The high Single-A Potomac Nationals clinched the first-half division crown with a 8-0 win at Frederick. Jason Martinson hit three homers with four RBIs. He has 11 homers on the season. Right-hander A.J. Cole went seven innings, scattered four hits, no runs, two walks and struck out 10. He fired 92 pitches, 60 for strikes. Cole is now 4-2 with a 4.16 ERA. He has won three consecutive starts. It is looking pretty good for Taylor Jordan. He is the early leader for the organization's minor...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter let rookie Kevin Gausman start the top of the sixth inning, but he had left-hander Brian Matusz ready in the bullpen. Gausman was going to face two more batters before David Ortiz came to the plate. Shane Victorino flied out and Dustin Pedroia singled. With Ortiz representing the tying run, Showalter brought in Matusz for one of the more favorable matchups in baseball. Ortiz was 1-for-15 with 10 strikeouts against Matusz. Make it 1-for-16 after Ortiz popped...

We all know spring in Maryland brings unpredictable weather, but today was exceptionally whimsical. In the late afternoon, many of us in the Baltimore area saw all of the flash flood and tornado warnings on our phones and televisions. Around that time, it seemed near impossible that the Orioles would be able to play their series opener against the Red Sox. By game time, it was near-perfect weather for a night at the yard, but Mother Nature wasn't done yet. Around the fourth inning, we...

The Orioles have agreed to terms with their third-round draft pick, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College pitcher Stephen Tarpley, according to Baseball America's Jim Callis. A major league baseball source tonight confirmed the agreement for MASNsports.com Callis tweeted: O's agree to terms w/3rd-rder Stephen Tarpley for $525,000. Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC LHP is athletic, peaks at 95 w/fastball. The slot amount listed for that pick is $525,500. Tarpley was taken with the 98th overall...

The Orioles have won 11 of their last 15 games against the Boston Red Sox and 21 of their last 30. They've won five straight series and eight of nine dating back to Sept. 19, 2011. Manager Buck Showalter gave Nate McLouth the start in left field tonight against Boston left-hander Felix Doubront, leaving Steve Pearce on the bench. Pearce walked past the lineup card today and asked a reporter who was pitching for the Red Sox. There hasn't been a change. Showalter had his reasons. "If you...

The next four days we have a matchup at Camden Yards of the Orioles and Red Sox. We also have a matchup of the American League's stolen base leader and the best catcher in the AL in throwing out runners. Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury is 29-for-31 (93.5) in stealing bases and Matt Wieters has thrown out 52.2 percent at 12-for-23. If you can get on a roll stealing bases, Ellsbury is on one. He has stolen at least one base in his last five games, tying his career high (June 13-18, 2009) and tying...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked today whether he's comfortable using reliever Pedro Strop in any situation after yesterday's outing, when the right-hander allowed two inherited runners to score and four of his own. "What does 'comfortable' mean," Showalter replied. Will Showalter use Strop in any situation? "Well, it depends what the needs of our bullpen are," he said. "Yesterday, we had three or four guys that we weren't going to use. We've got some guys who, when...

Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold said he expects to begin his injury-rehab assignment Tuesday at Double-A Bowie. "That's what I'm shooting for," he said. Reimold ran sprints and did quick bursts today before the heavy rain arrived at Camden Yards. As long as his right hamstring didn't bark, he would be cleared to start playing again. "It's feeling better. I've made a lot of progress," he said. "I think you know when you're past the point where you're going to keep having...

Most hitters love playing at Coors Field. That's no secret. The ball travels further at altitude. Breaking pitches have less spin, leaving more balls hanging up in the zone. Ryan Zimmerman really, really loves playing at Coors Field. Zimmerman smoked a two-run homer to left with two outs in the third inning, giving the Nationals a 2-1 lead and further inflating Zimmerman's career numbers in Colorado. In 29 games at Coors Field, Zimmerman is now batting .365 (42-for-115) with eight home...

Pedro Strop said he is turning the page. Even as he is the primary topic on the local talk shows. and the focus of stories and blogs and message boards, Strop said he is focusing now on the next game and not his last game. "This is a new day," he said moments ago in the Orioles clubhouse. "I can't wait to pitch again. I can't wait to be back on the mound and do whatever I have to do to help my team win." He was asked if he is physically sound right now. "Yeah, my body feels pretty...