The California All-Stars dropped the Carolina All-Stars 9-2 Tuesday night from LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. High Single-A Potomac Nationals right-hander Nick Pivetta took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in one inning of work. P-Nats catcher Spencer Kieboom went 0-for-2 and had two passed balls. He also grounded into a double play. California put up three runs in the fourth and sixth frames to put the game out of reach. Brett Phillips, Cody Bellinger and Brandon...

So, you're Orioles manager Buck Showalter and you need to write out tonight's lineup while also trying to forget that a garden gnome in your name is being distributed this week. Do you give Travis Snider another start or put him on the bench? Snider has six hits in his last 10 at-bats, including a double and triple. He's 10-for-24 in his last seven games, with four doubles, a triple, a home run, four RBIs and seven runs scored. It sounds like an easy decision until you check his career...

Stephen Strasburg returned to the mound to throw five scoreless innings as the Nationals beat the Braves 3-1 in the series opener. Strasburg, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list late Tuesday afternoon, was aggressive with his fastball all night, striking out six on high heaters while scattering four hits with one walk. "I wanted to go out there and just execute pitches and just pitch my game," Strasburg said. "I think that's something that talking to a lot of guys in the...

The Nationals offense waited over two hours and a half inning to finally get a shot at Braves left-hander Alex Wood. They jumped on him quickly thanks to the one-two punch of Denard Span and Anthony Rendon. In the first, Span doubled and Rendon brought him home with a RBI single for a 1-0 lead. In the third, Span had a RBI single to make it 2-0. Rendon followed with another base hit. Rendon finished 4-for-4. The Nationals went on to win the opener of the series, 3-1. Manager Matt Williams said...

During a recent conversation with Orioles right-hander reliever Darren O'Day, the topic turned to another pitcher that has a sidearm release point, not as far down under as O'Day's, but there are some similarities. We talked about then Double-A Bowie hurler and now Orioles pitcher Mychal Givens. Givens was called up by the Orioles from Bowie on Saturday after going 3-1 with a 1.60 ERA and 12 saves in 23 Bowie games. Over 39 1/3 innings with the Baysox, he walked 11, fanned 54 and gave up a...

It's so interesting to watch certain Orioles producing at the plate and in the field as speculation mounts regarding their security on the roster. Chris Parmelee, 1-for-10 in his last three games with an at-bat, tripled and doubled last night in his first two trips to the plate. David Lough hit a three-run homer - his third home run since June 13. Jimmy Paredes greeted Red Sox reliever Robbie Ross with an RBI single, and he singled again in the ninth. Travis Snider singled and walked in his...

The Orioles didn't wait until the ninth to get some big runs tonight. However, their only home run of the game came from an unlikely source. David Lough hit a three-run homer during the Orioles' four-run second inning as the Birds went on to beat Boston 6-4 at Fenway Park. The Orioles won for the sixth time in eight games and the 14th time in the last 18 games to improve to 37-33. They are four games over .500 for the first time this season. Winners of six in a row over Boston by a combined...

After a 2 hour and 12 minute rain delay, Stephen Strasburg finally took the mound for his much awaited first start after returning from the 15-day disabled list earlier today. Braves second baseman Jace Peterson greeted Strasburg with a shot to straightaway center that Denard Span was able to run down on the warning track. Strasburg then struck out center fielder Cameron Maybin on a 97 mph heater. Right fielder Nick Markakis followed with a base knock up the middle before Strasburg got A.J...

The Nationals chose to option right-handed rookie Joe Ross to Triple-A Syracuse to make room for Stephen Strasburg's return from the 15-day disabled list this afternoon. Nationals manager Matt Williams said Ross "seriously opened eyes" during his first stint in the big leagues. The 22-year-old Ross made the jump from Double-A Harrisburg for his major league debut on June 6 at Nationals Park. He allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks in five innings. In fact, Ross...

As the Orioles arrive at Fenway Park and play at a stadium where they've had success the last few years, they will be greeted by a Red Sox team that has put up some big offense lately. Boston may be in last place in the American League East at 31-40, but in winning four of six, the Red Sox have scored 40 runs. They have plated 66 runs the last 11 games. In Sunday's 13-2 win over Kansas City - Boston scored 24 runs in taking two of three in that series - the Red Sox had 13 extra-base...