The Nationals step into Game 3 of their series against the Braves searching for a win. They have not defeated Atlanta since a 2-1 win on April 6. Starter Doug Fister got out a jam in the first inning with some sterling defense from second baseman Danny Espinosa. With men on first and third and two out, Espinosa grabbed Jason Heyward's hot shot right up the middle and flipped to shortstop Ian Desmond covering the bag at second to get Freddie Freeman. Atlanta did not score in the inning. The...

NEW YORK - Exactly when did Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy know that he was getting the silent treatment in the dugout after hitting a home run in the eighth inning? "As I was rounding third, I kind of looked in the dugout and no one had moved. And I knew they were going to just sit there," said Hardy, who decided to celebrate on his own. "Luckily, there was a bag just sitting there on the top step. So I grabbed it and figured I'd give myself a sunflower seed shower." Hardy hadn't gone deep...

While multiple reports, including one on this very website, have said that Bryce Harper will head out on a rehab assignment Monday to Single-A Potomac as he works back from a torn ligament in his left thumb, Nationals manager Matt Williams wasn't able to confirm those reports this afternoon. "At some point during the next road trip, he'll go out," Williams said. That could be Monday, it could be Friday, Williams said. But once Harper does start his rehab assignment, he'll ease into...

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter has Kevin Gausman scheduled to pitch the first game of Friday's split doubleheader against the Rays at Camden Yards, with Bud Norris taking the mound in the nightcap. Norris could be replaced by Chris Tillman after leaving today's game with tightness in his right groin. Tillman is starting Sunday's series finale against the Yankees and would be working on regular rest. "I'm hoping we caught it in time," Showalter said after today's 6-1 win over...

Bryce Harper will begin a rehab assignment Monday at Single-A Potomac, a source confirmed this afternoon. Harper had said he likely wants to play seven to nine rehab games. The news of Harper being cleared to begin rehab was first reported by Ken Rosenthal. The Nationals outfielder has been on the disabled list since April 26 as he recovered from surgery to repair a torn left thumb ligament. Harper hit .289 with one homer and nine RBIs in 22 games before the injury. As for tonight, Doug...

Bud Norris exited the game early due to an injury and that was not good. Some fly balls exited the park early on and for the O's offense, that was good. Norris went five innings to get the win and the Orioles backed him with four homers to tie a season high in a 6-1 win over the Yankees in front of 47,165 at Yankee Stadium this afternoon. Norris came out to pitch in the last of the sixth, but left before the inning began due to right groin tightness. He gave up just three hits and one run with...

NEW YORK - Orioles starter Bud Norris left today's game with tightness in his right groin while warming up for the bottom of the sixth inning. Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace came to the mound, and Norris exited without throwing a pitch. Ryan Webb was rushed into the game and given extra time to warm up. The Orioles can't catch a break. With the bullpen in need of some rest, Norris held the Yankees to one run and three hits over...

NEW YORK - The Orioles announced that Josh Stinson has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. Stinson must decide by Sunday whether to accept the assignment, which he's expected to do. Otherwise, he'd forfeit his salary. And he's likely to resurface at Camden Yards as one of the passengers on the shuttle between Norfolk and Baltimore. Stinson has registered a 6.23 ERA in eight games with the Orioles, and he's 0-3 with a 5.19 ERA in nine games (two starts) with Norfolk. The...

NEW YORK - The Orioles will give it another try this afternoon. They have a 1-0 lead over the Yankees on Adam Jones' solo home run with two outs in the top of the first inning. Jones jumped on a 90 mph fastball from left-hander Vidal Nuno, the ball disappearing into the seats in left field. The Orioles are 25-8 when they score first. The sound of Jones making contact was loud enough to be heard by reporters over the Tino Martinez press conference being piped into the press box at full...

ABERDEEN, Md. - Dylan Bundy will make his second rehab outing tonight for short-season Single-A Aberdeen as the IronBirds host Brooklyn. This will be Bundy's first career appearance at Ripken Stadium. The 21-year-old right-hander threw 65 pitches and went five innings last Sunday night at Hudson Valley. He gave up five hits and one run with no walks and six strikeouts. Hudson Valley came up with a single, ground-rule double and RBI groundout to push across a run in the third inning. Bundy,...