BOSTON - The Orioles are playing their fifth Patriots Day game in Boston, having lost four of the first five. Their lone victory came in 1970, when they won 3-2. Most recently, they lost 12-1 in 2009. They also were beaten in 1956, 1989 and 1997. So yes, if they win today, they win the World Series. J.J. Hardy says his right hamstring feels better, but he's out of the lineup. Ryan Flaherty is at short, Jonathan Schoop is at third and Steve Lombardozzi is at second. Nick Markakis is serving...

There were quite a few encouraging things that the Nationals saw in yesterday's 3-2 walk-off win. Stephen Strasburg delivered a strong outing against a very tough Cardinals lineup, despite the fact he didn't use his slider and instead relied entirely on fastball/changeup/curve. The Nats scratched out 11 hits and drew seven walks, and did a good bit of that damage against St. Louis' bullpen. Jose Lobaton came alive with three hits. Rafael Soriano worked a clean, quick, dominant ninth inning....

A lot of emphasis is being put on the defensive struggles the Orioles have seen over the past few games. Two losses to the Red Sox have people up in arms and wondering what happened to the O's defense of 2013. As many know, the team set a major league record by playing 119 errorless games last year and also committed just 54 errors during the campaign, a record for a 162-game season. It's a small sample size, but the Birds are showing some dents in their defensive armor on the young...

For those who are afraid the Nationals' 2014 season will be a sad repeat of 2013, take a good look at last weekend's four-game split with the St. Lois Cardinals. The knock on the Nats has been that they can rack up cheap wins at the expense of the Marlins and Mets, but come up up empty against teams they may ultimately have to contend with in the postseason, like the Braves and Cardinals. A week ago, they seemed to prove their critics right, dropping three games in Atlanta, showing the same...

The Orioles entered Sunday's game having allowed just two unearned runs all year over 16 games. They allowed three unearned runs in the last three innings last night. In the immediate minutes and hour or two after last night's game, this blog and Twitter were buzzing with comments. We probably way over-analyzed that one. But fans were frustrated, looking to vent and assign blame. In the end, the Orioles blew a 5-0 lead and gift-wrapped a comeback win for Boston. The Red Sox had to get some...

BOSTON - The Orioles are leaving Boston after this morning's game, and they'd like to take the transfer rule with them. Maybe dump it in an empty field, grab a few baseball bats and destroy it like the copy machine in "Office Space." Ryan Flaherty held the ball long enough last night to record the out at second base in the seventh inning. Instead, he was charged with an error and the Red Sox went on to score twice and tie the game. Umpires seem just as confused by it. Just get rid of it...

BOSTON - Tonight's game between the Orioles and Red Sox ended with a walk-off error and manager Buck Showalter huddled with the umpires in front of his dugout. Confusion and craziness were the key ingredients in the Orioles' 6-5 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. David Lough caught pinch-hitter Mike Carp's sinking liner in left field and made a wide throw to the plate that allowed Dustin Pedroia to score. Showalter immediately came onto the field and players hesitated before walking to the...

BOSTON - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy doesn't expect to be included in Monday morning's lineup after straining his right hamstring while running the bases in the fifth inning. Manager Buck Showalter told Hardy that he was getting the day off anyway, but the injury sealed the deal. Hardy isn't certain of its severity, since he has no previous experience with strained hamstrings. "I know trainers don't like to hear it, but tweaked something. I have no idea. I've never had a hamstring issue....

No other way to say it, that was one very ugly loss for the Orioles. They blew a 5-0 lead and lost 6-5 on a throwing error in the last of the ninth. Dustin Pedroia doubled with one out against Brian Matusz and went to third on a wild pitch. After an intentional walk to David Ortiz, Darren O'Day came in and hit Mike Napoli to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Mike Carp then lined out to left. Pedroia tagged but was headed back to third as left fielder David Lough threw wildly toward home and past...

In case you missed something, we're recapping what went on in the Orioles' Twitterverse each week. Let's take a look at last week, shall we? Adam Jones shared what Jackie Robinson Day means to him. Thank u Jackie Robinson. Words can't express my gratitude so I go out there everyday and play as hard as I can cause that's what u would do -- 10 (@SimplyAJ10) April 15, 2014 Bud Norris caught Rick Dempsey taking a little nap. Caught in the act. @RickDempsey24 sleeping during the rain delay....