Anthony Rendon was considered the top hitting prospect in his draft class in 2011. The hard-hitting third baseman was limited to designated hitter duties by a shoulder injury in his final year at Rice University, however, after he suffered ankle injuries in the 2009-2010 seasons, both of which required surgery. So there was some concern about his durability as the First-Year Player Draft approached that June. Five teams passed on Rendon, in spite of the fact that he finished his collegiate...

Memorial Stadium, the horseshoe-shaped ballpark on 33rd Street, is gone, but a plaque at the site marking home plate keeps memories alive. One day, Boog Powell stood at the plaque and went back in time. "Jim Palmer and I went over there and stood at home plate,'' Powell says. "We were standing in the middle of nowhere and put myself right back to the old ballpark. I could envision the left field wall, right field, everything. I could hear the fans. I felt the intensity and the atmosphere....

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez made another firm step forward toward returning to the Nationals rotation with his second rehab start at high Single-A Potomac on Thursday night before 4,176 at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Gonzalez twirled 79 pitches over four innings, striking out seven, allowing one run on two hits with four walks in a 3-2 victory over Winston-Salem. He induced four groundouts and faced 18 batters. Gonzalez has been on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation since...

Would I appreciate Mark Belanger today? That's the question that's been on my mind lately as I watch Jonathan Schoop try to find his way a the plate, Manny Machado struggle to return to the preternatural form he displayed on offense last season or Ryan Flaherty serve as a jack-of-all-trades on defense while mastering none on offense. How much defense makes up for lousy offense? Let me state unequivocally that I'm not putting Schoop or Flaherty in the same category defensively as Belanger,...

Manager: Mike Matheny, third year Record: 34-32 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 3B Matt Carpenter (.294/.385/.385, 19 XBH, 24 RBIs); LF Matt Holliday (.265/.380/.378, 19 XBH, 30 RBIs); RHP Shelby Miller (7-5, 3.59 ERA); RHP Lance Lynn (6-4, 3.49 ERA) Season series vs. Nats: 2-2, 15 runs scored, 9 runs allowed Pitching probables June 13: Lance Lynn vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 8 p.m., MASN2 HD June 14: Shelby Miller vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., FOX June 15: Jaime Garcia vs. Doug Fister, 2 p.m.,...

The Orioles' pitching roll continued last night, even though they gave up twice as many runs in the game against Toronto as they had the previous three games. They gave up two last night and had allowed just one in the three-game series against Boston. That is a team ERA of 0.75 over the last four games for Orioles pitchers. After the win last night, Nick Markakis talked about the recent run of solid pitching and how Kevin Gausman kept it going against Toronto. "It's big," Markakis said....

Manager Buck Showalter confirmed again yesterday that the Orioles will bring up an infielder and likely go with an 11-man pitching staff when third baseman Manny Machado serves his suspension. Machado didn't drop his appeal and a hearing could take place next week in New York. Which infielder will get the call? Jemile Weeks hasn't played since May 27 due to a couple of health issues, the most recent being conjunctivitis. He also lacks typical utility skills, mostly playing second base and...

If there are some rotation decisions coming for the Orioles, Kevin Gausman has certainly stated his case. He has given up just two runs over 13 innings on this homestand, pitching the Orioles past two first-place clubs in Oakland and Toronto. "I feel good about what I've done," Gausman said. "I feel comfortable right now. It's not my decision, so whatever happens will be for the club's best interest. "Any time we win against the team that is leading the AL East, it's always good for...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't ready to commit to giving Kevin Gausman another start following tonight's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Gausman has allowed two runs in 13 innings since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Two quality starts against two first-place teams. "Well, he's done what it takes to be considered," Showalter said. "He's taking care of his end of it. And the good news for us is we've got some other people capable of pitching well, too. Miggy...

Kevin Gausman pitched well against another division-leading team and Delmon Young hit a two-run homer in the first inning as the Orioles beat Toronto 4-2 in the opener of a key AL East series at Camden Yards. With the win the Birds moved to within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Blue Jays. They are 15-7 at home against Toronto since the start of the 2012 season. Baltimore pitchers have allowed three runs total the past four games. Meanwhile, Toronto (39-29) lost for the fifth time in six...