It is a distant memory now, but from May 21 to June 5, Chris Tillman had an ERA of 12.56 over a four-start stretch that twice included him not getting a single out in the second inning. Looking at how well Tillman is pitching now and with his current stats, it is hard to believe that actually happened. But it did. On June 5, Tillman's ERA was 5.20 and now he is 11-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 28 starts. Heading into tonight's start against Minnesota, Tillman is riding a streak of 15 straight starts...

SEATTLE - The guy on the mound had allowed more than three earned runs in a start just once all season. In that one outing, he had allowed four earned runs. The guy on the mound had a 2.07 ERA. The guy on the mound had never given up four homers in an outing. The guy on the mound is considered an overwhelming favorite for the American League Cy Young. And the guy on the mound got clobbered. Baseball is a weird game, folks. You can get stymied by an underwhelming pitcher one night, then hit the...

While wondering if I'd really get upset if someone sent me an ice cream sandwich while I was working ... I won't attempt to predict the result of Steve Pearce's MRI this morning, but as long as we don't hear "oblique" or "intercostal," it should be fine. It's been that kind of season for the Orioles. Pearce unexpectedly has emerged as one of the more valuable players on the roster and a guy who needs to stay in the lineup. I'd have to check, but I'm pretty sure the Orioles cut him...

SEATTLE - So much for that great pitchers' duel we were all expecting. The Nationals hit four of their six home runs tonight off Felix Hernandez, who entered tonight's game with a 2.07 ERA on the season and had never allowed four homers in an outing in his career, and rolled to an 8-3 win in the opener of this three-game set. Wilson Ramos homered twice, and Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond and Bryce Harper also left the yard for the Nats, who tied a team record with those six...

For the second time in five games, the Orioles posted a 9-1 win last night. They have certainly bounced back well from the Cubs series, where they were swept three straight and scored four total runs. In five games since then, they are 4-1, outscoring their opponents 28-11. Chris Davis hit a grand slam, Delmon Young hit a disputed two-run homer and Steve Pearce got hurt. With all of that happening, it was easy to overlook Miguel Gonzalez. But there he was pitching well again for the Orioles....

The Orioles' Steve Pearce will have an MRI in the morning. He left tonight's game before the top of the fourth inning with a right abdominal strain. Pearce said it was not that painful, and he felt it could be a very short-term injury. The Orioles want to try and resolve this before it gets any worse. When did Pearce first become aware of this issue? "Yesterday," he said. "Taking some swings felt some discomfort. Was hoping it was just cramps. Felt it again today, so right now it's just...

The Orioles are thriving at home these days, going 19-6 since June 30 and outscoring opponents 124-72. They're now 21 games above .500, tying their season high, and continue to lead the Yankees by seven games in the American League East. In addition, the Orioles have won 11 of their last 13 series openers. They ran away with this one tonight. The joy was tempered by Steve Pearce's abdominal injury, which manager Buck Showalter discussed following a 9-1 victory over the Twins at Camden...

Anthony Rendon got the Nationals off to a quick start against one of baseball's best. Rendon homered of Mariners ace Felix Hernandez with one out in the first to give the Nats an immediate 1-0 lead. Hernandez entered the night third in the majors with a 2.07 ERA. He hasn't allowed more than four runs in any of his first 27 starts, only once permitting more than three. But Hernandez hasn't been in top form over his last two outings, allowing five runs in 10 2/3 innings. Rendon's 18th...

The Orioles have scheduled an MRI for first baseman Steve Pearce, who left tonight's game after three innings with a strained right abdominal muscle. Pearce will undergo the MRI at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. "He's been swinging the bat well," said manager Buck Showalter. "Hopefully, we'll get some good news tomorrow and it will be short-term." Pearce apparently has been bothered by some discomfort for a couple of days. He was fine last night, but it returned tonight after his first...

For the Orioles, no double steal was needed tonight. The longball returned to the offense. Twins' starter Trevor May opened the door and the O's kicked it in with a couple of big swings in a 9-1 romp over Minnesota in the opener of a four-game series. The Orioles are 77-56 and tie their season high in moving 21 games over the .500 mark. Making his fourth major league start, the 24-year-old May sailed through the first three innings on just 43 pitches. But his control eluded him in the...