First of all, before I get into some notes on Anthony Rendon's defensive play at third base this season, I want to make sure to point out how much fun the Nationals Dream Gala was last night. The event itself - held this year at the new Marriott Marquis - was a great time, and all of the fans, viewers and readers that I had a chance to meet were so nice. I really did enjoy myself, and thank the Nationals for inviting me. Now on to some baseball talk. It might go slightly unnoticed because...

HOUSTON - Nelson Cruz did more today than give the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. He also tied a team record. Cruz's sacrifice fly scored Nick Markakis, who led off with a double, and gave him 50 RBIs to match Chris Davis for most by an Oriole before the end of May. Davis set the record last season. J.J. Hardy doubled with one out in the second, but was stranded. He hasn't homered since Sept. 5, 2013, but his average has climbed to .301. Chris Tillman retired the Astros...

The seeds for Saturday's 10-2 shellacking of the Texas Rangers were sewn on Friday afternoon, when Nationals right-hander Doug Fister made a guest appearance as the position players gathered to pore over an American League opponent they rarely face. Fister was there to discuss the approach he'd employ with each Rangers hitter in hopes that understanding his pitch sequences and tendencies would help his fielders better position themselves for what might happen when bat hit ball. "You get a...

We've gone from a seven-game stretch where the Nationals scored just 19 total runs and left 64 runners on base to a two-game stretch where the Nats have put up 19 runs and seemingly everyone that reached base came around to score. Baseball is a funky game sometimes, isn't it? The Nats have moved past their offensive slide that lasted for a good portion of May by pounding the ball all around the ballpark in the first two games of this series against the Rangers, and today, they had five...

The Orioles have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Ramon Santo Ramirez. It's a minor league contract. Ramirez is expected to take his physical Monday and sign the deal after that. He will report to the club's Sarasota facility and then join Triple-A Norfolk. The 32-year-old has pitched in the majors with Colorado, Kansas City, Boston, San Francisco and the New York Mets. He was originally signed by Texas in 1996 out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ramirez is 23-21 with a 3.42...

HOUSTON - Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter will throw a bullpen session Sunday at Prince George's Stadium, home of the Double-A Bowie Baysox. "That's good news," said manager Buck Showalter. Hunter is on the disabled list with a strained left groin. He's eligible to return on June 5, which remains a realistic goal. "He's got a shot at making it," Showalter said. Hunter will throw a couple of bullpen sessions and likely appear in two rehab games before rejoining the Orioles. "It'll...

Coming off the worst two-start stretch of his career, Chris Tillman will try to turn it around this afternoon at Houston. Tillman is 4-2 with a 4.97 ERA on the season. In his past two outings combined, he has pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing 14 hits and 14 runs. He's never allowed more over a two-start stretch. Since beginning the year with an ERA of 0.84 his first three starts, Tillman has pitched to an ERA of 6.64 over his last eight. He has pitched fewer than six innings in six of those...

HOUSTON - Steve Pearce remains the left fielder today for the Orioles and Nelson Cruz continues to serve as the designated hitter. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Nelson Cruz DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Chris Tillman RHP

HOUSTON - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is playing in his 1,000th career game today. He's appeared in 926 with the Orioles and 73 with the Mariners. Jones' 926 games are good for 19th on the club's all-time list. Cal Ripken Jr. is first with 3,001. Caleb Joseph's two-out walk in the eighth inning last night was the first for the Orioles since they drew three straight in the fourth inning Wednesday night against the Brewers' Yovani Gallardo. The Orioles went 21 innings and 83 plate...

Well, that didn't take long. But it could have been more. Anthony Rendon lined a 2-2 pitch from Nick Tepesch over the fence in left, giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead over the Rangers in the first inning. While the Nats will gladly take offense in any shape or form, it's frustrating that the blast could have given them a 2-0 edge. Denard Span drew a leadoff walk in the first, but drew immediate attention from Tepesch, who seemed determined to keep the speedster at first base. To the tune of...