Nelson Cruz was signed by the Orioles to add even more pop to a power-laden team. He delivered big for his new team today. In his third O's plate appearance, Cruz homered to left on the first pitch leading off the seventh to give the O's a 2-1 win today over Boston. He hit it out against Jon Lester and is now 11-for-24 in his career with three homers off the Boston left-hander. Lester was 14-0 against the Orioles through the 2011 season. He is 1-4 since and Boston is 1-7 in his eight starts...

Evan Meek walked two batters and retired two in the top of the eighth today. Brian Matusz replaced him and fielded A.J. Pierzynski's comebacker for the final out, stranding two runners and preserving a 2-1 lead. Who led off the top of the ninth? Will Middlebrooks. Who came in for the Orioles in a save situation? Tommy Hunter. They have a past. Middlebrooks homered twice off Hunter in two spring training games, leading to his humorous strategy for the next time they met. "He likes...

NEW YORK - Nationals manager Matt Williams updated the apparent hand injury suffered by catcher Wilson Ramos with somewhat promising news that preliminary X-rays at Citi Field came back negative. "He will see our hand specialist tomorrow," Williams said of Ramos. "There was a foul tip and he took a swing he didn't feel good on. We got him out of the game and took a picture of it." Williams said he feels for any player who gets injured, especially Ramos because of all the injuries the...

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...