BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter tried hard to get starter Chris Tillman through five innings tonight, knowing his bullpen could easily burn out in a four-game series. Tillman needed 122 pitches to clear the fifth, and he earned the win in the Orioles' 8-4 victory over the Red Sox. "You're trying not to use four or five guys out of the 'pen in the first game," Showalter said. "We've got Toronto behind them and they're tough everywhere, especially up there. That was something I...

Several Nationals played key roles in Friday's 3-1 win over the Cardinals. Third baseman Anthony Rendon hit a solo shot to give the Nationals an early 1-0 lead. He talked about the win and the curveball that Michael Wacha threw him, which resulted in the first run of the game. "It was a good win. Obviously, they are a tremendous team. They got the best of us in the past. We are trying to change that," Rendon said. "He has a pretty big curveball. I think he left a little bit up. I was just...

A night after the Nationals were shut out and made three errors in an 8-0 loss, they scratched out a tough 3-1 victory against the Cardinals, a well-played game that saw much crisper defense and tremendous pitching. It wasn't easy - few games against St. Louis ever are - but the Nats picked up the win, marking the first time they've beaten the Cardinals since Game 4 of the National League Division Series in 2012. Here's manager Matt Williams after the game: On the win: "Gio (Gonzalez)...

Chris Tillman had to struggle to get through five innings tonight. Jonathan Schoop did not struggle tonight, and he came up with his first career four-hit game. Tillman notched his second win as the Orioles beat Boston 8-4 to open a four-game series at Fenway Park. Schoop went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs. He has now hit safely in seven straight games, going 12-for-28 (.429) with six doubles, a homer and seven RBIs. The Orioles go over .500 at 8-7 with their third win in a row and...

BOSTON - Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman threw 122 pitches tonight, three short of his career high. And he did it in only five innings. The Red Sox do have a knack for driving up a pitch count. Tillman allowed three runs and seven hits, walked four and struck out five. Seventy-one of his 122 pitches were strikes. Tillman threw 125 pitches in 8 1/3 innings on July 4, 2012 in Seattle. Tillman has gone seven innings or more in seven of his last 12 starts. Of the five starts when he...

Double-A Bowie left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez will miss his scheduled start tomorrow night due to a sprained knee. The Orioles' No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, Rodriguez came up with the injury yesterday during normal-between starts weightlifting. The injury is not considered serious, but Rodriguez is likely headed for the minor league disabled list. Rodriguez saw a doctor who diagnosed the injury as a sprain. The organization now wants to give Rodriguez some time to...

Third baseman Anthony Rendon gave the Nationals their first lead and first run of the series with a solo homer in the third inning. Rendon went after the first pitch, a curveball, from Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha and launched it into the St. Louis bullpen, well over the wall in left-center. It was Rendon's third homer of the season and the Nationals lead 1-0. Nats left-hander Gio Gonzalez held St. Louis scoreless for the first three innings. The Cardinals got men on first and second...

BOSTON - The Red Sox held a moment of silence before the game for former Orioles public relations director Monica Pence Barlow. Her photo appeared on the video board in center field. Well done. The temperature at first pitch was 39 degrees - same as Wednesday's game at Camden Yards. Nick Markakis doubled on the first offering from John Lackey, bringing the quickest challenge of the season. Boston manager John Farrell thought the ball hit outside the left field line, but the call stood....

BOSTON - I don't know the projected game time temperature tonight at Fenway Park. However, after doing extensive research, I can confirm that it's bitter cold. There's a rumor circulating that a polar bear will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. While wearing a scarf and mittens. The temperature for Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay at Camden Yards was 39 degrees, believed to be the coldest in Baltimore since at least 1988, when first pitch temperature was recorded regularly. The...

The Nationals needed another fresh arm in the bullpen, so they sent hard-throwing right-hander Blake Treinen to Triple-A Syracuse and called up left-hander Xavier Cedeno. Treinen, 25, allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings in last night's 8-0 loss to the Cardinals and pitched to a 1.35 ERA over three appearances during his first career stint in the majors. Before Friday's game at Nationals Park, manager Matt Williams explained the roster move and detailed the plan for Treinen. "The plan for him...