Nelson Cruz just delivered his Welcome to Baltimore moment. Cruz homered on the first pitch from Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester leading off the bottom of the seventh, the ball easily clearing the left field fence to break a 1-1 tie. Cruz is 1-for-2 with a walk today and is 11-for-24 with three homers and five RBIs lifetime against Lester. Yes, he's Cruzing. Or he's on Cruz control. Take your pick. Zach Britton tossed two scoreless innings in relief of starter Chris Tillman, allowing one...

If you're ready to collect your money today after choosing Delmon Young in the "first Oriole to get an RBI" pool, I've got bad news for you. A double play doesn't produce an RBI. Just a run. Not that there's anything wrong with it. Young grounded into an unconventional 4-3-6 double play with runners on the corners and one out in the second inning to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead against Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. Nelson Cruz walked after falling behind 0-2 in the count and Matt...

The mood at Camden Yards today has taken swings more intense than anything Chris Davis will deliver at home plate. MASN's Jim Hunter, serving as emcee for the opening day festivities, introduced tributes to former center fielder Paul Blair, public relations director Monica Pence Barlow and author and minority owner Tom Clancy. Blair is the only Oriole to start more consecutive opening days at one outfield position (12) than Nick Markakis (eight). The Orioles announced that Barlow's seat in...

Chris Davis hit a big three-run homer in the seventh inning on opening day last year as the Orioles won on the road against Tampa Bay. Does he have one in him today? Davis said his opening day excitement began to build hours ago. "There is nothing like it," he said. "Getting ready this morning, driving to the field, you can feel the energy and excitement. Once you get here and see everyone moving around and get in the rhythm of things, it's awesome. You can't duplicate it." Is it hard for...

Before he heads back to Sarasota tomorrow to continue his rehab, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will collect some hardware here today. He will pick up his Gold Glove and also a Platinum Glove, given to the best individual defender in each league. Machado still doesn't know when he will be able to play in a game. He wishes he did, but said you really can't put a timetable on his recovery from left knee surgery - not even this deep into the process. "You just can't, you really...

NEW YORK - Bryce Harper appeared to be injured when he collided with Mets second baseman Eric Young Jr. in the second inning of Monday's opener, but the Nationals left fielder remained in the game. Harper drew a leadoff walk and was erased at second on a fielder's choice on Ian Desmond's grounder to David Wright. But a sliding Harper's head struck Young's knee and shin on the relay and Harper down on the field for a couple of minutes. Harper was attended to by the Nationals training staff...

Will anyone here today be more excited than Jonathan Schoop? The kid found out he made the roster on Saturday in Norfolk and today he will start at second base on opening day for the Orioles. How is his excitement level right now? I asked him earlier in the clubhouse. "I cannot explain, but it's opening day and you've got to be excited. I love to play baseball. I dreamed for this moment. We'll see how it goes," said Schoop, who is batting ninth. "You have to have some nerves, but in a...

NEW YORK - Manager Matt Williams was the first to admit he was nervous and excited for opening day, his first as a major league manager and with the Nationals - so much so that he didn't sleep very well Sunday night. But he did appear relaxed in his red Nationals long-sleeve sweatshirt and athletic shorts, fresh-faced after completing a morning workout. How does day one feel now that it is here? "Good," Williams said from his office in the visiting clubhouse at Citi Field. "Nervous...

Nick Markakis will bat leadoff and play right field for today's Orioles opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Markakis made it through batting practice without experiencing any discomfort in his neck. Nelson Cruz starts in left field and Delmon Young is the designated hitter For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF Matt Wieters C Delmon Young DH Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP

NEW YORK - Nationals manager Matt Williams put out a somewhat surprising opening day lineup, placing Wilson Ramos in the cleanup spot with Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth at the top of the order, and Bryce Harper hitting behind Ramos in the five-hole. Williams believes Zimmerman can showcase his immense talent from the second spot in the order. "We look at our lineup and we say, 'How do we get to the best lineup?' " Williams said. "Zim has the ability to do a lot of things...