In the last three games of the Orioles road trip, Adam Jones has hit three homers. Each one gave his team the lead. Jones hit a pair of two-run homers tonight and Bud Norris pitched well against Los Angeles again as the Orioles beat the Angels 4-2 at Angel Stadium. With their eighth win in 12 games and 12th in the last 17 games, the Orioles improved to 54-44 and moved to four games ahead of both New York and Toronto atop the American League East. Los Angeles had won 12 of its last 14 games. At...

DENVER - In a park where the ball absolutely flies, the Nationals held a beat-up Rockies squad to just two runs while the Washington offense just kept on clicking. The Nats pounded out 13 hits, four of the extra-base variety, and Doug Fister picked up his ninth victory in 13 starts this season as the Nationals took the opener of this three-game set 7-2. Ian Desmond went 5-for-5 with a two-run homer, Danny Espinosa had a double and a triple in a rare start and Aaron Barrett kept the Rockies from...

Adam Jones leads the Angels 4-2 tonight in Anaheim. Jones has belted a pair of two-run homers, both scoring Nick Markakis ahead of him. His second blast in the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie. Angels starter Matt Shoemaker retired 15 in a row before Markakis doubled in the sixth. Shoemaker started off Jones with a fastball, threw him a changeup and followed it with an 82 mph slider that disappeared into the night. Actually, it landed near the rocks in left field for Jones' 19th home run of the...

The Nationals looked to settle in against the Rockies' Franklin Morales, who was making his first start against the D.C. club after five previous relief appearances. And the third inning was the time. Especially against a reliever-turned-starter, who you would expect would run out of ways to get you out. But Morales was up to the task. With one out in the third, Denard Span walked and Anthony Rendon hit into a fielder's choice. Jayson Werth then singled to right to put two men with two outs....

Bud Norris has outstanding career numbers against the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels have some outstanding offensive numbers of their own this season. To steal a line from my own network, who will own it? Norris (7-6, 3.96 ERA) hasn't made a big league start since July 9 when he gave up five runs over four innings against the Nationals. He was optioned to Double-A Bowie so he could start during the All-Star break. On Monday he went 4 1/3 innings allowing four hits and three runs and threw 99...

In his last six games, Bryce Harper has raised his average from .246 to .263 and hit a pair of home runs. Ever since taking a more upright approach at the plate, he's been raking. So why is Harper on the bench tonight as the Nationals open a three-game series at Coors Field against the Rockies? Manager Matt Williams told reporters in Denver that the reason is two-fold: He wants to give Harper the occasional day off, especially since he seems to be struggling lately against left-handed...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Bud Norris from Double-A Bowie and optioned catcher Steve Clevenger to Triple-A Norfolk. Norris, 29, is 7-6 with a 3.96 ERA (91.0IP, 40ER) in 15 starts for the Orioles this season. Clevenger, 28, appeared in two games for the Orioles after being recalled on July 12. He has batted .328/.378/.458 in 36 games with Norfolk and .240/.296/.373...

The Orioles lead the all-time series against the Angels, 345-290, going 184-129 in Baltimore and 161-161 in Anaheim. Does anyone remember when Nolan Ryan no-hit the Orioles, back when he pitched for the California Angels? I'm old enough to recall it vividly. It happened on June 1, 1975. Ryan walked four and struck out nine while tossing the fourth no-no of his career. Wayne Garland replaced starter Ross Grimsley and allowed one hit over 4 2/3 innings in a 1-0 loss. Check out the boxscore...

The Orioles recalled right-hander Bud Norris from Double-A Bowie to start tonight's game. To make room for Norris on the roster, the Orioles optioned catcher Steve Clevenger to Triple-A Norfolk. Clevenger appeared in two games for the Orioles after being recalled on July 12. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RFF Steve Pearce LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Nick Hundley C Jonathan Schoop 2B Bud Norris RHP For the Angels Kole Calhoun RF Mike Trout CF...

DENVER - Just as Bryce Harper is starting to heat up, he'll take a seat in the opener of the Nationals' three-game set at Coors Field. Matt Williams has opted to sit Harper against Rockies left-hander Franklin Morales. Ryan Zimmerman will play left field tonight, his first start in left since Harper returned from the disabled list. Danny Espinosa will play second, with Anthony Rendon sliding across the diamond to play third. The Rockies, meanwhile, will be without shortstop Troy Tulowitzki...