Chris Tillman says he was able to throw his fastball for strikes tonight in Game 2 of the doubleheader against the Rays. "Any time you are able to throw to both sides of the plate and mix in your off-speed," he said, "it's kind of a recipe for success." The Orioles could have been fried after a Game 1 loss, but they earned a split with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap. "I was able to get some early outs in the count," he said. "They squared up a lot of balls, but we have eight great guys...

Following tonight's 4-1 victory over the Rays in Game 2, Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman was returned to his optional assignment and transferred to short-season Single-A Aberdeen. He won't be an IronBird for long. Gausman had to be sent out because he was the 26th player today and Aberdeen is home. He can return to the Orioles as early as Tuesday and might start Wednesday or Thursday against the Rangers. Game 2 starter Chris Tillman is on a roll, having allowed five runs in his last four starts...

ABERDEEN, Md. - Pitching on the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John surgery, Dylan Bundy pitched five more scoreless innings for short-season, Single-A Aberdeen tonight in what will likely be his last start in the New York-Penn League. At this point, Single-A Frederick appears to be the most likely next stop for Bundy, although nothing has been announced. Bundy's fastball again sat in the 90 to 94 mph range on the Ripken Stadium scoreboard radar gun as he allowed just two singles and a...

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper went 1-for-2 with two RBIs in Double-A Harrisburg's 4-3 win at Akron. He has now completed four minor league rehab games as he recovers from a surgery to repair torn ligament in his left thumb. It was an eventful night for Harper on the basepaths. He stole two bases and was caught stealing in a rundown that allowed Michael A. Taylor to score the game's first run. Harper also earned a pair of walks. Harper batted third and played center field. He told us at...

Nick Hundley picked an opportune time tonight to hit his first home run as an Oriole. Hundley led off the bottom of the sixth inning by lining the second pitch from Rays reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo, a 90 mph fastball, into the left field seats to break a 1-1 tie. Oviedo had just entered the game as the replacement for starter Jake Odorizzi, who threw 106 pitches in five innings. Hundley was batting .195 with no homers and four RBIs with the Orioles before tonight. He hit one homer with the...

CHICAGO - The Nationals couldn't manage much offense against Cubs starter Jason Hammel, and Chicago put up 12 hits on Tanner Roark and Jerry Blevins, scoring seven runs and taking a 7-2 win in the second game of this four-game series. The Cubs have now taken the first two games, and the Nats will need to sweep the doubleheader tomorrow in order to head home with a split in this series and a winning road trip. Pitching near his hometown of Wilmington, Ill., Roark allowed four runs on 10 hits...

The Orioles didn't make a roster move before Game 2 of today's doubleheader. Executive vice president Dan Duquette met with manager Buck Showalter and the club decided to stand pat. Chris Tillman retired the Rays in order in the top of the first, throwing seven of 11 pitches for strikes. He's allowed 15 runs in the first inning this season, but none in his last two starts. Adam Jones doubled with two outs in the bottom of the first, but Nelson Cruz bounced to short. Third baseman Manny...

The excuse would be so convenient. Kevin Gausman was on a roll and the Orioles slowed it by optioning him to the minors and disrupting his routine. Manager Buck Showalter knows it's out there, but he's not reaching for it. "He did it last time, pitched an inning and came back and pitched well," Showalter said after Gausman was charged with five runs in five-plus innings in a 5-2 loss to the Rays in Game 1 of today's doubleheader at Camden Yards. "I think we all search for why. A lot of it...

Kevin Gausman walked a season-high four batters today, and gave up five runs and seven hits over five innings in a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay. He had pitched to an ERA of 0.95 over his three previous starts. But he didn't blame his struggles today on his recent schedule, one where he was sent back to the minors since his last start. "It was definitely weird, but I would never make an excuse for anything like that," Gausman said. "I felt good physically on the mound, so that's really all you can...

The Nationals didn't need long to take their first lead of the series in Chicago. After going three up, three down in the first, Adam LaRoche led off the second with a single and Ryan Zimmerman doubled to left off Jason Hammel to give the Nats a 1-0 advantage over the Cubs. Zimmerman reached third on the throw and Wilson Ramos walked to put runners on the corners. But Zimmerman was thrown out at home when aggressively trying to score on Ian Desmond's fielder's choice grounder. Desmond and...