The Orioles entered this game with a real challenge tonight, facing New York right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. He shut out the O's on five hits and 113 pitches April 14 at New York, giving up just one hit to the last 17 batters he faced that night. Kuroda is 6-2 with a 1.99 ERA on the year. He ranks second in the AL in ERA, and he's tied for fourth in wins and WHIP at 0.95. Over his last four starts, he has pitched to an ERA of 1.21 and, in three career starts previously against the O's, he is...

Hiroki Kuroda shut out the Orioles on five hits in his first start against them on April 14 in New York. Tonight, the Orioles strung together four hits with two outs in the first inning and took a 3-0 lead. I'm pretty sure that's Kuroda on the mound, but he doesn't resemble the same pitcher who shut them down with such ease in the Bronx. Kuroda had allowed three home runs in his first nine starts. He served up two in the first inning tonight, with Nick Markakis clearing the fence in...

The last two times the Nationals have handed their bullpen a lead in the late innings, that lead has disappeared and extra innings have been needed. Gio Gonzalez has given everything he had today, throwing 116 pitches over 7 1/3 scoreless innings, and now he'll hope the Nats bullpen can lock down a win. It's 1-0 Nats, with Bryce Harper's solo homer in the sixth still the only run on the board. The Nats had a golden chance to tack on an insurance run or two in the top of the eighth, but...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter passed along a lot of credit today to the LSU coaching staff for preparing Kevin Gausman for the professional level. The staff includes former Orioles bullpen coach Alan Dunn, who's now the Tigers' pitching coach. "They did a great job with him at LSU, Alan Dunn," Showalter said. "He came with pretty good times to the plate from the stretch. He came with some things, and that's why he was so intriguing in the draft. "He's going to face the best hitters...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter still won't confirm Kevin Gausman as Thursday night's starter against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. However, Gausman is on the taxi squad today, he's flying with the team to Toronto later tonight and he's going to start the series opener. The Orioles will just wait until Thursday afternoon to make the move official. They will have to remove players from the 25- and 40-man rosters. Jake Arrieta is the logical choice to be optioned back to Triple-A...

In a press briefing with reporters at Camden Yards this afternoon to talk about the call-up of Kevin Gausman, Orioles vice president Dan Duquette was also asked about infield prospect Jonathan Schoop, who is on the Triple-A Norfolk disabled list. The news doesn't sound very encouraging on Schoop. He has not played since May 12 and will see a doctor in California next week. "It sounds like he has a stress fracture of his low back," Duquette said. "He will need a period of rest, probably...

The first ball the Nationals hit out of the infield today came off the bat of their pitcher, Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez's line shot up the middle in the third inning also got the Nats in the hit column for the first time today. That's where this offense is at right now. The Nationals' 1-8 hitters are 0-for-9 with a walk and five strikeouts in the first three innings this afternoon. Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner has looked really sharp - especially in the first inning when he struck out...

Adam Jones is bothered by soreness in his groin, and Orioles manager Buck Showalter elected to use him as the designated hitter again tonight in the series finale against the New York Yankees. Jones could play center field, which is his preference, but Showalter is being careful with him. The Orioles will be playing four games on the artificial surface at Rogers Centre in Toronto beginning Thursday night. "He's not happy about it," Showalter said, "and that's a good thing." Outfielder...

Kevin Gausman got the news last night that he was headed to join the Orioles. He arrived in the Orioles clubhouse just after 3 p.m. today and later talked about his start tomorrow night when he will make his major league debut at Toronto. "Obviously, it is going to be real exciting," Gausman said. "You know, trying not to think about it too much and just keep doing what I've been doing, throwing strikes. Just try to pitch my game." So who did he first call after getting the good news...

The Orioles lineup for tonight's series finale against the New York Yankees includes Adam Jones serving as the designated hitter for the second consecutive game. Jones was bothered by a sore right leg late in Monday night's game. Chris Dickerson again will start in center field. Alexi Casilla will start at second base. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones DH Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson CF Alexi Casilla...