BOSTON - Alejandro De Aza hit his first home run as an Oriole tonight, depositing a 91 mph fastball from rookie Anthony Ranaudo into the Red Sox's bullpen after Nick Markakis drew a leadoff walk. Orioles 2, Red Sox 0. De Aza has six home runs on the season, the first five with the White Sox before the Aug. 30 trade. Nelson Cruz doubled with two outs and is now 13-for-28 (.464) in his last eight games. Ranaudo threw 30 pitches before getting out of the inning. He walked Steve Pearce with...

When the Orioles made pitcher Gregg Olson their first-round draft pick out of Auburn in 1988, he had mixed feelings. He was happy to be selected, but was hoping to land with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team that picked one slot after the Orioles. These days, Baltimore means something different. "When I think of Baltimore, I think of family," Olson says. "You felt like you knew everybody's family and friends. I never found that again (in my baseball career). It worked perfectly. I love...

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took another step in his rehabilitation from a right hamstring strain by taking live batting practice on the field prior to Tuesday's game with the Atlanta Braves. Zimmerman was happy to get back on the field, but he said that running at full speed will be more critical to him getting back into games. And he is still a ways away from from that milestone. "Running is the biggest thing," Zimmerman said. "I don't want to downplay hitting and throwing...

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced his rotation through Monday's game at Camden Yards. Kevin Gausman will start Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Yankees, followed by Bud Norris in Game 2. Miguel Gonzalez will start Saturday afternoon and Chris Tillman will pitch Sunday night on ESPN. Wei-Yin Chen, who closes out the Red Sox series at Fenway Park, will start Monday night against the Blue Jays. Norris is 2-4 with a 5.75 ERA in seven day starts this season and 10-4...

Heading into tonight's game at Fenway Park, Orioles starting pitchers have worked to an ERA of 1.75 over their last seven games with six quality starts. Chris Tillman (11-5, 3.40 ERA) will try to keep that going tonight when he faces Boston right-hander Anthony Ranaudo (3-1, 4.63 ERA). Tillman's streak of starts allowing three earned runs or fewer has reached 17 games. He is 6-3 with a 2.26 ERA since June 10 during the streak. If he allows three or fewer tonight, he will tie Steve Barber...

The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract extension (which begins in 2015) with the Potomac Nationals of the Single-A Carolina League through the 2016 season. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba made the joint...

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter passed along a favorable update today on shortstop J.J. Hardy. Hardy underwent an MRI on his back that didn't reveal any structural damage. Team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs told Showalter that the result matched the one in April. Nothing has changed to raise concerns in the organization. Hardy received a cortisone injection in the sacroiliac joint that's located in the lower back. Showalter will meet with Hardy during Thursday's off-day in...

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will try to win his fifth consecutive decision when the Nationals attempt to take an important September series from the Atlanta Braves tonight at Nationals Park. Zimmermann is 4-0 in nine starts since his last loss, a 6-2 defeat in Philadelphia on July 11. He's 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA in nine second-half starts. He will be opposed by right-hander Ervin Santana. For the Braves CF Emilio Bonifacio2B Phiil Gosselin 1B Freddie Freeman LF Justin UptonRF Jason Heyward 3B...

BOSTON - Ryan Flaherty continues to start at shortstop in place of the injured J.J. Hardy as the Orioles continue their series at Fenway Park against the Red Sox. Right-hander Chris Tillman opposes Boston righty Anthony Ranaudo. For the OriolesNick Markakis RF Alejandro De Aza LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 3B Steve Pearce 1B Nick Hundley C Ryan Flaherty SS Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP For the Red Sox Mookie Betts CF Daniel Nava RF David Ortiz DH Yoenis Cespedes LF Mike...

BOSTON - Rather than early hitting today, the Orioles are focused on fielding drills involving their new double play combination. Third base coach Bobby Dickerson, who works with the infielders, has been hitting ground balls to shortstop Ryan Flaherty and second baseman Jonathan Schoop. One player fields the ball and the other covers the bag. Flaherty was getting a lot of work to his backhand side. He's also charging balls and throwing on the run. J.J. Hardy, scheduled to have an MRI today on...