Miguel Gonzalez will pitch in a simulated game Friday, throwing about 25 pitches in the bullpen and 25-30 in the game. The Orioles want to control his environment - pitch count, pitch selection - and make sure he's available next week. Gonzalez is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday. He could start any of the next three nights after returning to the 25-man roster. As for today's 8-4 loss to the Padres, starter Freddy Garcia lasted only 3 2/3 innings and was charged with four...

Freddy Garcia got out of a jam in the first inning, but allowed two runs in the second, two runs in the fourth and took the loss this afternoon in the Orioles' 8-4 defeat against San Diego. He struggled with his control almost from the start as he falls to 0-2 with an ERA of 5.51 in three Orioles starts. "I was behind on the guys all day long," Garcia said. "Threw 75 pitches in 3 2/3, that's a lot. Second inning, got two outs and gave up that base hit for two runs right there. "I need...

Their starter struggled and failed to survive the fourth inning. They didn't have much success with runners in scoring position. They lost a pop-up in the sun that cost them a run and they got swept for the first time this year. It wasn't the best day for the Orioles, who lost 8-4 to San Diego in front of 32,418 fans at Camden Yards. Less than 24 hours after the Padres rallied in the ninth to win last night, they got O's starter Freddy Garcia, who was a Padre in spring training until they...

The Orioles are on the verge of being swept at home in a two-game series against the San Diego Padres. Marinate in that one for a while. Tommy Hunter served up a two-run homer to Alexi Amarista in the top of the seventh inning to leave the Orioles in a 7-2 hole. They got one run back in the bottom half on Adam Jones' RBI single. They still have six outs left. Let's see what they do with them. Hunter committed a throwing error with one out in the seventh, fielding Kyle Blanks bouncer to...

Right-hander Taylor Jordan was promoted last week from the high Single-A Potomac Nationals to the Double-A Harrisburg and did well in his first game with the Senators. The 24-year-old Jordan made his Harrisburg debut Sunday with four innings of shutout ball, allowing four hits, no runs, one walk and three strikeouts. In seven minor league starts this season, Jordan has gone 2-1 with a 1.12 ERA in seven starts, with 32 strikeouts and seven walks. Nationals director of player development Doug...

It's been a while since we've gotten a whiff of news about the Nationals' pursuit of a new spring training home. Depending on how you view the machinations, the saga has either plot twists befitting a taut mystery or all the kind of awkward exchange you felt when asking a date to the middle school dance. But there's new news, courtesy of this story in The News-Press of Fort Myers, one of the possible Sunshine State destinations for the Nationals. (a tip of the 'ol ballcap to @misschatter...

Freddy Garcia isn't making the Padres regret their decision to release him in spring training. Garcia has faced 11 batters in two innings and allowed two runs and five hits, with one walk and one strikeout. He's thrown 40 pitches, 24 for strikes. The Orioles turned a 5-4-3 double play on Carlos Quentin's ground ball to bail out Garcia in the first inning, but No. 9 hitter John Baker collected his first two RBIs of the season with a two-out single in the second. Garcia took a perfect game...

Here is the good news: Today's O's starter Freddy Garcia is 4-2 with a 2.51 career ERA in nine starts with seven career quality starts against the San Diego Padres. But the other side of that news is that he has not faced San Diego since June 12, 2005. Garcia makes his third Orioles start today and makes another bid to hang onto to and/or cement his rotation spot. He is 0-1 with an ERA of 4.26 in his first two outings. There certainly is some experience on the mound today at Camden Yards...

Miguel Gonzalez played catch in the outfield today, gradually increasing the distance until it turned into a long-toss session, and threw 35 pitches off the bullpen mound. He removed the bandage from around the blister on his right thumb for his last five or six throws and didn't experience any problems. Gonzalez expects to start Friday night for Double-A Bowie. He's still a candidate to start Tuesday night for the Orioles if his pitch count with the Baysox is low enough to make him...

For the Orioles, it is the case for the defense and it is a strong one. The Orioles have made just 11 errors all year, the fewest in the American League and behind only Arizona, with 10 for the fewest in baseball. While an error total alone only tells part of the defensive story, the Orioles have made just two errors over their last 17 games and just four in their last 24 games. Chris Davis said momentum in any game can turn on defense. "I think it is big for any team trying to make the...