Third baseman Drew Dosch of the Single-A Frederick Keys is off to a promising start this year, moving up a level pretty seamlessly in his first go around in the Carolina League. After finishing seventh in the South Atlantic League batting .314 last year, Dosch is batting .291 with six doubles, two triples, a homer, two steals, 14 runs and 18 RBIs for the Keys. He's got a .361 OBP and is slugging .442. He leads the league in RBIs. Dosch sized it up pretty well recently when I asked him what...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles posted their first shutout victory of the season tonight and returned to .500 with a 4-0 win over the Rays before 12,789 at Tropicana Field. The game took 2 hours, 33 minutes to complete and included a four-out save for Brad Brach and the rotation's fifth consecutive quality start. Miguel Gonzalez has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his five starts, and left the ballpark tonight with a 2.59 ERA. "Command of the fastball and it goes from there,"...

Chris Archer began Saturday night with a streak of four straight starts and 26 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. The Orioles had a streak of 25 consecutive innings without scoring at Tropicana Field. Both streaks ended in the third inning tonight. And Miguel Gonzalez was pretty darn good also. Gonzalez went 7 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Orioles beat Archer and the Tampa Bay Rays 4-0 to even this three-game series at a win each. Gonzalez gave up just four hits, with one walk and six...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - After threatening in the first, the Nationals put together three singles to get on the scoreboard in the second. It started with shorstop Ian Desmond breaking out of an 0-for-29 slump with his first base hit since April 24. Second baseman Danny Espinosa followed with a single. After a sacrifice bunt from starter Gio Gonzalez moved both runners up, center fielder Michael A. Taylor hit a blistering ground ball that Mets third baseman Daniel Murphy couldn't handle, allowing...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - In their latest effort to make the Baltimore media feel at home, the Rays served "Maryland style crab cakes" in the press dining room. It's the thought that counts, and another classy gesture by the Rays, who have been gracious visitors in their own ballpark. Third baseman Manny Machado is leading off tonight for only the third time in his career and the first since September 22, 2013. He lined out to right field on the first pitch from Rays starter Chris...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Infielder Anthony Rendon was again a late scratch in his minor league rehab assignment for Double-A Harrisburg tonight. He continues to experience tightness in his left side and had trouble getting loose. Rendon was due to play seven innings at second base in Harrisburg's game at Bowie. Nationals manager Matt Williams had just finished laying out the plan for Rendon during his pregame session with reporters in the third base dugout before the news came in. After playing seven...

Manager: Mike Redmond (3rd season) Record: 12-13 Last 10 games: 8-2 Who to watch: 2B Dee Gordon (.440/.463/.510 with 11 RBIs, 11 SB), RF Giancarlo Stanton (.272, 6 HR, 24 RBIs), SS Adeiny Hechavarria (.312/.337/.462 with 16 RBIs), RHP David Phelps (1-0, 3.38 ERA, no HR allowed in 18 2/3 IP). Season series vs. Nationals: 3-0 Pitching probables: May 4: RHP David Phelps vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann, 7:05 p.m., MASN May 5: RHP Mat Latos vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg, 7:05 p.m., MASN May 6: RHP Tom Koehler...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles remain hopeful that shortstop J.J. Hardy and infielder Ryan Flaherty will begin an injury rehab assignment Monday night at Double-A Bowie. The Baysox begin a four-game series against Akron, and manager Buck Showalter joked that he'd need to break the news to Hardy and Flaherty that Thursday's first pitch is slated for 11 a.m. Hardy did some early hitting and took batting practice with Flaherty in Group 4. Hardy also took ground balls and made throws from...

In their last three games, the Orioles have scored 18, eight and zero runs. That is trending the wrong way. You just can't predict ball. Just ask Pecota. Anyway, tonight the Orioles will be playing on back-to-back days for the first time in nearly a week. After Sunday's win, two games were postponed. After Wednesday's win, they had a scheduled off-day. The Orioles have played four games this year at Tropicana Field and have scored in order six, six, zero and zero runs. After a great...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - It's been all or nothing this week for the Nationals. Last night, Mets right-hander Matt Harvey put the brakes on the Nats offense, which had scored 34 runs in the previous three games. It was the second time in less than a week the Nats have been shut out. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez (1-2, 5.01 ERA) looks to get back on track after a rough homecoming in Miami last Sunday. The Marlins smacked around Gonzalez for six runs on 10 hits in five innings. Gonzalez is 5-1 with a 1.88 ERA...