Pitcher Steve Johnson will take his injury-rehab assignment to Double-A Bowie for Saturday's game against Portland at Prince George's County Stadium. Johnson, on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, was 1-2 with a 5.49 ERA in four starts at Triple-A Norfolk. He threw two shutout innings with the Gulf Coast League Orioles to start his rehab assignment and allowed two runs in six innings in two starts with short-season Single-A Aberdeen. OK, I've stalled long enough... Miguel...

Well, that escalated quickly. Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez retired the Astros in order on only five pitches in the top of the first inning. He gave up four runs on two doubles, a single and a home run while throwing 24 pitches in the second. Catcher Jason Castro led off the inning with a double, but Gonzalez retired the next two batters on pop ups. Brandon Barnes doubled in a run, Matt Dominguez grounded a single up the middle to score a run and No. 9 hitter Robbie Grossman belted his...

DETROIT - Adam LaRoche's tone doesn't change much regardless of the outcome of a game. He's a quiet, calm presence in the Nationals' clubhouse after losses, and he's the same after big wins. But LaRoche seemed even a bit more beaten down than normal after today's 11-1 loss at the hands of the Tigers, a game where the Nats trailed 5-1 after two innings and 10-1 after four. "You don't want to say we've gotten used to it, by any means, but it seems like we've had a few of these games...

Right-hander Bud Norris will make his Orioles debut on Thursday against the Astros. They should be familiar with him. Chris Tillman is being pushed back to Friday against the Mariners - his former organization - at Camden Yards followed by Scott Feldman on Saturday and Wei-Yin Chen on Sunday. Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette met with reporters in the back of the press box at 6 p.m. and discussed today's trade that sent outfielder LJ Hoes and left-hander Josh Hader to Houston...

DETROIT - Not only did the Nationals get blown out by 10 runs this afternoon, they also had Bryce Harper and Ross Ohlendorf leave their 11-1 loss to the Tigers with apparent injuries. Quite a banner day for the road team. Fortunately for the Nats, neither Harper nor Ohlendorf appear to have any type of serious ailment, and the Nationals believe both will be fine. Harper, who after the game had some critical things to say about the mood around the team right now, started grimacing and bent...

Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel met with reporters in the home dugout during batting practice. Here's a sampling: "It started in spring training. I've been dealing with it all year," he said. "It's not really a pain thing. It's more of an uncomfortable thing. Hopefully tomorrow, the MRI will tell me something. When something doesn't hurt, it's confusing. When you feel all right to a certain extent and then things change as you get a little deeper into your outing. "Very disappointing....

An O's third round draft pick in 2008, the Orioles were the only pro team LJ Hoes has ever known. But today he is walking down the hall to join his new team in Houston. "My mind is racing," Hoes said a few minutes ago. "Kind of got my dream come true the other day to start for the hometown team. Now getting traded to the other locker room. It's different, never saw it coming, just got to keep it moving. "It's still all surreal. Talking with Jonesey this morning. He said you could get...

DETROIT - Bryce Harper may be the youngest guy in the Nationals' clubhouse, but that's not going to stop him from speaking his mind. After this afternoon's 11-1 trouncing at the hands of the Tigers, the 20-year-old Harper aired some of the frustration that he's been feeling lately, with the Nats now four games under .500 and 10 1/2 games back of the Braves in the National League East. The Nats scored two runs in these two games in Detroit and were outscored 16-2 overall, snapping a...

Steve Pearce is in the new Orioles lineup, batting ninth and serving as the designated hitter. Adam Jones is in center field and Nate McLouth is in left. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Brian Roberts 2B Steve Pearce DH Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Astros Jonathan Villar SS LJ Hoes RF Jose Altuve 2B Jason Castro C Chris Carter DH Brett Wallace 1B Brandon Barnes CF Matt Dominguez 3B Robbie Grossman...

Even before he had a chance to meet with Buck Showalter and his new teammates, new O's pitcher Bud Norris was at the podium a few minutes ago talking about joining the Orioles. Here are some of his comments from his first press conference as an Oriole. His reaction to the deal: "Being traded is exciting. My name has been swirling for a while now, so I've been prepared for it. I'm excited for the future. I pitched my way into a situation to be traded and to help a team. This team has a...