A walk, an error and a blast. That did in the Orioles tonight in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs and no one on in a 4-4 tie, Brian Matusz came on in relief of Tommy Hunter and walked Pablo Sandoval. Darren O'Day replaced Matusz and an error by third baseman Manny Machado followed. That brought up Brock Holt. Hitting .414 at gametime, Holt hit a three-run homer to right on a 1-2 pitch and Boston went on to a 7-5 win in the opener of this three-game series in front of 37,359 at...

MIAMI - The Nationals manufactured a run to get on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning. Shortstop Ian Desmond smacked a double to lead off the inning and left fielder Jayson Werth immediately advanced him to third on a fly ball to right. Desmond trotted home easily when right fielder Bryce Harper sent a rocket to center that Marcell Ozuna was able to run down. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman then doubled on a blistering liner to left-center as the Nats began measuring Marlins starter Mat...

Delmon Young's fly ball to right-center field tonight to end the bottom of the second inning was cause for celebration after Red Sox starter Rick Porcello struck out the first five batters. The streak had to end. Porcello struck out Alejandro De Aza and Manny Machado looking and got Jimmy Paredes, Adam Jones and Chris Davis swinging. Jones thought a 3-1 pitch was down and away and he took a step toward first base before plate umpire Dana DeMuth called it a strike. Jones had a few words for...

MIAMI - Just as the Nationals' medical report was beginning to clear up, more nagging injuries to a couple of the team's starters have popped up. Nationals ace Max Scherzer jammed his right thumb in his second at-bat in the fifth inning of yesterday's loss to the Cardinals. He remained in the game to pitch the next two innings before leaving with discomfort. Swelling developed in Scherzer's throwing hand overnight according to manager Matt Williams. "We're treating him aggressively,...

The Rangers designated pitcher Logan Verrett for assignment today after claiming the Rule 5 pick off waivers from the Orioles during the final days of spring training. Verrett would have to be offered back to the Mets, his original team, if he cleared waivers. Before the Blue Jays series, the Orioles hadn't been swept on the road since Aug. 22-24, 2014 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. No division opponent had swept them on the road since a four-game series against the Rays on Sept. 20-23,...

Back at home, will the Orioles begin to pitch better? Ranking last in the majors in team ERA at 5.15 and rotation ERA at 5.82, the Orioles need to turn that around as they begin a three-game series and nine-game homestand against Boston tonight. These clubs split four games last weekend at Fenway Park. In the series the Orioles scored 15 runs and Boston scored 14. While the O's have pitched poorly against Toronto - with a team ERA of 8.29 in six games - they pitched to an ERA of 2.51 in that...

When asked this afternoon about the Orioles' four-game losing streak and recent inconsistent play, center fielder Adam Jones had a short and to-the-point answer. "Still April. Doesn't concern us. Long way to go," he said. The Orioles are just two games out of first place, but they've fallen into last at 7-9 and have been outscored 31-15 during the losing skid. Now they have to overcome a mounting injury list. Already playing without three regulars in catcher Matt Wieters, shortstop J.J....

The Orioles are confident that infielder Ryan Flaherty will be ready to come off the disabled list when he's eligible. Flaherty was projected to miss five to seven games and the Orioles needed to make a move rather than play a man down. He probably will begin his rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Bowie. The Orioles could have waited on Flaherty if he played the outfield. They have enough of those to cover for an injury. However, they were short on infielders. David Lough is fine after...

MIAMI - The last time tonight's starter Jordan Zimmermann faced the Marlins when it counted, he tossed a hair-raising no-hitter in the 2014 regular season finale. That's all but irrelevant as he takes the mound tonight, looking to get back on track after a surprising 1-2 start with a 6.14 ERA. Marlins superstar Giancarlo Stanton wasn't in the lineup for Zimmermann's no-hitter. But when he last faced the right-hander in a Grapefruit League game on April 1, he tattooed Zimmerman for a...

Rey Navarro is making his major league debut tonight, starting at second base for the Orioles in their series opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Alejandro De Aza is leading off and playing left field, and Delmon Young is in right field. Steve Pearce is on the bench again tonight. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza LF Manny Machado 3B Jimmy Paredes DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young RF Rey Navarro 2B Caleb Joseph C Everth Cabrera SS Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Red Sox Mookie...