Gio Gonzalez was far from his best when making his first start in Oakland since the A's traded him to the Nationals in December 2011. The game had essentially been decided by the time the second inning was done with the Nats trailing 7-0 after two on the way to a 9-1 loss to the Athletics. Gonzalez had easily his worst start of the season, allowing seven runs on nine hits, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander walked three, struck out four and saw his ERA jump from 2.91 to...

The Orioles optioned left-hander T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game, and a corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow. Manager Buck Showalter had indicated that the team might need to call up a right-handed long reliever for the Tigers series, which begins Monday, because of Detroit's righty-leaning lineup and the need to use McFarland for three-plus innings Sunday. "We'll see. We'll talk about it," Showalter said after the game. "We'd like to make sure...

The Orioles announced after today's game that they have optioned left-hander T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk. McFarland, 24, has posted a 3.86 ERA (7.0IP, 3ER) in three appearances for the Orioles, including a 3.0 inning appearance this afternoon in which he allowed two earned runs.

The Orioles' designated long man in the bullpen, left-hander T.J. McFarland, worked three-plus innings today in a 5-2 loss to the Astros before a sellout crowd at Camden Yards. The club will discuss bringing up another reliever for Monday night's series opener against the Tigers. "We'll see. We'll talk about it," said manager Buck Showalter. "We'd like to make sure we have some length there. Detroit's primarily right-handed." Going by matchups, Showalter would prefer a right-handed...

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters met with reporters after the game to discuss the decision that led to him going on the disabled list today with a right elbow strain. "Ultimately it was what is going to get me back catching as quick as possible," he said. "Letting it completely rest, as opposed to trying to go get half ready every day, it may have been slowing us down a little bit. Now let it completely rest and hopefully get back catching even sooner." Wieters did confirm that nothing new...

It is hard to sweep any team and the Orioles could not pull that off for the second series in a row. Trailing by three runs after one inning, they never caught up today in a 5-2 loss to Houston. The season's second sellout of 45,944 looked on during a beautiful afternoon at Camden Yards. Chris Tillman gave up a three-run homer to Jason Castro in the top of the first and needed 32 pitches to get through that inning. He walked the first two Astros he faced ahead of Castro's fifth homer. But...

Gio Gonzalez didn't have a dream start to his first game in Oakland since being traded to the Nationals. The left-hander was torched in the first, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk - all after retiring the first two batters of the game. Josh Donaldson drew a base on balls to start the rally. Yoenis Cespedes then reached on an infield single. Catcher Derek Norris, who was a part of the package Washington sent to the A's for Gonzalez, provided the big blow - a three-run homer to left...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter wanted to knock the rust off a few of his players today, putting them in today's game to keep everyone engaged. He doesn't like guys to sit for prolonged stretches. David Lough received his first at-bats since May 3 and went 0-for-2, grounding out and popping up, before Steve Pearce pinch-hit for him in the seventh. Ryan Flaherty, appearing in only his third game this month, went 0-for-3 and hit into a double play to end the bottom of the sixth. He made a...

Tyler Moore didn't need to wait long to rejoin the Nationals. Just four days after being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, the Nats brought Moore back to help fill in for injured first baseman Adam LaRoche. Moore got in around midnight after playing one game for the Chiefs during a brief minor league stint. Is he rested to play today against the Athletics? "I've had worse," he joked. Syracuse was in Columbus when Moore got the call to head west. He didn't expect to be called...

Chris Tillman walked the first two batters he faced today and served up a three-run homer to Jason Castro to quickly fall behind this afternoon at Camden Yards. Tillman issued a third walk in the inning and received a visit from pitching coach Dave Wallace. He escaped further harm with a strikeout and ground ball, but ran his pitch count to 32 in the process. The inning brought back memories of his May 1 start against the Pirates, when he threw 49 pitches in the first. The run damage was...