The Orioles now lead the American League East by seven games following tonight's 5-4 win over the Rays at Camden Yards. Do you credit Bud Norris for gutting out six innings after a 34-pitch, two-run first? Or the bullpen, which didn't allow a run in the four-game series? Or J.J. Hardy, who made a fine play at shortstop to end the top of the seventh and broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom half of the inning? Maybe you fancy the double-steal in the first inning. Let's start with Hardy, who...

Sometimes you need a bloop and a blast and sometimes a bloop alone will do. J.J. Hardy's bloop RBI single in the seventh inning drove in the tiebreaking run as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 5-4. The Orioles win the series, three games to one, and are 76-56 for the season. They gained a game on New York after the Yankees lost this afternoon and now lead the AL East by seven games. Tied 4-4 in the seventh, Nelson Cruz doubled to left with two outs off Kirby Yates. Then Tampa Bay elected to...

The Orioles pulled off their first steal of home in five years tonight to score the tying run in the bottom of the first inning. So, it's going to be one of those nights? Down 2-0 after the top half, the Orioles battled back on Steve Pearce's 16th home run of the season, singles by Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz, and the double steal. Cruz broke for second, slammed on the brakes and started to retreat. Jones broke for home and slid in safely as Yunel Escobar's high throw eluded catcher Jose...

The Orioles need a win tonight against Tampa Bay to extend a four-series winning streak in American League East games. The O's lead this series two wins to one. In fact, the Orioles have lost just one of their last 13 AL East series, winning 10 and tying two others. They are 11-3-2 in division series for the season. The Orioles have gone 32-20 (.615) against the East this season, posting the best in-division winning percentage in the AL and the second-best in the majors. Per STATS, the O's...

Jimmy Paredes was an Oriole for two days in February. He returned to the organization in July and today made it to the major league roster. The 25-year-old switch-hitter, who can play infield and outfield, was called up today from Triple-A Norfolk to take the roster spot of Kevin Gausman, who was officially optioned to the Gulf Coast League after last night's game. Paredes has been with four different organizations since last November: * November 4, 2013: Selected off waivers by the Miami...

The Orioles continue to list Wei-Yin Chen as Sunday's starter against the Twins and Kevin Gausman as Monday's starter. Both pitchers were optioned to the Gulf Coast League team. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that they're still "in line" to start, but he added, "Let's see what today brings and what our needs are." Stay tuned. Showalter noted how Jimmy Paredes, recalled today from Triple-A Norfolk, can play third base, second and the outfield, and also serve as a...

The Orioles today announced that infielder Jimmy Paredes has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Paredes, 25, has batted .258/.286/.394 in 32 games at third base and second base for the Tides after being acquired from Kansas City on July 24. He batted .305/.332/.457 in 65 games for Triple-A Omaha in the Kansas City system earlier this year. Paredes will wear #38.

The Orioles have gone from a three-man to a five-man bench in the matter of a few days. Yesterday, they recalled catcher Steve Clevenger from Triple-A Norfolk. Today, it's infielder Jimmy Paredes. The Orioles selected Paredes off waivers from the Marlins on Feb. 15 and lost him two days later to the Royals on another waiver claim. They purchased him from the Royals on July 24. Paredes is batting .258/.286/.394 with seven doubles, one triple, three homers and 23 RBIs in 32 games with the Tides....

Major League Baseball and the Orioles today announced that the start time for the Sunday, September 14 game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park has been moved from 1:35 p.m. to 8:05 p.m. The change in time is due to the selection of the game for exclusive television broadcast by ESPN. Eutaw Street gates will open at 6:00 p.m., with the rest of the ballpark opening at 6:30 p.m., on September 14.

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