The Orioles are thriving at home these days, going 19-6 since June 30 and outscoring opponents 124-72. They're now 21 games above .500, tying their season high, and continue to lead the Yankees by seven games in the American League East. In addition, the Orioles have won 11 of their last 13 series openers. They ran away with this one tonight. The joy was tempered by Steve Pearce's abdominal injury, which manager Buck Showalter discussed following a 9-1 victory over the Twins at Camden...

Anthony Rendon got the Nationals off to a quick start against one of baseball's best. Rendon homered of Mariners ace Felix Hernandez with one out in the first to give the Nats an immediate 1-0 lead. Hernandez entered the night third in the majors with a 2.07 ERA. He hasn't allowed more than four runs in any of his first 27 starts, only once permitting more than three. But Hernandez hasn't been in top form over his last two outings, allowing five runs in 10 2/3 innings. Rendon's 18th...

The Orioles have scheduled an MRI for first baseman Steve Pearce, who left tonight's game after three innings with a strained right abdominal muscle. Pearce will undergo the MRI at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. "He's been swinging the bat well," said manager Buck Showalter. "Hopefully, we'll get some good news tomorrow and it will be short-term." Pearce apparently has been bothered by some discomfort for a couple of days. He was fine last night, but it returned tonight after his first...

For the Orioles, no double steal was needed tonight. The longball returned to the offense. Twins' starter Trevor May opened the door and the O's kicked it in with a couple of big swings in a 9-1 romp over Minnesota in the opener of a four-game series. The Orioles are 77-56 and tie their season high in moving 21 games over the .500 mark. Making his fourth major league start, the 24-year-old May sailed through the first three innings on just 43 pitches. But his control eluded him in the...

Before Friday night's series opener in Seattle, Nationals manager Matt Williams had a positive update on injured third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman, who hasn't played since July 22 because of a severe hamstring strain, underwent another MRI on Monday and the medical staff liked what it saw. "The doctors looked at it and it's healing up really nicely, so he can start increasing his strength stuff," Williams said. "So he's jogging now and he's continuing to throw a little bit here...

Infielder Jimmy Paredes is making his Orioles debut tonight, but not as manager Buck Showalter planned it. Paredes has replaced Steve Pearce, who left the game with a strained right abdominal muscle. Paredes was on deck to bat for Pearce as Nick Markakis struck out to end the bottom of the third. He went to third base, with Chris Davis shifting across the diamond. Can only speculate what happened to Pearce, whose 11-game hitting streak came to an end. Pearce backed against the railing in...

Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez hasn't fallen into the trap of laboring in the early innings tonight, keeping the Twins scoreless through the second. Gonzalez threw 12 pitches in the top of the first and stranded Brian Dozier, who singled with one out. He struck out Joe Mauer. The right-hander retired the Twins in order in the second, striking out Oswaldo Arcia. Nelson Cruz struck out leading off the bottom of the second. Cruz entered the night batting .256 and leading the majors with 34...

It is important for the left side of the Nationals bullpen to regain some consistency as the September stretch run soon commences. Left-hander Jerry Blevins has hit a couple of rough spots. In his last 10 appearances, Blevins is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA. He has allowed eight earned runs in the past 10 2/3 innings. Blevins has a 2.31 ERA versus left-handed batters and an 8.31 ERA against right-handed hitters. Left-hander Ross Detwiler is 1-0 with a 5.84 ERA in his last 10 games. He also has allowed...

After taking three of four from Tampa Bay, this long Orioles' homestand continues here tonight as the Orioles begin a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins. The Orioles lost two of three May 2-4 at Target Field and were outscored 11-6. Twins pitchers posted an ERA of 2.00 in that series. Minnesota is approaching a milestone home run in the history of its franchise. The Twins (since 1961)/Senators (since 1901) franchise has hit 9,999 home runs, needing one to reach 10,000 and become...

Miguel Gonzalez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts heading into tonight's game against the Twins. However, he's picked up only two wins in his last nine outings. Gonzalez has worked into the seventh inning in 13 of his 20 starts. Manager Buck Showalter will take that kind of length tonight, knowing he's got a red-hot bullpen to close out the game. This next part should come with a jinx alert. Avert your eyes if you're a believer. The Orioles' relievers...