It sure makes it easier to win when your pitching staff gives up 10 runs over a five-game stretch. And it was seven before the ninth inning Sunday. Before this win streak, the Orioles had lost six of seven games and they gave up 45 runs during those six losses. Pretty easy to note the difference. By the way, seldom will you see a player not produce a hit, score a run or have an RBI with a better game than Taylor Teagarden had Sunday. He caught Zach Britton and the two that followed him to the...

After watching the Orioles for 95 games, I've come to the conclusion that the only thing they do consistently is fail to hit with runners in scoring position. Otherwise, they're all over the map. The rotation is good, bad and good again. It's strung together five consecutive quality starts, which was unimaginable a week ago. The bullpen has been outstanding for most of the season, but the starters' early exits had caused cracks to form in it. Remove the ninth inning yesterday, and the...

Aaron Baker, who leads all Orioles minor leaguers this season with 22 homers and 76 RBIs, suffered an oblique injury today during batting practice with Double-A Bowie and the injury could keep him out for the rest of the season. Sometimes, these types of injuries can take four to six weeks to heal and there are only about six weeks remaining in the minor league regular season. The 24-year-old Baker was acquired by the Orioles from the Pirates last July 30 in a deal for then-O's first...

In Davey Johnson's eyes, today was "bittersweet." The Nationals lost Ian Desmond for at least a couple of weeks with a torn left oblique. They also dominated the Braves, notching a 9-2 win over their NL East rivals. That gave them a big series split and allowed them to retake a 3 1/2-game lead in the division. If you're going to lose your All-Star shortstop, you might as well do some damage to your top division contender, as well. "We didn't want them to come into our house and leaving...

It certainly is never a good thing when you lose a starting position player, especially one as important as shortstop Ian Desmond. But Danny Espinosa, who is a natural shortstop, has gotten hot at the plate at just the right time. And the Nationals are going to need him now for what could be an extended period of time with the news that Desmond is out with a tear in his left oblique. "That is a big loss," Espinosa said. "Ian has done unbelievable for this year. From defense to hitting,...

It's been a stunning five days of pitching by the Orioles. Since giving up 25 runs in losses Monday and Tuesday at Minnesota, the Orioles now have a five-game win streak during which they have given up ten total runs. Zach Britton pitched six shutout innings today as the Orioles beat Cleveland 4-3. Britton gave up four hits with two walks and five strikeouts, throwing 104 pitches. The Orioles entered this series with a 7-18 record at Cleveland since 2004. But a win Monday night there would...

The Nationals had hoped that Ian Desmond would be able to battle through a lingering oblique injury and continue playing, providing pop in the middle of their order as well as his usual dazzling defense. That won't happen. An MRI this morning revealed a tear in Desmond's left oblique, and the All-Star shortstop will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, manager Davey Johnson said after today's game. "I was a little concerned (last night) and this morning when he said it felt like...

Some mid-game notes as the Orioles lead the Tribe 2-0 after four innings: * Zach Britton has allowed just two hits so far and has gotten seven groundball outs among his nine outs. It is always a good sign for Britton to get groundballs with his sinker. Britton pitched to an ERA of 2.81 over his last five Triple-A starts before giving up four runs in four innings Tuesday at Minnesota. Britton had a 2.14-to-1 ratio of ground-to-air outs in his eight Norfolk starts. * J.J. Hardy had been in a...

When the Orioles hit a home run, they tend to do it without flying solo. Eleven of their last 15 homers have come with runners on base, including J.J. Hardy's two-run shot in the top of the first inning today that gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead against Indians starter Josh Tomlin. Meanwhile, 21 of the last 23 home runs allowed by the Orioles have come with the bases empty. Nick Markakis reached on an infield hit, making him 15-for-40 in the leadoff spot, and Hardy followed with his 14th home...

Don't look now, but not only has Ryan Flaherty homered in back-to-back games, but he has hit three homers over his last 19 at-bats. That came after he had hit just one homer in his first 91 Orioles at-bats. This also comes at a time when some fans were becoming vocal about Flaherty and wondering why the Orioles were keeping the Rule 5 pick on the roster. Buck Showalter has said a few times this year that Flaherty could have a chance to be a big league regular later in his career. But as a...