Well, at least Adam Jones stayed in the game after getting hit by a pitch on his left hand tonight. Other than that, not a lot went right again this evening for the Orioles in a 4-1 loss at Rogers Centre. Toronto swept the three-game series by a 18-9 score and is 33-7 against the Orioles in the last 40 games between the two teams at home in Toronto. Losing pitcher Jason Hammel entered this start having allowed just three homers all year in 55 innings. Tonight, he gave up four solo shots as...

Jason Hammel doesn't give up home runs. Until tonight. Now he's passing them out like ballpark peanuts. Hammel has served up four home runs in five innings, all of them solo shots to give Toronto a 4-1 lead. The roll call consists of Edwin Encarnacion, Rajai Davis, Brett Lowrie and Colby Rasmus. I'm waiting for Pat Borders and Garth Iorg to grab a bat. Once again, starting pitching is hurting the Orioles. So is their lack of offense. Maybe they need to get angry again. Where's...

The runners in scoring position (RISP) stat has been a key one for the Orioles this year. The team is hitting .241 on the season when batting with runners in scoring position. Over the last four games, all losses, the Orioles are batting just .121 (4-for-33) when hitting with RISP. RISP stats for the Orioles the last four games: *Went 0-for-2 Saturday against KC. *Went 1-for-11 Sunday against KC. *Went 2-for-8 Monday at Toronto. *Went 1-for-12 Tuesday at Toronto. That has led to the O's...

This would probably fall under the heading of team business and not be something necessarily shared with a reporter but when Jonathan Schoop, one of the Orioles top prospects, was removed from Double-A Bowie's game this afternoon, I wondered if there had been an injury. There was no injury and it appears that Schoop was taken out of that game at Akron because he attempted to make an unnecessary play on a groundball that may have not sit well with the Bowie coaches looking on in the dugout. I...

After making a strong first impression last night by smacking a pinch hit, opposite-field double in his first major league at-bat, Jhonatan Solano will get another first tonight: he'll make his first big league start behind the plate. Solano will catch Chien-Ming Wang and hit eighth for manager Davey Johnson. Perhaps because of his past success against Marlins starter Josh Johnson, Roger Bernadina will get his first start since May 19 and will play right field, while Bryce Harper will move...

As expected, Nick Markakis will sit out tonight's game while nursing a sore right wrist. Endy Chavez will play left field and Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty will start in right. Chris Davis will bat third, as Markakis vacates the lineup for the first time this season. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Wilson Betemit 3B Ryan Flaherty RF Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP For the Blue Jays: Yunel Escobar SS Colby Rasmus...

Last night, the Nationals squared off against Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez, who still has never lost to the Nats in what's now 19 career starts. Who do the Nats face tonight as they look to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Fish? None other than Josh Johnson, who has never lost to the Nationals in 14 career starts. Fantastic. Johnson has gone 7-0 with a 3.14 ERA in his career against Washington, striking out 82 Nats over 83 innings pitched. The righty's 2012 numbers have been...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed in a text message today that right fielder Nick Markakis is scheduled to have his right wrist examined by a hand specialist tomorrow in Sarasota during the club's off day. X-rays taken on Markakis' wrist came back negative. Markakis' status for tonight's series finale in Toronto remains unknown. Manager Buck Showalter won't post his lineup until later this afternoon. Markakis has started all 50 games this season - 48 in right field...

Left-hander Matt Purke made his professional debut Wednesday at Greensboro for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. Purke allowed a controversial two-run homer that appeared foul, and an RBI double, leaving after five innings with the Suns down 5-3. He finished scattering seven hits, allowing five runs, five walks and struck out one on an estimated 83 pitches. The home run appeared close to being or could have been a foul ball, according to a club source. Manager Brian Daubach argued the...

When it comes to projecting what might happen in the First-Year Player Draft, few are more clued in and informed then Jim Callis of Baseball America. With the first-round of the draft set for Monday night, Callis is projecting that the Orioles will wind up with a college pitcher with the fourth pick in round one. "So much can change between now and the draft," Callis said. "But I still think Mark Appel, the Stanford right-hander, is going one (to Houston). Still think Byron Buxton the...