Orioles manager Buck Showalter and shortstop J.J. Hardy used the same logic and arguments to defend starter Jason Hammel, who earned his first career ejection today in the fourth inning after surrendering three consecutive home runs and hitting Matt Tuiasosopo with the next pitch. The ball kept slipping out of Hammel's hand today, especially when he tried to throw his slider. And if you're going to drill a batter on purpose, you do it with a fastball to make the intent perfectly...

Jason Hammel was ejected from a game for the first time in the big leagues today. He didn't think he should have been tossed after he hit Detroit's Matt Tuiasosopo one pitch after yielding three straight homers in the top of the fourth inning. "I'm not going to make a big deal of - I hit him with a slider. Zero intent there to hit him," Hammel said. "Obviously I gave up the three home runs, but I'm not the guy that answers getting hit around with hitting somebody. That is bush league...

ATLANTA - Jayson Werth finds himself in Woodbridge, Va., again tonight, as he'll suit up for high Single-A Potomac for the third straight night as part of his rehab assignment. Nationals manager Davey Johnson said the plan is for Werth to play a full nine innings tonight, and if everything goes well, Werth would then rest tomorrow and be ready to return to the Nationals on Tuesday when they open a series against the Mets. Ross Detwiler is not as close to returning to action, however....

Miguel Cabrera homered again and this time it was a grand slam. Prince Fielder homered. The Tigers scored eight runs in an inning and Jason Hammel was ejected. It could have been a better Saturday for the Orioles, who gave up four homers in one inning for the first time in team history as Detroit pounded the Birds 10-3 behind Justin Verlander. After giving up three consecutive homers to Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila during the Tigers' eight-run fourth, Hammel was ejected...

ATLANTA - A day after Stephen Strasburg left his outing against the Braves just two innings in, the Nationals have a bit more clarity on his injury, but the timetable surrounding when he'd be able to return is still uncertain. Manager Davey Johnson said that Strasburg underwent an MRI back in D.C. today, which revealed a slight strain in his back/side. The Nationals have not yet determined whether Strasburg will be able to make his next start, instead choosing to monitor his progress over...

It's gone from bad to worse for Orioles starter Jason Hammel, who will spend the rest of his afternoon in the Orioles' clubhouse. And not because manager Buck Showalter removed him from the game. Hammel served up back-to-back-to-back home runs to Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila to open the top of the fourth inning, giving Detroit a 4-1 lead. His next pitch sliced near Matt Tuiasosopo's head, hitting the Tigers left fielder on the left shoulder, and plate umpire Hunter...

Jason Hammel has matched his season high for walks today, and he hit the mark after only 1 2/3 innings. Not good. Hammel has issued three free passes, as he also did in four other starts. Factor in two singles, and he's fortunate to only be trailing 1-0. Five of the first nine batters reached against Hammel, including Matt Tuiasosopo, who singled in the second inning to score Victor Martinez after Alex Avila grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to nearly take Hammel off the hook. I also...

Is Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander in a slump? After pitching to an ERA of 2.40 when he won the 2011 American League Cy Young Award and a 2.64 ERA when he finished second in 2012, he is 6-4 now with an ERA of 3.68 over 11 starts. That almost qualifies as an off year for him. And over his last three starts, Verlander has pitched to an ERA of 9.82 with a batting average against of .354. What is going on here? Observers of the Tigers feel Verlander's fastball command has not been at its usual...

ATLANTA - Davey Johnson is going with the same lineup from 1-8 in the batting order tonight, leaving Steve Lombardozzi in the No. 2 spot, Roger Bernadina in the No. 6 spot and Danny Espinosa hitting seventh. Lombardozzi will play left field for the second straight game while Bernadina will play right. Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.90 ERA) starts tonight for the Nats. Gonzalez is coming off a rough start his last time out, when he allowed eight hits, four runs and four walks over 5 2/3 innings in a...

The Washington Nationals today placed outfielder Bryce Harper on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to May 27, with left knee bursitis and recalled right-handed pitcher Erik Davis from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Davis went 1-2 with seven saves and a 3.00 ERA in 21 relief appearances this season with the Chiefs, posting 10.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (27 K/24.0...