He was pitching for the first time in a big league game since April 21, but for struggling right-hander Jake Arrieta, the results were too similar to his first four starts of 2013 as Detroit beat the Orioles 5-1 at Comerica Park. He had an ERA of 6.63 in those April outings for the Orioles and tonight Arrieta allowed 10 hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings to fall to 1-2 with a 7.23 ERA. Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer to right in the first and Austin Jackson's RBI single made it 3-1 in...

The Orioles have reached agreement tonight with their fourth-round draft pick, catcher Jonah Heim from Amherst (N.Y.) High School. It is believed he agreed to the slot money signing bonus of $389,700 as the 129th pick overall in the draft. Heim, who will turn 18 on June 27, is a switch-hitter. He batted .522 as a senior with two homers and 24 RBIs and just three strikeouts in 21 games. He was rated as the 170th-best prospect by Baseball America. He still needs to pass his physical and...

PHILADELPHIA - Dan Haren had a 1-2-3 first inning, retiring Ben Revere, Michael Young and Jimmy Rollins in order to get his night started on a positive note. Over his next two innings of work, Haren allowed seven of the 12 hitters he faced to reach base. The right-hander served up five hits (three of which were for extra bases) and two walks, and three of those baserunners came around to score. Ryan Howard crushed a solo homer off Haren in the second, marking the 18th home run allowed by...

Triple Crown contender Miguel Cabrera hit his 19th home run tonight in Detroit. Triple Crown contender Chris Davis hit his 24th home run in the following inning. Two heavyweights standing toe-to-toe in the center of the ring, if you'll excuse the boxing analogy. Cabrera is ahead on points right now, since he belted a two-run shot off Jake Arrieta in the bottom of the first inning. Davis countered with a solo shot off Max Scherzer, the ball landing pretty much in the exact same spot. Cabrera...

PHILADELPHIA - Nationals manager Davey Johnson had a chat with his Phillies counterpart, Charlie Manuel, during the early stages of batting practice today. The two oldest managers in Major League Baseball had something in common that they could discuss. "We cried on each other's shoulders about our offenses," Johnson quipped. Asked who did more crying, Johnson said that he did because he's the older of the two, but really, the fact that the Nats are tied for 28th in the majors in runs...

PHILADELPHIA - A week ago today, Dr. James Andrews saw Bryce Harper and confirmed that Harper has bursitis in his injured left knee. Dr. Andrews gave Harper cortisone and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) shots in the knee to try and get rid of the swelling and inflammation that had plagued him for weeks, and told the Nationals outfielder to rest for a week. Today, Harper was examined back in D.C. by Nationals medical director Dr. Wiemi Douoguih, and was given the go-ahead to begin what head trainer...

The Orioles announced today that left-hander Zach Britton will start Tuesday night's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Jason Hammel is being pushed back again while recovering from a stomach virus. The Orioles are off Thursday, and Hammel could start Friday night in Toronto. Britton made one start for the Orioles this season, allowing six runs and 10 hits in six innings in an April 29 game in Seattle. He's 3-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 11 starts with Triple-A Norfolk. Britton has allowed...

This past weekend, the Washington Nationals and Inova Blood Donor Services (IBDS) kicked off the first of two summer blood drives by knocking their overall donation goal out of the park. With more than 700 people registered to donate blood at Nationals Park on Saturday, June 15, IBDS collected more than 730 units of blood. "Nats fans truly rallied around blood donation. More than 1,890 patients will benefit from the record number of blood products collected at the ballpark in one day,"...

Chris Dickerson is serving as the Orioles' designated hitter for tonight's series opener against the Detroit Tigers. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. Nothing unusual about this lineup. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson DH Ryan Flaherty 2B Jake Arrieta RHP For the Tigers Austin Jackson CF Torii Hunter RF Miguel Cabrera 3B Prince Fielder 1B Victor Martinez DH Jhonny...

The Orioles Gulf Coast League (GCL) team will play its first home game of the 2013 season at the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Saturday, June 22 at 10:00 a.m. vs. the GCL Rays. The GCL, which includes 14 teams in Florida, gives recently drafted or signed players their first experience in professional baseball. The Orioles GCL home games, which run through August, are open to the public at no cost. Parking also is free and located in the east lot. Game times and location are subject to change...