Sometimes, you just run into a hot pitcher. You face a guy that can't be touched. Last night was one of those times. Mike Fiers has come out of nowhere. He was selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 draft out of little-known Nova Southeastern University and didn't make his first appearance in the big leagues until he was 26. Apparently the guy is a late bloomer. Fiers dominated the red-hot Nationals last night, allowing just four hits and striking out nine over 6 1/3 scoreless...

The countdown continues to Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline. I'm thinking about selling T-shirts outside the ballpark. Or perhaps I'll just leave the country and avoid all the rumors. I was reminded yesterday by a member of the organization that just because a name is linked to the Orioles - usually via Twitter - doesn't mean they contacted the other team. It's often happening in reverse. Teams that are trying to unload pitchers know the Orioles are looking for another starter. I...

With the great season he has had, what Orioles fan wouldn't have taken Jim Johnson on the mound last night with a one-run lead in the ninth? The Orioles had come back from 5-0 and 8-6 deficits, and after a stirring three-run last of the eighth, their All-Star closer needed three outs to end an uplifting comeback win to start a big weekend series. Instead, Johnson gave up six runs - the most he's ever allowed as a reliever - and the red-hot A's won again, beating the Orioles 14-9. Instead...

Closer Jim Johnson posted a 1.21 ERA in the first half of the season. He's allowed 13 earned runs, and 15 total, in 6 1/3 innings since the All-Star break. The six earned runs tonight are a career high for Johnson as a reliever. "I fell behind and a couple balls got through," he said. "It just kind of happened. It obviously wasn't my best day." Did it just snowball on him? "Eventually, with the results, it did," he said. "I didn't feel like that at the moment. I felt like the...

The Orioles are now 41-1 when leading after the eighth inning. They were ahead 9-8 going into the top of the ninth before Jim Johnson was charged with six runs in a 14-9 loss to the Athletics. Naturally, he was the focus of the early portion of manager Buck Showalter's postgame session with the media. "They didn't really square up a ball off him," Showalter said. "They had a ball chopped over there, and Mark (Reynolds) made a great play to start the inning. A flare down the line,...

Ross Detwiler was cruising along through 3 2/3 innings tonight. He'd allowed just two hits, had struck out three and was making quick work of a tough Brewers lineup. Then Detwiler got hit fairly hard, and it happened in a hurry. The lefty allowed three straight extra-base hits with two outs in the fourth, the middle of which was a two-run homer by Corey Hart. In the fifth, Detwiler again retired two quick outs before the Brewers brought another run across. Norichika Aoki ripped a double,...

The Orioles were trailing, 5-0, after two innings tonight. They took a 6-5 lead in the fifth. They fell behind by two runs in the sixth. Fans booed, fans cheered, fans booed again. Miguel Socolovich replaced Zach Britton with a runner on first and one out in the sixth. He walked two batters to load the bases, and pinch-hitter Seth Smith cleared them with a double into left-center field. Hence, the latest round of booing. Britton is charged with six runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He...

Chris Davis hit a solo homer tonight in the last of the second. His liner to right got out of here in a hurry and was his 17th homer of the year and second in two games. Davis leads the Orioles in home runs at home. That was No. 12 for him. He began today batting .277 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 41 home games. He has a slugging percentage of .552 and OPS of .877 at home, compared to one of .662 in road games. Here are the O's leaders in home homers: 12 - Chris Davis 9 - J.J. Hardy & Adam...

Forget what I wrote earlier about Robert Andino beginning his injury-rehab assignment next week at Double-A Bowie. The Orioles have decided to get him started earlier and at a higher level. The team announced that Andino will play at Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday and Monday. He's eligible to come off the disabled list on Tuesday and could join the team in New York. Andino is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a strained left shoulder. He fielded ground balls during batting practice today...

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is back in the lineup tonight, set to make his 97th start of the year, despite getting hit in the ribcage yesterday in the fifth inning by Tampa Bay's James Shields. Hardy had X-rays taken, which were negative. "I'm not anticipating any problems," he said today. "It is sore to the touch, but I'm not worried about swinging or throwing. I haven't tested it yet, but I don't think it will be a problem. "It got better as the game went on. But for that next...