Two days after being called into manager Buck Showalter's office and told that the Orioles were sending him down to Triple-A Norfolk, after having his baseball world shattered again like a fastball through a pane of glass, Brian Matusz headed for the bullpen at Camden Yards and picked up the pieces. Brady Anderson, the club's special assistant, put on full catching gear - including a left-handed mitt designed by Rawlings - and caught Matusz's side session Tuesday while the Orioles were in...

Nationals right-hander Drew Storen came in for the eighth inning Saturday and got hit a bit during the second game of his rehab assignment for high Single-A Potomac. Leading 3-1, Storen allowed two runs on two hits and a walk, with only one of the runs earned. He did finish out the inning. Storen faced six batters. Storen told reporters he was a little disappointed the outing did not go as well as Thursday, but that is not the most important reason for these rehab games. It is about making...

Rookie left fielder Xavier Avery misplayed Mark Trumbo's single leading off the fourth inning tonight for the Orioles' 75th error this season, tops in the majors. It came back to bite them. Trumbo moved to third on Alberto Callaspo's fly ball and scored on Howie Kendrick's single through a drawn-in infield to give the Angels a 1-0 lead against starter Jason Hammel. The defense wasn't done complicating Hammel's inning. Erick Aybar, who reached on a force play, went from first to third...

BOWIE, Md. - After playing with the Double-A Bowie Baysox tonight, both Nick Markakis and Taylor Teagarden said they hope they can rejoin the Orioles next Friday when the second half begins. Markakis went 2-for-3 with two homers and four RBIs in Bowie's 7-1 win over Akron. He hit two-run homers in the third and seventh innings. He had surgery on his right wrist about five weeks ago and had it wrapped after tonight's game. "I felt good," Markakis said. "Just trying to get some at-bats and...

We know Bryce Harper was named to the All-Star Game. We know Ian Desmond has opted out of the All-Star Game. Now, let's discuss the actual game which was played at Nationals Park today. Gio Gonzalez went six innings, allowing just one run on three hits in the Nationals' 4-1 win over the Rockies. "Gio pitched an outstanding game," manager Davey Johnson said. "He was going to fight me again after throwing 100 pitches in a tie ballgame, he didn't want to leave the game tied. I said,...

After learning that he'd been selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, Ian Desmond took a few days to decide how to proceed. He was honored to be chosen for the National League team by NL manager Tony La Russa, but given that he's been battling a sore left oblique recently, Desmond also wanted to use the All-Star break to get some rest. He talked things over with Nationals manager Davey Johnson, spoke to general manager Mike Rizzo, and then called La Russa to inform...

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has been named by 2012 National League All-Star manager Tony La Russa to replace Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton on the N.L.'s active roster for the 83rd All-Star Game, Major League Baseball announced today. Stanton, a first-time All-Star, will be inactive for the All-Star Game due to a right knee injury. Harper entered Saturday with a .283 batting average, eight home runs, 25 RBI and 42 runs scored in his 61 games played. The...

BOWIE, Md. - Nick Markakis seems to be enjoying his return tonight to the Eastern League, even if it will be temporary. He has hit a pair of two-run homers this evening against Akron as Bowie leads 7-1 in the seventh. In his second at-bat at Prince George's Stadium, Markakis hit a two-run homer off knuckleballer Steven Wright's 3-0 pitch to give the Bowie Baysox a 2-1 lead over Akron. With two outs and none on in the last of the third, leadoff hitter Antoan Richardson drew a walk and then...

Bryce Harper will be on the National League All-Star roster after all. Harper will replace Miami Marlins All-Star Giancarlo Stanton, who was forced to drop out following a knee injury that will require surgery. NL manager Tony La Russa hand-picked Harper following Stanton's injury. Harper is the fourth Nationals player named to the All-Star team, along with teammates Gio Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg and Ian Desmond. However, Desmond was forced to pull out of the game Saturday with a sore left...

Chris Davis, who missed the last two games with a strained right trapezius muscle, has returned to the Orioles' lineup tonight and will start in right field. First baseman Joe Mahoney will make his major league debut against Angels right-hander Jered Weaver. Big challenge for Big Irish in his first big league game. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis RF Adam Jones CF Jim Thome DH Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Joe Mahoney 1B Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel...