Denard Span continued throwing the lumber around on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field with his second home run in as many games. For a moment, his eighth-inning bullet over the right field wall seemed to be the game-winner before the Cubs answered with some artillery of their own, sending the Nationals walking off disappointed with a 3-2 loss. Span, who's only 31, joked to reporters that he has "old man power". Whatever it is, the Nats' center fielder is creating more souvenirs for fans than...

Double-A Harrisburg left-handed pitcher Richard Bleier has been named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week. He had his best start of the season against New Britain. Bleier gave up only two singles in eight shutout innings to notch his third win of the season as the Senators beat the New Britain Rock Cats, 1-0. Bleier also walked only one batter and struck out a season-high seven batters. Bleier is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in nine games this season, seven of those starts. He has allowed only three...

He was drafted as a shortstop, but now he is playing to rave reviews as a pitcher in the Orioles farm system. Mychal Givens was selected by the Orioles out of Plant High School in Tampa, Fla., in the second round of the 2009 draft. He was signed to an $800,000 bonus, and the Orioles envisioned him developing into an athletic shortstop that could eventually produce some power. But when Givens' offense didn't come around as they had hoped, the Orioles moved him to the mound. He had pitched some...

A well-pitched and well-played game was marred by two late gaffes as the Nationals wasted a nice comeback in a 3-2 walk-off loss to the Cubs. Storms blowing through Chicago left behind gusty winds at Wrigley Field that figured to provide fireworks tonight. But the Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann and the Cubs' Kyle Hendricks pitched gems, allowing just a solo home run apiece as both starters pitched seven complete innings. Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler tagged Zimmermann for a leadoff homer in...

I was a bit shocked when I saw the lineup hours prior to Monday's game against Houston. Aside from the time when he was suspended, when's the last time the Orioles' starting lineup didn't include Chris Davis? Sitting Davis on the bench is something that was lauded by many fans, and understandably so. Hovering around the Mendoza line isn't exactly what one would have expected going into this year. But my question is whether or not it's time to get creative with first base. And by creative,...

The Orioles are expected to make another roster move today with infielder Ryan Flaherty eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Flaherty, who went 0-for-2 with two walks last night at Triple-A Norfolk, would be added to the 25-man roster. Flaherty has an option, but the Orioles intend to keep him in the majors. The key for Flaherty, of course, is being fully healed after two stints on the disabled list with a right groin strain. He was fine the first...

Any critique of Orioles starter Chris Tillman tonight must come with the addendum that the Orioles scored one run and have tallied seven in their last 40 innings. The offense isn't leaving any margin for error - or poorly located pitch. Tillman remained winless since April 18 after allowing two runs in the seventh inning to squander a lead in the Orioles' 4-1 loss to the Astros at Camden Yards. "Good, real good," said manager Buck Showalter when asked about Tillman's performance. "Had a...

BOWIE, Md. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and threw out a runner trying to steal tonight in his first rehab game for Double-A Bowie as the Baysox beat Erie 4-2. Wieters said the plan calls for him to work out in Baltimore tomorrow and not play here. He'll return to catch for Bowie on Thursday and Saturday, and he could then join another affiliate for a home game or two after Bowie's homestand ends Sunday. One scenario would see him play Monday at Single-A...

The first two games of this series between the Nationals and Cubs started with leadoff homers. Yesterday, it was Denard Span delivering a bomb to right. And tonight, Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler deposited a 94 mph fastball from Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann over the ivy in right. Two batters later, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo ripped a double down the right field line. Rizzo moved to third on a groundout by shortstop Starlin Castro, and then Zimmermann served up a two-out walk to...

BOWIE, Md. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, playing for Double-A Bowie tonight for the first time since the Eastern League playoffs in 2008, is 1-for-2 with a fourth-inning single. Beginning a rehab assignment that he hopes will lead him back to the Orioles when he can be activated off the disabled list on June 4, Wieters flied out to shallow center field on a 2-0 pitch in the first inning against Erie right-hander Tommy Collier. In the last of the fourth, after a one-out single by Mike...