Wei-Yin Chen had a bounceback outing. Steve Pearce just continued doing what he has been doing. It added up to a 5-2 Orioles win over Texas tonight, as they completed their first four-game home sweep of the Rangers since Aug. 6-9, 2004. The Orioles improved to 46-39, moving a season-high seven games over the .500 mark. They have won nine of 13 games and are 20-12 since May 31. Pearce drove in the Orioles' first run with a third-inning single and he was in the middle of their two-run rally in...

If the weather allows this game to get started and also completed, the Orioles will try to complete their first home four-game sweep of Texas since Aug. 6-9, 2004. As game time approaches, the tarp remains on the field and a light rain is falling. Some fans are in the lower seating bowl and have broken out their umbrellas. Certainly, we will not be starting at 7:05 p.m. Update: At 7:25 p.m. the grounds crew has come out to take the tarp off the field and the club announced that tonight's game...

The tarp remains on the field as a light rain falls at Camden Yards. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown in front of the Orioles dugout. Another lineup card was posted today that didn't include outfielder David Lough. Lough checks it to make certain, knowing that he's more likely to be used as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement in the late innings. Lough has made one start since June 16 and two since June 10. He's appeared in 59 games, batting .191/.268/.287 with three doubles, a...

With fan balloting for the All-Star game ending at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time tonight, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is still very much in the hunt to get voted to start for the American League. In the most recent voting released Monday, Jones was in fifth place among AL outfielders, but was just 88,285 votes out of third. Jose Bautista of Toronto and Mike Trout of Los Angeles hold the two top spots, with Yoenis Cespedes of Oakland, Melky Cabrera of Toronto and Jones battling for that third...

The storm is approaching Camden Yards and the grounds crew has just placed the tarp on the infield. The Orioles and Rangers have one common off-day if tonight's game is rained out - Aug. 21 during a break in the Orioles' series against the White Sox and Cubs in Chicago. How convenient. The Orioles would have to play 27 consecutive days without a break, which I'm pretty sure would be an issue with the union. The forecast in Boston on Friday isn't promising. Lots of rain. If tonight's game...

It was September 2010 and the Nationals had decided to move Michael Taylor from shortstop to the outfield. The decision was made and presented to Taylor prior to instructional league workouts. Tony Tarasco, currently the Nationals' first base coach, was then the outfield coordinator for the organization. "We told (Taylor) we thought it was a better place for him to shine and take advantage of his athleticism," Tarasco recalled. "Thought he would grow a lot quicker. He didn't take it too...

No surprises in the Orioles' lineup tonight as they try to complete a four-games sweep of the Rangers at Camden Yards. Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base. Jonathan Schoop is at second base. You've seen it a few times since Manny Macahdo's suspension. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Jonathan Schoop 2B Ryan Flaherty 3B Nick Hundley C Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Rangers Shin-Soo Choo DH Elvis Andrus SS Alex Rios...

The Nationals announced this afternoon that corner infielder Greg Dobbs has accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse. Dobbs was designated for assignment last week when the Nats called up right-hander Taylor Hill to add a fresh arm following their 16-inning win over the Brewers. The 36-year-old hit .214/.233/.250 in 30 plate appearances for the Nats after being added to the team's active roster on May 16. After the Nats designated Dobbs for assignment, they had 10 days to...

When people talk about who should end up as the Nationals' All-Star selection this season, you hear the names of Adam LaRoche and Anthony Rendon tossed around a good bit. Heck, despite a batting average that sits in the .230s and a sub-.300 on-base percentage, Ian Desmond has even been mentioned as a possible pick for the National League All-Star squad because his power numbers to this point in the season - 15 homers and 51 RBIs - are up there among the best for shortstops in the...

The Nationals and international free agents go together like fire and Frankenstein, or at least that is how it has been in the past. Few Nats fans will forget Yunesky Maya, who was once touted as the third-best arm in the system behind Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. I don't think we even need to compare those careers to know that Maya was nowhere near either of them in talent. Then there is Katsuhiko Maekawa, and if that name doesn't sound familiar, don't feel bad. The 29-year-old...