Bryce Harper made the All-Star team last year as a reserve. This year, he goes in as a starter. Harper was one of the top three vote-getters among National League outfielders in the All-Star fan voting, meaning he'll start the Midsummer Classic, making him the youngest NL player to ever start the game. "I'm very blessed to be part of that," Harper said. "I'm just very excited. I got to thank the fans of D.C. and Las Vegas and everywhere else that voted for me. I'm very excited to do...

There are always a few surprises when the All-Star teams are announced. It's simple math, really - too many deserving players, not enough spots. The need to make sure each National League team is represented is one complicating factor. So is the fact that some positions are just too heavy with potential representatives, while others are thin. The Nationals had two players chosen to the National League All-Star team, and the announcement was made a short time ago live on FOX. Bryce Harper was...

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter downplayed the All-Star voting for much of the process, relying on reporters for updates, turning his attention to it only in the final week. Showalter cast his ballots a few days ago. And he showed his pride in the four representatives this afternoon while meeting with reporters following a 5-4 loss to the Yankees. "I'm real proud of them," he said. "Could have been some others. You look at the competition for these spots, I'm real proud of all...

NEW YORK - For the first time since 2005, the Orioles will have four representatives at the All-Star Game. Outfielder Adam Jones, first baseman Chris Davis and shortstop J.J. Hardy were voted into the Midsummer Classic, which will be played July 16 at Citi Field in New York. Third baseman Manny Machado was chosen as a reserve. Davis leads all of Major League Baseball with 8,272,243 votes, passing Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera (8,013,874). Nick Markakis fell out of the top three in...

The Nationals will have at least two representatives in this year's All-Star Game. That number could end up growing to three. Bryce Harper is heading back to the Midsummer Classic, this time as a starter, while Jordan Zimmermann will make his first career All-Star appearance. Harper, who in his rookie season last year made the National League All-Star team as a reserve, earned a starting spot this year as one of the top three vote-getters among NL outfielders. Harper had fallen to fourth in...

It's a good thing Bryce Harper tried to talk himself into the Nationals' lineup. It's also a good thing Davey Johnson was willing to listen. Harper has bounced back from a rough last few games by drawing a bases-loaded walk and slapping an RBI single in his first three at-bats, producing two of the Nats' three RBIs and helping to briefly push them to a 3-1 lead. The single, which came with one out in the fifth inning, scoring Denard Span, was Harper's first hit since Monday. After...

NEW YORK - I have postgame quotes from Chris Tillman and Chris Davis, and one clever title to my blog entry. Tillman on his start "I felt good physically. The stuff was there. I fell behind every now and then. These guys grind out at-bats and make you throw a lot of pitches early. Give them credit. It was a tough one for me today. These guys grind away the whole game. They put consistent, good at-bats throughout the game. It wears on you, but at the same time, you know you've got to make...

NEW YORK - The Orioles have lost three straight games, all by one run. They're now 12-14 in one-run games this season, compared to 29-9 last year. The Yankees had 10 hits today off starter Chris Tillman, all of them singles, in a 5-4 win before 42,678. "But they're hits," said manager Buck Showalter. "They're getting them at the right time. The same has happened for us, too." Tillman gave up five runs and threw 111 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. "He made some good pitches," Showalter...

For the third straight day, the Orioles lost by one run. They fall to 1-4 on this road trip, losing to New York 5-4 at Yankee Stadium. At 48-39, the Yankees move into second place in the AL East ahead of the Orioles, who are 48-40. The Yankees handed Chris Tillman his first lost since May 19. The Orioles had won Tillman's last eight starts. Tillman gave up five runs and 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. He entered today having allowed more than four runs in just two of his 17 starts on the year....

NEW YORK - The Orioles made another trade today, acquiring infielder Alex Liddi and International Signing Bonus Slot No. 3 from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for the Orioles' International Signing Bonus Slot No. 2. Liddi has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Liddi, 24, has appeared in 61 major league games for the Mariners since 2011, batting .208/.266/.370 with six home runs and 16 RBIs. This year, he's hitting .263/.322/.454 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 59 games with Triple-A...