After a 2 1/3 inning-outing by their starter yesterday, the Orioles were hoping Bud Norris could get deep into tonight's game against Boston. Norris not only got the Orioles deep into this game, he pitched darn well while doing it. Norris pitched eight scoreless innings as the Orioles beat Boston 4-0 in front of 19,729 to start a three-game series. This was the Orioles' fourth shutout. The right-hander gave up just three hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Norris threw 98 pitches to...

Anthony Rendon inched closer Monday to a return to the Nationals lineup. The third baseman hasn't played since Friday night, when he took a Carlos Quentin grounder off his right hand, forcing his removal from the game. X-rays showed no fracture, but the hand has been swollen and tender. Rendon swung in the cage yesterday, but still reported some soreness, especially around the thumb area. That put off his return at least one more day and led to today's try with the bat. "It's a little bit...

The Nationals have made very little progress in the voting for the 2014 All-Star Game. Since the first release of balloting figures on May 28, Washington has seen just two players with a shot at making the National League's starting lineup on July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis. Now just one remains. Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper stands alone as the only Nationals player vying for a starting gig, and he hasn't played in more than a month. Harper has moved up one spot in the most recent...

The Nationals reacquainted themselves with an old friend at AT&T Park on Monday, and there's no question that Michael Morse - the slugging first baseman/outfielder who was one of the most popular players on the Nats' 2012 playoff team - is also a big hit in San Francisco. The "May the Morse Be With You" t-shirts distributed by Hunter Pence and worn by his new teammates are one clue. The presence of Morse's old D.C. anthem, A-ha's "Take on Me," over the loudspeakers later tonight...

Caleb Joseph, getting another start behind the plate tonight for the Orioles, threw out Boston leadoff hitter Brock Holt trying to steal second base in the top of the first inning. Joseph is 7-for-16 against runners attempting to steal this season. Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first. Manny Machado grounded into a double play, but Adam Jones hit his 10th home run of the season to give the Orioles an early lead. Jones' ball...

It has been more than a month since the Orioles played an American League East opponent but that ends tonight as the O's host Boston to begin a three-game series and 13-game stretch against division opponents. They are 13-8 against AL East teams and that is the best record by a division team in division games. The O's last game within the AL East was May 8. The Orioles are 3-4 against Boston this year but are 27-17 versus the Red Sox since the start of the 2012 season. This year the clubs...

SAN FRANCISCO - Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon is out of the lineup for the third straight game after injuring his right hand on Friday against the Padres. Kevin Frandsen will play third and bat second again for the Nats. Also, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was named the National League Player of the Week after throwing 17 consecutive scoreless innings. Zimmermann went 2-0, allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out 16. This is the first time Zimmermann has won the honor....

The Orioles purchased reliever Josh Stinson's contract from Triple-A Norfolk today and optioned reliever Brad Brach. A fresh arm was needed tonight after starter Ubaldo Jimenez lasted only 2 1/3 innings yesterday and manager Buck Showalter used Brach and left-hander T.J. McFarland to cover the rest of the game. Stinson, 26, has gone 0-3 with a 5.19 ERA over 26 innings in nine games (two starts) for Norfolk, striking out a batter per inning. Brach, 28, has registered a 5.40 ERA over 18 1/3...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of RHP Josh Stinson from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned RHP Brad Brach to Triple-A Norfolk. Stinson, 26, has gone 0-3 with a 5.19 ERA (26.0IP, 15ER) in nine games (two starts) for Norfolk, striking out a batter per inning. Brach, 28, has pitched to a 5.40 ERA (18.1IP, 11ER) in 10 games for the Orioles this season. To make room for Stinson on the 40-man roster, LHP Johan Santana has been transferred to the 60-day DL.

David Lough is starting in center field tonight for the Orioles as Adam Jones will serve as the designated hitter. Lough is batting just .196 in 102 at-bats. But he is 6-for-14 with a double, two homers and five RBIs over his past six games. "Yeah, but we aren't winning," Lough said of his offense finally starting to come around. "So doesn't matter what I do. It's what we do as a team. It's unfortunate we can't win more games. But I feel fine, I feel good. Knew I'd come around...