NEW YORK - Another day has arrived when the Orioles must make a difficult roster decision. Do they designate a player for assignment, option a player or pull off a trade? The optioning part doesn't seem likely with so few players offering that type of flexibility. Ryan Flaherty can be sent down, but he's a backup at all four infield positions. The Orioles would rather not slide Manny Machado to shortstop if J.J. Hardy is hurt or needs a rest. Executive vice president Dan Duquette is working...

Right-hander Joe Ross did his best to keep the Nationals in the game Tuesday. And for six-plus innings he did just that. But the seventh inning did not turn out the way the Nationals and Ross would have hoped. The Mets scored two runs in the seventh on a pinch-hit two-run single from Eric Campbell off Aaron Barrett. A single and a costly error by Clint Robinson set up the inning. Ross was lifted right before Campbell stepped in. "(We) are going to get to (Barrett) there with guys on second and...

NEW YORK - The Orioles lost the first game of their series against the Yankees tonight despite their opponent going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10. They lost despite a quality start by definition from left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. They lost after the Yankees pushed across the tiebreaking run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a single by No. 8 hitter Didi Gregorius and a double by No. 9 hitter Brendan Ryan on a ground ball down the left field line. Being...

On a night when they struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, a key double by their No. 9 hitter before a runner had even advanced that far was big tonight for the New York Yankees. Brendan Ryan's two-bagger scored the tiebreaking run from first base in the last of the sixth and the Yankees bullpen made it stand up in a 3-2 win over the Orioles. In losing for the 12th time in 17 games, the Orioles fall to 46-46 and drop five games behind the first-place Yankees. The Orioles have lost...

Joe Ross retired the first nine hitters he faced before running into some trouble in the fourth. Curtis Granderson led off the inning with a single to center and then stole second. A groundout from Ruben Tejada moved Granderson to third. Ross followed by striking out Daniel Murphy. But after hitting Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores delivered an RBI base knock up the middle scoring Granderson. Ross has allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts and no walks through four innings. Ian Desmond's...

Anthony Rendon's minor league rehab assignment continued in Single-A Potomac's 7-0 win at Frederick today. Appearing as the designated hitter, Rendon went 1-for-3 with a single, two walks and a run scored. Rendon played the previous two games at third base for Potomac. Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated he would like to see Rendon play a full nine innings in the field before activating him. "He's scheduled to go again tomorrow," Williams said. "That's at least five (innings),...

NEW YORK - Players in the Orioles clubhouse aren't downplaying the importance of the three-game series against the Yankees that begins tonight. It may not make or break their season, but they're familiar with the division standings and they know which team they're chasing. Getting swept would be a kick in the pennant. "Yeah, I think we look at the whole road trip as being a pretty important road trip," said closer Zach Britton. "These guys are in first by, what, three or four games? So,...

Tonight, an Orioles team that has been struggling to score runs lately plays against a team that they have hit well this year. While the Orioles have scored three runs or less in 10 of their past 13 games, they have scored 54 runs with a team average of .299 this year in going 5-5 against the New York Yankees. The clubs begin a big three-game series tonight in The Bronx. Some O's hitters against the Yankees this year: * Caleb Joseph is batting .536 (15-for-28) with three doubles, a triple, two...

NEW YORK - Kevin Gausman is in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium today after the Orioles placed him on the 24-hour taxi squad. They will officially recall him from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday to start the second game of the series. Gausman started twice for Norfolk in order to stay on a regular routine. "I kind of felt like I was still in my spring training mode, getting stretched back out," he said. "Now I think I have six starts under my belt and just getting into that routine is...

Stephen Strasburg threw off a mound earlier this afternoon for the first time since landing on the 15-disabled list with a left oblique strain on July 5. Manager Matt Williams indicated Strasburg fired around 30 pitches during the bullpen session at Nationals Park. "(Strasburg) threw a couple of breaking balls, fastballs and changeups, and had no issues," Williams said. "So, that's a good sign. We'll see how he feels tomorrow. I would imagine some general body soreness tomorrow after being...