The Orioles tonight announced that they have optioned right-hander Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk. Johnson, 25, started Saturday's game at Minnesota and allowed six earned runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings in his season debut for the Orioles. A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow.

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles have recalled left-hander Mike Belfiore from Triple-A Norfolk as the replacement for pitcher Steve Johnson on the 25-man roster. Belfiore's flight landed from Syracuse, and he's headed to Target Field. Belfiore, 24, was acquired from the Diamondbacks on May 12, 2012 as the PTBNL in the Josh Bell trade. He's on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move isn't necessary. The Orioles now have four left-handers in their bullpen. Also, Freddy Garcia is available in...

After two days out of the Nationals lineup, Bryce Harper is back in there today, playing right field and hitting third. Harper had a minor surgical procedure Thursday night to remove an ingrown toenail on his left big toe, and he missed the Nats' last two games as he recovered from the operation. He returns for the finale of the Nats' three-game series with the Cubs. Steve Lombardozzi will get his first start in the outfield this season. He'll play left field, replacing Tyler Moore, who...

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles finish up their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins this afternoon and head back home. If you blinked, you may have missed this road trip. Their starters in the last two games have each lasted four innings. They're looking for left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to give them some length today and spare the bullpen, though they're adding another reliever as insurance. Chen lasted only four innings in a May 1 start in Seattle, but he went 6 1/3 against the Royals in...

BOWIE, Md. - It was not the easiest night to play or pitch. There was on-and-off rain. And, for a rare occasion, Kevin Gausman saw his command a bit on and off, too. The Orioles' 2012 first-round pick still pitched well, giving up just one run, but after walking just one batter in his first six starts over 35 2/3 innings, Gausman walked three last night in Double-A Bowie's 2-1 loss to Erie, going to a three-ball count nine times. "For the conditions, I felt pretty good," Gausman said. "I...

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles optioned pitcher Steve Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk following tonight's game. They will announce a corresponding roster move Sunday morning. They need to add a reliever who can pitch multiple innings. Making his first start for the Orioles this season, Johnson was changing speeds effectively over the first two innings while keeping the Twins off the scoreboard and protecting a 3-0 lead. And then? "I just kind of lost it," he said. Johnson wouldn't use the cold...

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles appear to be leaning toward making a roster move that would add a reliever for Sunday afternoon's game against the Minnesota Twins. "We're looking at it," said manager Buck Showalter following tonight's 8-5 loss to the Twins. Showalter needed Troy Patton to go two innings in relief of Steve Johnson, who allowed six runs and seven hits in four innings on a cold and windy night at Target Field. Brian Matusz and Pedro Strop each tossed a scoreless inning. The...

MINNEAPOLIS - Steve Johnson's 2013 debut with the Orioles lasted only four innings and could lead to another roster move following tonight's game. Johnson allowed six runs and seven hits in four innings, with four walks (one intentional), three strikeouts and a wild pitch. He threw 88 pitches, 48 for strikes. The fourth inning got away from him. The Twins sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs to take a 6-4 lead. Brian Dozier had a two-run double, and Justin Morneau had a...

Stephen Strasburg retired 12 of the first 13 hitters he faced today. He then retired just one of his last eight hitters before being pulled after five innings of work. Strasburg started off dominant, then faded after Ryan Zimmerman's throwing error with two outs in the fifth inning. Following that error, Strasburg walked the Cubs' No. 8 hitter, Darwin Barney, who came into today hitting .153 on the season. He then allowed a two-run double to Edwin Jackson, the opposing pitcher, who didn't...

For a while, it looked like this afternoon's outing was going to be Stephen Strasburg's best of the season. Through his first 4 2/3 innings, he'd allowed just two Cubs baserunners and had struck out seven. He was mowing hitters down with a fastball that topped out at 98 mph and worked in dazzling off-speed pitches. By the time the fifth inning ended, Strasburg had allowed five hits, two walks and four runs, and the Nationals suddenly trailed 4-0. A Ryan Zimmerman error with two outs and...