In his first career postseason start, Orioles right-hander Bud Norris was sensational. He matched 2012 Cy Young Award winner David Price pitch for pitch and his offense finally got him the lead. Norris pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer as the Orioles beat Detroit 2-1 to complete a three-game sweep of their American League Division Series. The win sends the Orioles to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 1997. They await the winner of the...

DETROIT - Nelson Cruz broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning today with a two-run homer off Tigers left-hander David Price. The Orioles lead 2-0 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Cruz continues his assault on postseason pitching. Cruz has 16 career playoff home runs, tied with Carlos Beltran for ninth on the all-time list. He just passed Babe Ruth. Cruz is 6-for-11 with two homers and five RBIs in the series. Price was working on a two-hit shutout before Adam...

SAN FRANCISCO - The Nationals have the day off in the sense that they don't have a game to play today. They will get the afternoon and evening to acclimate themselves to the Pacific time zone and to get a bit of a breather before tomorrow's Game 3. They do have an optional workout here at AT&T Park, however, and Matt Williams was impressed with the turnout he saw from his players. "The buses are full," Williams said. Williams and tomorrow's starter, Doug Fister, met with the media this...

DETROIT - Plenty of empty seats at Comerica Park as we prepare for the first pitch in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Fans must be heading over here from Ford Field after the Lions game. Tickets were still available this morning. There were lines at the ticket window. Fans were given white towels to wave, which is a dubious choice of color, considering that their team is down 2-0 in games. I would have gone with blue. Former Tiger Delmon Young heard some boos upon being...

DETROIT - The Orioles are taking batting practice this afternoon while the Lions play the Bills across the street. Manager Buck Showalter decided to start Delmon Young in left field and use Nelson Cruz as the designated hitter. His primary reason involves not wanting to lose Cruz's bat while making a late defensive substitution. "Delmon has played left field as well as anybody," Showalter said. "He's very familiar with this ballpark, a bigger left field line than other places. You have...

DETROIT - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he expects the Twins to interview bench coach John Russell for their vacant managerial position. The Twins fired Ron Gardenhire last week, the first manager they've dismissed since Ray Miller in 1986. Russell has a close relationship with general manager Terry Ryan and will be brought in for an interview after the playoffs. As I wrote last week, Showalter values Russell's contributions as bench coach and catching instructor. However, he also...

With a win this afternoon, the Orioles will advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 1997 when they played the Cleveland Indians. The Orioles hold a 2-0 lead over the Detroit Tigers in the AL Division Series and need one win to advance. A win today at Comerica Park would give them their first postseason series sweep since a 3-0 win over the Oakland A's in the 1971 ALCS. But the Tigers have rallied in the ALDS before - in fact, just last year when they...

DETROIT - Steve Pearce is batting second today for the Orioles and Delmon Young is playing left field in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Nick Hundley is behind the plate and Ryan Flaherty remains at third base. The Orioles are seeking their first playoff sweep since the 1971 American League Championship Series against the Athletics, which used to consist of five games. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce 1B Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Delmon Young LF J.J. Hardy...

The Nationals are now in a difficult situation down 2-0 in the National League Division series to the Giants with Game 3 on Monday afternoon. The pitching matchup features right-hander Doug Fister against left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Some callers to "Nats Insider" on Sunday morning on 106.7 The Fan have repeated a consistent theme that Ryan Zimmerman should get the start in Game 3 and replace Adam LaRoche at first base. MASN's Bob Carpenter, appearing on the same show, liked the idea...

*We'll be updating this entry all day, so keep scrolling and check back often! 12:30 p.m. - Settling in at Comerica Park DETROIT - It's chilly here in Detroit, but it finally feels like October baseball. We've just arrived to the ballpark to kick things off for Game 3 at Comerica Park this afternoon. The Orioles hold a two-game lead in the Division Series. With a win today, the Orioles will move on to the American League Championship Series. Needless to say, there's a lot of excitement...