Like Stephen Strasburg yesterday, Gio Gonzalez has been dominant through four innings today. We'll see if things go better for Gonzalez the rest of the way out than they did for Strasburg, who melted down in the fifth. Gonzalez has been perfect through four, retiring all 12 Cubs hitters he's seen, with three strikeouts. He's thrown just 43 pitches thus far, 29 for strikes. The velocity on Gonzalez's fastball has been a touch down today - he's sitting at 92-93 mph - but the Cubs...

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles scored three runs in the first inning last night. They scored two in the first inning today, and those runs came off the pink bat of first baseman Chris Davis. Davis hit the batter's eye in center field with a two-run shot off Twins left-hander Scott Diamond that traveled an estimated 442 feet and gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Players are wearing pink spikes and arm bands today to symbolize the fight against breast cancer. A few of them are using pink bats, including...

Right-hander A.J. Cole has now allowed just one earned run in his last two starts following a no-decision Saturday with the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. Last week, Cole was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for his six innings of shutout baseball versus Myrtle Beach. Then on Saturday, Cole spun five innings, surrendering just one run on five hits with three walks, one hit batter and seven strikeouts. Overall, Cole is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in seven starts with 41 strikeouts and nine...

MINNEAPOLIS - Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez will wait until Tuesday to throw his bullpen session. Gonzalez was supposed to throw today, but he wants to give his blister a few more days to heal. The area is still inflamed. Gonzalez is still scheduled to go on an injury-rehab assignment Thursday or Friday, affiliate to be determined. Tsuyoshi Wada could start his rehab assignment on Thursday at Triple-A Norfolk or Double-A Bowie. Kevin Gausman is scheduled to start for the Baysox on Thursday,...

So far this year, the Orioles have been more consistent than streaky. Their longest winning streak is four games. Their longest losing streak is three games, which came in the fifth, sixth and seventh games of the year. The Orioles have lost back-to-back games just twice this year. A loss today would be the third time for that. On their way to a 22-15 record, they have won eight of 11 series, including two in a row and six of their last seven. They need a win today to add to that, and the...

A very happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, especially my own, who is as good as they get, in my book. Players will be wearing pink cleats, wristbands, batting gloves and arm sleeves and using pink bats today in support of breast cancer awareness, and all baseballs used across Major League Baseball today will have pink stitches. Bryce Harper will even use a pink glove. I discussed Stephen Strasburg's fifth-inning struggles at length yesterday, but the guy who followed him to the...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled left-hander Mike Belfiore from Triple-A Norfolk. Belfiore, 24, was 1-0 with a 5.52 ERA (14.2IP, 9ER) in 10 games for the Tides. In 2012, with Double-A Bowie, Belfiore was 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA (47.1IP, 15ER) in 28 games. Originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round (45th overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Boston College, Belfiore was acquired by the Orioles on May 12, 2012 in exchange for infielder Josh...

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...