Mookie Betts led off today's game with a home run off Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead at Camden Yards. Gonzalez had surrendered just one home run in his last three starts. The Red Sox had three hits in the inning and Gonzalez threw 23 pitches, 17 for strikes. The choice of Nelson Cruz as Most Valuable Oriole naturally has sparked a debate among fans. It's good that the club had so many legitimate choices. Cruz leads the majors with 39 home runs and also has...

Miguel Gonzalez (9-8, 3.28 ERA) gets the start this afternoon as the Orioles host Boston in the final 2014 regular-season home game. Over his last four starts, Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 1.27 ERA. In 11 starts since July 5, he is 5-3 with a 2.03 ERA. Gonzalez has recorded six straight quality starts since Aug. 7, the longest run by an O's starter this season. His career-best is eight in a row from June 6-July 20, 2013. During these six starts, Gonzalez is 4-2 with a 1.55 ERA. Right-hander Joe...

Earlier today, Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked whether he's concerned about Nick Markakis and Steve Pearce being available for the Division Series. "Not at this point," he replied." "Nick came in today when I first saw him and he was going to play. 'I'd like to play if it's OK with you.' Whatever. And then I said, 'Why don't you go down to the cage and see how everything is.' After the cage ... He's getting better every day. That's why I'm not at this point. "More of...

He got off to a fast start this season and now he is enjoying a strong finish. Today it culminated in Nelson Cruz being named the Most Valuable Oriole. Cruz is batting .269 with 32 doubles, 39 homers, 105 RBIs, a .527 slugging percentage and .862 OPS. "I have to thank my Lord for the help, and, you know, my teammates," Cruz said. "Without them this wouldn't be possible. Also to you guys (the press), you've been very kind. "I think the most important thing is where we are right now....

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he expects Nick Markakis and Steve Pearce to play in the four-game series in New York that starts Monday. Pearce won't be ready before Tuesday, though he wants to play. He needs an extra day after receiving a cortisone injection yesterday in his right elbow. Markakis tried to get into the lineup today, but his right shoulder remained sore while he swung in the cage. "He's getting better every day," Showalter said. Showalter said "it's hard to...

The Nationals clinched their second division title in the past three seasons on Tuesday in Atlanta. On Wednesday, they rested most of their regulars. On Thursday, they got back to business. They haven't lost since. This club has done a really nice job of setting its goals and then going about accomplishing them as the season goes on. Early on, they just searched for consistency. Their pitching was strong from the beginning. Their defense started to come on. Now it's their offense. They had 12...

MIAMI - What do Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman, Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos have in common? They're all on the bench for this afternoon's finale of a four-game series against the Marlins. Manager Matt Williams is taking advantage of his team's early clinching of the National League East to rest a significant portion of his starting nine. The Nationals are going for their second four-game sweep of the season (they took four straight from Arizona from Aug. 18-21) and the eighth in...

The Orioles today announced that Nelson Cruz has been voted winner of the 2014 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis. He will be recognized for his accomplishments in an on-field ceremony prior to today's regular season home finale against the Boston Red Sox. Cruz enters play today leading the major leagues with 39 home runs, and he has surpassed the 100-RBI mark for the first time in his career in 2014. His 39 homers...

Nelson Cruz has been chosen Most Valuable Oriole by members of the media who cover the team. Adam Jones finished second and Zach Britton third. Cruz enters today's game leading the major leagues with 39 home runs, and he's surpassed the 100-RBI mark for the first time in his career. His 39 homers are the second-most by a first-year Oriole in club history, trailing only Frank Robinson's 49 in 1966. Cruz also became the sixth different Oriole to record a season of 35 or more home runs and...

We've reached the final regular season home game of the 2014 season. In past years, boxes would be stacked in front of lockers as players gathered their belongings and said their goodbyes. Reporters would circle the room collecting contact information - phone numbers, e-mail addresses, whatever a player is willing to give. Manager Buck Showalter calls it the saddest time of the year. It's a lot different when the team qualifies for the playoffs, as it's done in two of the last three...