BOSTON - Ryan Flaherty is taking on the Green Monster again. No slingshot. Just a glove and a clue how to play it. Flaherty has made only eight career starts in left field, but tonight marks his third at Fenway Park. He made six starts in 2012 and one last year, on Sept. 26 in Boston. Manager Buck Showalter inserted Flaherty into left field yesterday in the ninth inning after the Maine native pinch-hit for Nolan Reimold. Showalter didn't give Flaherty advance notice on tonight's start. "No,...

Now owners of the first 6-0 start in Orioles' team history, the Birds look for the first-ever 7-0 beginning to a season when they play the Red Sox at Fenway Park tonight. It's the second game of a three-game series and seven-game road trip. According to the Elias Sports Bureau and ESPN Stats & Info, the Orioles are the first team from the American League East to start a season 6-0 since the 1992 New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. After his first start was pushed back and his second...

It's one thing to say you're going to be aggressive on the bases. Every team says that every spring. It's another thing to actually back that up once the season begins, which the Nationals most definitely have done so far. Entering tonight's game against the Braves, the Nationals have successfully stolen six bases, most in the National League and second-most in the majors (behind only the Astros' nine). They've also successfully taken a bunch of extra bases in other fashions, whether...

BOSTON - The Orioles have extended Brian Matusz's rehab assignment, with the left-hander scheduled to pitch multiple innings Friday night at Single-A Frederick. Matusz will follow Kevin Gausman to the mound. The Orioles would like to get five innings out of Gausman and perhaps three out of Matusz. The assignment was extended after Matusz allowed six runs and seven hits last night in the first inning at Double-A Bowie. He threw 30 pitches before Chris Lee replaced him in the second...

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez finally makes his first start of the season tonight for the Nationals against the Braves. It is his first start since March 27. Getting ready for a start usually takes just five days. So when you have to wait this long, manager Dusty Baker said the mental side of pitching plays a crucial role in allowing the pitcher to focus on what he needs to do. "He's had some pretty good bullpen sessions," Baker said. "I urged him to pitch with his mind. And Gio pays attention...

BOSTON - Center fielder Adam Jones is out of the Orioles' lineup again tonight, with Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard replacing him and batting first. Jones hasn't been in the lineup since Wednesday while he continues to receive treatment for soreness in his rib area. He played center field yesterday in the bottom of the ninth inning. Mark Trumbo is in right field and Ryan Flaherty is in left. According to Elias, Chris Davis' five RBIs yesterday were the most by an opposing player against the Red...

The Nationals have a chance tonight to do something they've never done in their previous 11 years in the District, nor something any Washington ballclub has done in 65 years: start a season 5-1. With a win tonight over the Braves, the Nats would match the 1913 and 1953 Senators for the best six-game start to D.C. baseball history. No small achievement. In order to do it, they'll need to get a solid outing from Gio Gonzalez, who 16 days after he last pitched in Florida is finally making his...

BOSTON - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette denied a report this morning that the crosstown-rival Nationals are pursuing him for the job of team president. "I don't know anything about this," he wrote in a text message, "nor has anyone contacted me." The St. Paul Pioneer Press, citing a source, reported the Nationals' interest in Duquette, who's in Boston for the Orioles' three-game series against the Red Sox. An industry source told me earlier today that the Nationals...

Let's take a look around the Orioles' minor league affiliates, as Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, high Single-A Frederick and low Single-A Delmarva have combined for an 8-11 start. NORFOLK After an 0-3 start, Norfolk has won back-to-back games, scoring 16 runs. Norfolk scored three runs in the seventh last night and two in the eighth to rally past Charlotte 7-6 after trailing 6-2. Former Oriole Miguel Gonzalez started against his former organization last night. Against the Tides, Gonzalez...

Third baseman Drew Ward gained valuable experience by playing in the Arizona Fall League at the end of last season. This experience has helped propel him to a strong start for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. "It was a great experience," said Ward. "I was on the taxi guy, so I played once or twice a week, but I learned so much just getting around older guys and trying to learn how to become a professional baseball player." Ward, 21, said working with other teams was helpful, but it also...