43,690 at Camden...

CHICAGO - The Cubs pitching staff has wanted no part of Bryce Harper this weekend, a strategy that worked for three days but hasn't paid off so far this afternoon. Midway through the final game of this four-game series at Wrigley Field, the Cubs have walked Harper 10 times in 15 plate appearances. He has only four official at-bats, with one hit. Chicago beat the Nationals three straight days with that avoid-Harper-at-all-costs approach, but the reigning league MVP finally made them pay for it...

CHICAGO - It's tough to conjure up a tougher challenge for the Nationals than the one they face today, needing to beat Jake Arrieta to avoid a four-game sweep at Wrigley Field. But they seem to be embracing this matchup against the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, with the reigning NL MVP leading the charge. "Love that challenge," Bryce Harper said. "Being able to go against one of the best in baseball, what better on Mother's Day? It's going to be a lot of fun to go out there and face...

Manager: Paul Molitor (2nd season) Record: 8-23 Last 10 games: 1-9 Who to watch: 1B Joe Mauer (.299/.420/.402), DH Byung Ho Park (.256/.337/.570 with 7 HR, 12 RBIs), 2B Brian Dozier (4 HR, 14 RBIs), RHP Ricky Nolasco (1-1, 4.70 ERA, 34 K), LHP Fernando Abad (0.68 ERA, 0.90 WHIP) Season series vs. Orioles: 0-3 Pitching probables: May 9: RHP Tyler Wilson vs. RHP Jose Berrios, 8:10 p.m., MASN2 May 10: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Phil Hughes, 8:10 p.m., MASN2 May 11: TBA vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco, 1:10...

There isn't much news to report from this morning's clubhouse access and media session with manager Buck Showalter. The Jimmy Paredes updates have grown tiresome because there's no advancement. He's on an injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie that runs through May 15. The Orioles don't have a logical spot for him on a 25-man roster that includes Hyun Soo Kim and Pedro Alvarez. Paredes is available if there's a team that matches up. In the meantime, he's 8-for-32 with Bowie, including...

Joey Rickard is leading off today and playing left field, and Manny Machado is at shortstop for the series finale against the Athletics. Adam Jones is batting cleanup. Ryan Flaherty is batting ninth and starting at third base. For the Orioles Joey Rickard LF Manny Machado SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Mark Trumbo RF Matt Wieters C Pedro Alvarez DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Ryan Flaherty 3B Chris Tillman RHP For the Athletics Billy Burns CF Mark Canha LF Josh Reddick RF Jed Lowrie DH Stephen Vogt C...

Chris Tillman is having a strong season for the Orioles. He'll try to pitch them to a win this afternoon against Oakland. If he can do it, the Orioles will win this series, complete a 6-4 homestand and head to Minnesota six games over the .500 mark at 18-12. A look at how good Tillman has been this season: * He is 3-1 with an ERA of 2.81 in six starts. * He is 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in four starts against the AL East. * He is 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA over his last three starts. * He is 2-0 with a 1.80...

CHICAGO - Though they've lost three straight and are in danger of getting swept out of Wrigley Field, in a strange way the Nationals are actually encouraged by the way they've played here against the Cubs. No, they haven't played perfect baseball, but they've played good baseball against a team that pretty much has been perfect through the season's first five weeks. "It's good that we're sticking right there with them," center fielder Ben Revere said after yesterday's 8-5 loss. "To...