Good morning from Camden Yards, where the grounds crew is watering the infield following a 5-4 victory over the Reds. It hasn't rained in a while. The Orioles were delayed but not denied, posting their 80th win and improving to 38-18 since June 30. Zach Britton recorded his 32nd save, with Jonathan Schoop turning a 4-3 double play on Todd Frazier's grounder after the Reds put runners on the corners with one out. Down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier. Bud Norris withstood two delays to blank...

The Orioles offense got off to a fast start tonight. They just had to wait a while to do it. The Orioles scored four runs in the first inning on their way to a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game, interleague series. The Orioles are now 7-2 on this homestand and 80-57 for the season. Their American League East lead is 9 1/2 games over the Yankees, who lost tonight. Their magic number to clinch the division crown is 17. What appeared to be a comfortable win turned...

Bud Norris waited through a 1 hour, 46 minute rain delay tonight and went about his business. No excuses. Take the ball and get outs. Reds starter Matt Latos is out of the game after five innings and 79 pitches. The five runs allowed ties his season high. The 10 hits ties his career high. Norris shut out the Reds on four hits over six innings, with one walk, seven strikeouts and a wild pitch. His 93rd pitch resulted in a strikeout of Chris Heisey that stranded a runner. Norris has his first...

The much-anticipated match-up between Nationals right-hander Doug Fister and Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw got off to a predictable start. The pair have combined for 28 wins and are known to put up a ton of zeroes. Kershaw allowed a two-out walk in the first to Jayson Werth, but then was able to get clean-up hitter Ian Desmond on a looping 75 mph curveball that was called strike three. Fister also surrendered a two-out free pass to Adrian Gonzalez, but then got Matt Kemp to fly out to...

Adam LaRoche's back has landed him on the bench for the second time in seven games. After his bout with his back last week against the Phillies, LaRoche didn't miss a game, pinch-hitting in the one contest he didn't start, and then returning to the lineup the next five in a row before being removed from Monday's game in the seventh because of tightness. LaRoche is out again tonight against the Dodgers, as the Nationals take a cautious approach with the veteran first baseman. "His...

Poor Bud Norris. Norris pitched two innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Aug. 23 before a 3 hour, 9 minute rain delay ended his afternoon. His next start went uninterrupted, but he's back in the clubhouse tonight after allowing an infield single to Reds leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton. A heavy rain began to fall with a 2-2 count on Todd Frazier. Time was called at 7:36 p.m. The game started 23 minutes late due to rain. Norris threw 10 pitches before the next storm arrived. The...

LOS ANGELES - Adam LaRoche and Denard Span both get the day off with the Nationals facing Cy Young Award favorite Clayton Kershaw tonight at Dodger Stadium. LaRoche's back has been bothering him and he's considered day-to-day after leaving Monday's game with tightness. Span isn't in the lineup for the first time since Aug. 13. The Nats center fielder had played every inning of each of the 18 games since, but he is 0-for-5 in his career against Kershaw. With those two not starting, Bryce...

When the Cincinnati Reds played at Camden Yards in 2011, it was their first visit to Baltimore since the 1970 World Series. Tonight they make their second trip since then. The Orioles went 2-1 in that series three years ago and the clubs have split six all-time regular season meetings. Brooks Robinson was the MVP of the 1970 Series that the Orioles took four games to one. He played pretty well then, you can look it up. He is also among the all-time nicest humans ever. Pretty sure that has...

Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce said he'll attempt to swing a bat in the next few days while recovering from a strained right abdominal muscle. He's been playing catch as the only approved baseball activity. Pearce is aiming for a return this weekend against the Rays at Tropicana Field. "I think we're just being extra-cautious right now," Pearce said. "Just want to make sure there's nothing going on. They want me symptom-free so we can make a run down the stretch. "Even though...

The Orioles' expanding roster added four players today. Pitcher Ryan Webb was recalled from Triple-A and outfielder Quintin Berry had his contract purchased from Triple-A. Steve Clevenger and T.J. McFarland were activated after a very short stay with short-season, Single-A Aberdeen. To make room for Berry on the 40-man roster, Manny Machado was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Webb went 3-2 with a 3.80 ERA earlier in 42 Orioles games before being sent to the minors in early August....