Steve Clevenger collected three more hits last night and is batting .304. Let me put this another way: An Orioles backup catcher is batting .304. Another silver lining in another Orioles injury. Jonathan Schoop was given regular playing time while Manny Machado rehabbed his left knee, accelerating his development at the major league level. Steve Pearce became the starting first baseman in Chris Davis' absence and flourished at the plate and on the bag, solidifying his spot on the team. Now...

Plate umpire James Hoye ejected Orioles starter Bud Norris tonight in the eighth inning after Torii Hunter was hit in the ribs following Ian Kinsler's two-run homer. Norris insisted it wasn't intentional. Hunter offered his own opinion. "I was actually thinking he's got good stuff today," said Hunter, who jawed at Norris while the pitcher was on the mound and again when he headed to the dugout. "He's pitching pretty well, and what, he just all of a sudden lost it? I want all the...

Most of the talk tonight following the Orioles' 4-1 loss to the Tigers at Camden Yards centered on the heated exchange between pitcher Bud Norris and right fielder Torii Hunter. You were expecting something else? Hunter kept jawing at Norris after being hit in the eighth inning following Ian Kinsler's two-run homer. Norris said it wasn't intentional and plate umpire James Hoye ejected him only because of Hunter's overreaction. "Hit Torii with a pitch, the umpire deemed it intentional...

Bud Norris said this was the first ejection of his career tonight and he didn't feel it was justified. Norris was ejected after hitting Torii Hunter in the top of the eighth. That followed a two-run homer by Ian Kinsler that gave Detroit a 4-1 lead. "First of all I respect Torii Hunter and the game he has played for a long time. But I'm out there trying to do my job late in the game," Norris said. "I threw a first-pitch slider. He took a really aggressive hack at it, so I felt he was...

For the Orioles it was another night with not much offense at Camden Yards. Bud Norris kept it close for a while, but Detroit scored twice in the fourth and eighth innings to beat the Orioles 4-1. The dugouts and bullpens emptied onto the field in the top of the eighth. After Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer to put Detroit ahead 4-1, Norris hit Torii Hunter. Home plate umpire James Hoye ejected Norris as players from both dugouts ran onto the field. The incident did not escalate from there and...

Bud Norris leads the Orioles with five hit batters in his seven starts. Detroit right fielder Torii Hunter wishes it were four. Ian Kinsler drilled a two-out, two-run homer off Norris in the top of the eighth to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead. Norris proceeded to hit Hunter, who took a wide path toward first base while catcher Steve Clevenger followed him. Hunter barked at Norris, who yelled back and pointed toward the plate. The dugouts and bullpens emptied and umpire James Hoye ejected...

After being unable to ever get comfortable against the Oakland A's and getting swept, the Nationals could ask for nothing more than to get off to a quick start in Arizona against the vulnerable Diamondbacks, a team that has won just three of their first 18 games at home. Facing Josh Collmenter, leadoff hitter Denard Span fought through four straight cutters before getting a changeup and lacing it for a triple to center field to begin the game. Anthony Rendon brought him home on a sacrifice fly...

Tonight, Matt Williams makes his return to Phoenix where he was a coach for the Diamondbacks, but now he is in his new role as the manager of the Nationals. Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was excited to see his old friend back in Arizona, but that doesn't change his competitive fire to try to beat the opponent. "I want to beat his (butt), too," Gibson said. "That is mutual. But (Williams) does it right. We have a lot in common. Just the way we were brought up. We talked a lot when he was...

Orioles starter Bud Norris was perfect through three innings tonight and losing by a run in the fourth. A leadoff walk to Tigers' second baseman Ian Kinsler started the trouble. Isn't that usually the way? Kinsler stole second and scored on Miguel Cabrera's single. Cabrera moved to third on Victor Martinez's double and scored on Austin Jackson's sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead. Norris' pitch count stood at 36 after the third. He threw 18 in the fourth. Somehow, the Orioles need to figure...

This weather is insane. It was raining sideways while I ate dinner in the press lounge, delaying the start of tonight's game until 7:35 p.m., and now the sky is blue and the grounds crew is watering down the infield. The Orioles' pitchers took batting practice today in preparation for their three-game series in Pittsburgh that begins May 20 and a three-game series in Milwaukee that begins May 26. "That's always quite entertaining," said manager Buck Showalter. "I always try to pick...