The Orioles today announced that they have recalled outfielder LJ Hoes from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for Hoes on the roster, right-hander Jairo Asencio has been designated for assignment. Hoes, 23, was batting .304/.406/.403 in 99 games for the Tides. He ranks among International League leaders in on-base percentage (3rd), hits (5th, 111) and runs (T-3rd, 62). The 2012 Orioles Minor League Player of the Year appeared in two games for the Birds last season. Asencio, 30, appeared in...

Not only is LJ Hoes in the Orioles clubhouse today, he's starting left field against the Red Sox in the series finale at Camden Yards. This will be Hoes' first major league start. He had one at-bat with the Orioles last season. It's an unusual lineup today, with Chris Davis batting third, Matt Wieters fifth as the DH and Brian Roberts seventh. And, of course, Hoes batting eighth. Hoes will wear No. 25. The Orioles still haven't announced a corresponding roster move. For the...

There have been a number of moments this season where it's felt like things might not be able to get much worse for the Nationals. They've been on the wrong end of too many blowouts, had too many losing streaks, too many games where they've scored one or zero runs and watched another of their starters get stuck with a tough-luck loss. Remarkably enough, they're still not out of things just yet, despite all those defeats. The Nats are three games under .500 at 51-54, and are 8 1/2 games...

So have pitchers adjusted to Chris Davis? Why hasn't he homered since the All-Star break and why is he striking out so much right now? First of all, keep in mind that with 37 homers and 97 RBIs, Davis has already had a year that many players would be proud of over 162 games - and he's played only 104. But Davis has fanned in eight of 11 at-bats the last three games. In nine games since the All-Star break, he is 8-for-35 (.229) with no homers, four RBIs and a .596 OPS. He has fanned in 36...

Jason Hammel will attempt today to capture his first win since May 27, a span of nine starts. Hammel has five losses and four no-decisions since his last victory. He's allowed 20 hits combined in his last two outings, though he was credited with a quality start Tuesday after surrendering three runs in six innings in Kansas City. That's "quality" by definition. Hammel gave up 10 hits and walked four batters. The Orioles are keeping an eye on the pitching market despite their earlier...

After beating Boston last night and losing 7-3 tonight, Chris Davis was asked if that was a step back for the Orioles. "I don't think we took a step back, we just got beat," he said. "We can't put up six or seven runs every night. Stephen Drew had an outstanding night. I don't think we took a step back by any means." Davis went 1-for-3 tonight with a walk and two strikeouts. He has struck out eight times over the last three games and began tonight hitting just .208 this month. "You...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't confirm a roster move following tonight's 7-3 loss to the Red Sox, saying only that it's being "contemplated." Showalter said he would check the weather on Sunday, indicating that no announcement will come tonight. We'll see. LJ Hoes is in Baltimore and is expected to be officially recalled at some point. As for tonight's game, starter Scott Feldman took the loss after allowing four runs and six hits in five innings. Stephen Drew hit a three-run...

Stephen Drew had not hit very well against Orioles pitching this year, but he made up for some of that tonight. Drew homered twice and drove in five runs as Boston beat the Orioles 7-3 in front of a sellout of 44,765 at Camden Yards. It was Drew's second career two-homer game - his first came Aug. 25, 2010 at San Diego - and his five RBIs tied his career high. He began the night 2-for-20 on the season against the Orioles and batting .223 overall. He had gone 95 at-bats without a homer when...

Not ready to close shop after acquiring a starting pitcher and reliever this month, the Orioles continue to check on available hitters and have talked to the Phillies about Michael Young, according to an industry source. Young could serve as a right-handed designated hitter and a backup at the corner infield positions. Young, 36, is batting .278/.344/.404 with 18 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 32 RBIs in 96 games with the Phillies. He's making $16 million this season, his last...

Entering today's game, it had been 76 days since Dan Haren was last the winning pitcher in a baseball game. Some of the blame for that long winless streak doesn't fall on Haren. A lot of it does. But Haren has pitched much better since coming off the disabled list on July 8, and today he earned his fifth victory of the season after allowing just one run and three hits over seven innings in a 4-1 Nationals win over the Mets. "It's obviously been a long time since I had that winning...