Tanner Roark was pretty darn good today. Yu Darvish was better. Roark allowed one run over seven strong innings, scattering seven hits. His lone blemish in the run column came on a Leonys Martin solo homer in the seventh. That was all Darvish needed. The Rangers ace was spectacular, striking out 12 over eight scoreless innings, helping Texas salvage the finale of this three-game set. Here's Nationals manager Matt Williams after the loss: On Darvish: "I saw him a couple times last year. He's...

Before today, Manny Machado had not hit a grand slam for the Orioles and David Lough had not homered as an Oriole. Check and check. Machado's first career slam backed the pitching of Wei-Yin Chen as the Orioles routed Houston 9-4 to earn a split of the four-game series. The Orioles are 28-27 on the season and 3-4 on this long road trip, which continues Tuesday night at Texas. Nelson Cruz, the major league homer leader with 20, was hit on the left hand by a Scott Feldman pitch in the top...

HOUSTON - The Orioles are reporting good news on outfielder Nelson Cruz. X-rays taken on Cruz's left hand came back negative. It's just a contusion and he's listed as day-to-day. Nothing more serious. Astros starter Scott Feldman, a former Oriole, drilled Cruz on the left hand in the top of the third inning. Cruz, starting today in right field, stayed in the game until the bottom half of the inning. The Orioles are off Monday, and Cruz could be back in the lineup Tuesday night for the...

HOUSTON - Manny Machado got the best revenge today on Astros starter Scott Feldman. Machado, hit on the left elbow in his first at-bat, belted his first career grand slam in the sixth inning to give the Orioles a 9-1 lead. The ball appeared to slam off the Lexus sign high above the left fields seats, increasing Machado's RBI total from five to nine this season. Machado stood on second base in the third inning when Feldman drilled Nelson Cruz on the left hand. We're still waiting for an...

HOUSTON - The Orioles have been struck with another injury, this one to their best hitter. Nelson Cruz exited today's game in the bottom of the third inning after being hit on the left hand or wrist by an 87 mph fastball from Astros starter Scott Feldman. No word yet from the Orioles on the exact nature of the injury. Feldman hit Manny Machado on the left elbow with one out in the first, and he drilled Cruz with one out in the third following Machado's double into left-center field. Cruz...

HOUSTON - The Orioles have a two-run lead today. They also have their health. Nick Markakis reached on an infield single in the top of the first inning, and shortstop Jonathan Villar's throw nailed him on the left side of the head as he motored up the line. Markakis stayed in the game. The next batter, Manny Machado, was grazed on the left elbow by a pitch from Astros starter Scott Feldman. It's dangerous out there. The rally fizzled after Nelson Cruz grounded into a double play. David...

The Nationals are seeking their first series sweep since April 30 at Houston, facing off against Yu Darvish and the Rangers on Sunday. Darvish has not pitched since May 22 at Detroit. He missed his last scheduled start against the Twins due to a stiff neck, but has gone at least seven innings in three consecutive starts. Washington's Tanner Roark is trying to break out of a two-game losing streak against the club that drafted him in 2008. The game started with some quick controversy on a pair...

HOUSTON - Wondering how Nick Markakis' neck is feeling this morning? You came to the right place. Markakis almost was scratched from yesterday's Orioles lineup due to neck stiffness, but it subsided in batting practice and he made a tremendous running catch in right field to leave the bases loaded. Markakis remains in the lineup today as the designated hitter, though manager Buck Showalter indicated that he wanted to put Nelson Cruz in the outfield. Cruz came out of a game in Milwaukee last...

HOUSTON - Reliever Tommy Hunter threw a bullpen session today at Double-A Bowie and the feedback was positive. Hunter will join the Orioles in Arlington and throw on Tuesday for pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. He's expected to pitch in two rehab games before being activated from the disabled list. Hunter, on the DL with a strained left groin, could be activated on June 9 - four days after he's eligible. Matt Wieters' second throwing session today went extremely...

Now that the Orioles have three quality starts in a row, why not shoot for four? The O's three starters in the Houston series - Ubaldo Jimenez, Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tillman - have pitched to an ERA of 1.86, allowing four runs over 19 1/3 innings. The Orioles have not had four consecutive quality starts all year. They had three in a row once before, from April 9-12. In 25 innings in this series, O's pitchers have given up just six runs and 15 hits with eight walks and 20 strikeouts. Of...