Nelson Cruz is starting in right field tonight and Nick Markakis is serving as the designated hitter, as the Orioles attempt to even their series against the Athletics. David Lough is in left field. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate and Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. Update: As expected, the Orioles have officially optioned left-hander Tim Berry to Double-A Bowie to make room for right-hander Kevin Gausman, who starts tonight. Berry was called up for the first time Friday and did...

SAN DIEGO - This will probably make you feel old. The Nationals have selected Ryan Ripken, Cal's son, with their 15th-round pick in this year's draft. The 6-foot-6 Ripken played at Indian River State College (Fla.) last year. The first baseman was taken by Washington with the 454th overall pick. He hit .321 with one homer and 24 RBIs in 42 games this season. Ripken was originally taken in the 20th round by the Orioles in the 2012 draft before accepting a scholarship to play at the...

Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez had his first rehab start for high Single-A Potomac on Friday night. Gonzalez allowed eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, but Potomac rallied with five runs in the ninth to stun Wilmington 11-10. Despite getting roughed up, Gonzalez said his arm and shoulder feel good after the start. "Good, really good," Gonzalez told reporters. "It was more fatigue. just (my) body trying to get back to where I want it to be. Arm felt great. Just need to get back to...

SAN DIEGO - As pointed out by Nationals manager Matt Williams last night, right-hander Tanner Roark has now delivered nine quality starts in his 12 outings this season. A 75 percent quality start rate? Out of your No. 5 starter? Yeah, that'll do. Roark has worked into the seventh inning seven times in those 12 starts. He's allowed one earned run or fewer six times. He's struck out 61 and walked just 18 in 77 1/3 innings. His ERA on the season is down to 2.91 after last night's eight...

SAN DIEGO - First things first - before I pass along some postgame quotes from Matt Williams after tonight's 6-0 Nationals win, here's an update on Anthony Rendon, who left the game after the fifth inning. Rendon said that Carlos Quentin's ground ball in the fourth inning, which hit him in the right hand, caused the hand to go numb initially. Rendon left the game after the fifth inning, and got an X-ray here at Petco Park, which came back negative. At least for now, the Nats can breathe a...

Kevin Gausman will make his second start for the Orioles tonight while attempting to apply the brakes to a two-game skid. Left-hander Tim Berry will be optioned unless the plan changed overnight. Gausman has never faced the Athletics or pitched against the American League West. May as well do it now. Everybody into the pool. Judging by the reaction of fans, the Orioles lost last night because: 1. Nelson Cruz tried to steal home 2. Bobby Dickerson sent Nick Markakis 3. J.J. Hardy committed...

Well, if you didn't have a dog in the fight, it was a great game to watch. Plays at the plate, an attempted steal of home, enthusiastic crowd, some clutch hits, some homers and fine defense. But it was a loss to Oakland last night for the Orioles, one that leaves them 6 1/2 games out in the American League East. It was a tough start to an important 10-game homestand that will see two first-place teams invade the Yard. Oakland improved its AL-best record to 38-23, its league-best road mark to...

One of the more critical moments in the Orioles' 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Athletics tonight occurred in the 10th, when Nelson Cruz broke for home with two outs and Chris Davis at the plate. If he's safe, the Orioles win. It wasn't really close. The game continued into the 11th and the A's pushed across the go-ahead run. "I thought I had a shot," Cruz said. "Obviously, I wanted to let Davis hit with two strikes. I thought I had a shot, so I went for it." Cruz had moved pretty...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter wanted to talk about Adam Jones' opposite-field single in the 10th inning tonight that nearly won the game, but he understood that the the focus would shift immediately in other directions. Nelson Cruz's decision to break for home with two outs and a 2-2 count on Chris Davis. He was an easy out. Third base coach Bobby Dickerson's decision to send Nick Markakis on Jones' single. Markakis was out on a close play. The decision to have Manny Machado bunt after...

The Orioles' 10-game homestand starts with a frustrating loss - one that saw two Orioles cut down at the plate in the last of the 10th followed by Oakland scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th. The A's beat the O's 4-3 in 11 innings tonight in the hotly contested game in front of 28,076 at Camden Yards. The Orioles fall to 11-13 at home and 30-29 for the season. They fall to 6 1/2 games back of first-place Toronto, who won again tonight. In the last of the 10th, the Orioles came...