BOSTON - I sensed more panic coming from Orioles fans on Saturday after the club's Game 1 loss to the Red Sox. The sky was falling, and manager Buck Showalter was getting buried for his bullpen decision. The Orioles ended up winning Game 2, and they took the series with yesterday's 12-inning victory. They're in first place by two games over the Blue Jays in the American League East. They're eight games above .500 for the first time since the conclusion of the 2013 season. The sky isn't...

BOSTON - Nelson Cruz is happy to be an All-Star for the third time in his career, but he's truly honored to be voted in as a starter. That's a first for him. "Yeah, no doubt," he said today after collecting three more hits and his 71st RBI in the Orioles' 7-6, 12-inning win over the Red Sox. "Anytime you get selected by the fans, it's more special. That means they want to see you there. Thanks to the fans for the chance and the opportunity to be there." Cruz's 27 home runs are tied...

Washington Nationals right-handed starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann today was named a National League All-Star by Cardinals field manager Mike Matheny and Major League Baseball. The 85th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. on Tuesday, July 15. The All-Star invitation is the second of Zimmermann's career. He represented the Nationals at the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field, but did not pitch in the American League's 3-0 victory. After...

BOSTON - The Orioles moved eight games above .500 today for the first time since the conclusion of the 2013 season. They're two games ahead of the Blue Jays in the American League East standings. It wasn't done easily. Not against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, where today's game went 12 innings, lasted 5:05 and may have forced the Orioles into another roster move following their 7-6 win. Manager Buck Showalter said there are three or four options being discussed to add a fresh arm, including...

The Orioles lost a big lead today, but in the end they didn't lose the game. After blowing a 6-1 lead in the seventh and watching Boston tie it up 6-6, the Orioles pushed across a run in the top of the 12th to end this marathon game and beat the Red Sox 7-6 in 12 innings. David Lough, batting just .191, led off the 12th with a triple to center and scored on J.J. Hardy's single. It was Hardy's third RBI of the day. The Orioles improved to 48-40 and moved a season-high eight games over...

BOSTON - Interest in free agent outfielder Nelson Cruz over the winter was tepid at best. Catcher Matt Wieters hasn't played since May 10 due to an elbow injury that led to season-ending ligament-reconstructive surgery. In one of those crazy twists of baseball fate, Cruz and Wieters were voted into the 2014 All-Star Game for the first time in their careers, the announcement coming tonight from Major League Baseball. They join center fielder Adam Jones, who started last year for the American...

Jordan Zimmermann is heading back to the All-Star Game. And this time, the Nationals right-hander will actually have a chance to compete in the Midsummer Classic. Zimmermann has been selected to his second straight All-Star Game, this after going 6-4 with a 2.79 ERA in 18 starts, including today's six scoreless frames against the Cubs. "It means a lot," Zimmermann said. "It's a huge honor and I'm excited. I wouldn't be going if it wasn't for those guys that play defense behind me every...

Major League Baseball on Sunday night announced that Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon is among the final five players eligible for inclusion in the All-Star Game in Minneapolis on July 15 via the Final Vote. Fans can vote for Rendon here. He's competing against Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee, Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau and Braves outfielder Justin Upton. Balloting for Final Vote continues until 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 10. Rendon is...

In a nail-biting pitchers' duel, it can come down to one pitch - and it usually is from a bullpen arm late in the game. Sunday was no exception, as Cubs starter Jake Arrieta and Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann combined to throw 12 innings and allow one run. With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals got a man in scoring position for Ryan Zimmerman, who was able to square up a pitch from Cubs reliever Pedro Strop and deliver the go-ahead run in a 2-1 series-clinching...

We thought we might get a pitchers' duel today. That's exactly what we got. Jordan Zimmermann and Jake Arrieta each went six innings and combined to allow just one run, a run that was scored three batters into the Nationals' half of the first inning. It then became a bullpen game, and while the Cubs tied things up in the seventh, the Nationals struck right back in the eighth. Ryan Zimmerman's two-out single through the left side scored Denard Span with the go-ahead run, and Rafael Soriano...