Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked again tonight about closer Jim Johnson, who blew his second straight save opportunity in a 10-6 loss to the Rays. "He had little command issues, but he usually works his way through them, like a lot of our pitchers, like all pitchers in the major leagues do at times," Showalter said. Showalter mentioned Desmond Jennings' broken-bat single into left field that loaded the bases with one out and the Orioles clinging to a one-run lead. But it wasn't...

The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned infielder Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A Norfolk. Flaherty, 26, is batting .133/.228/.233 in 30 games for the Orioles this season. Flaherty played second base in the ninth inning today in a 10-6 loss to the Rays. Yamaico Navarro started for the second consecutive game. A corresponding roster move will be announced on Sunday, and it figures to be another position player. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the club didn't need...

The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned infielder Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A Norfolk. Flaherty, 26, is batting .133/.228/.233 in 30 games for the Orioles this season. A corresponding roster move will be announced tomorrow.

Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold is hopeful that he can return from the disabled list as soon as he's eligible on May 27, but there's no way to be certain on this day. He's going to continue receiving treatment on his right hamstring and see how it responds. Reimold hasn't played since last Saturday. The Orioles placed him on the 15-day DL today after manager Buck Showalter talked it over with Reimold. "I had those days off where I hadn't played, and then when I did play, I wasn't...

After he suffered back-to-back blown saves and took the loss today against Tampa Bay, Jim Johnson said all the innings that the bullpen is having to pitch lately is not a factor in his form being off the last two outings. "No, that is not an excuse at all," Johnson said. "If you look at the way Buck sets the bullpen up and how he manages the game, not just for that day or the series. He puts guys in the right situations. With the way we used the pen yesterday, we were fine today. "We were...

Things are just not going well in Birdland these days. The Orioles took a 6-4 lead to the top of the ninth this afternoon, but Jim Johnson suffered his second straight blown save after converting 35 straight, as Tampa Bay scored six in the ninth to win 10-6 over the Orioles. With the loss, the Orioles' regular season win streak of 109 straight when leading after the seventh inning has ended. It's their first such loss since Aug. 8, 2011. Today, they led 6-4 after the seventh. Johnson gave...

Jair Jurrjens made Orioles history today. Jurrjens allowed the most extra-base hits (six) without a single in an Orioles debut in franchise history, according to the club's PR department. The Rays collected five doubles and a home run over five innings. Also, Jurrjens' six extra-base allowed are the second-most for an Oriole in his debut. John O'Donoghue allowed seven - four doubles and three home runs - on June 27, 1993 vs. the Yankees. Tommy Hunter has thrown two scoreless innings as...

With Ross Detwiler's back a concern, the Nationals will turn to long reliever Zach Duke for Monday's start, according to multiple reports from San Diego. Detwiler was forced to leave Wednesday's start after three innings because of spasms in his lower back suffered when reaching for a throw covering first base. An MRI revealed some "irregularity," so the left-hander will miss at least one start. Detwiler has been one of the Nats' most consistent pitchers, going 2-4 with a 2.76 ERA in...

If the Orioles aren't careful, Jair Jurrjens may expect this kind of offensive support in every start. The Orioles scored four runs off Rays starter Roberto Hernandez in the bottom of the first inning to give Jurrjens an early cushion in his debut with the club. Nick Markakis had an RBI double that scored Nate McLouth, who led off with a single, and Adam Jones and Chris Davis hit back-to-back home runs. Jones launched an 0-2 changeup into the left field seats. Davis crushed a 92 mph sinker,...

Chris Dickerson has made six starts this season, and the Orioles are 5-1 in those games. Not that he takes any credit for that, but it's a nice winning percentage. Dickerson is making his seventh O's start, today as the DH, after hitting a three-run homer in the eighth last night, which pulled the O's within 12-10 against Tampa Bay. Dickerson is batting .320 with a homer, six RBIs and an .866 OPS in 12 games. In his last five starts, he is 7-for-17 with two doubles and a homer. That is a...