The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds begin a new season on Monday at Hudson Valley and then open at home at Ripken Stadium next Wednesday against that same team. Aberdeen's manager is Gary Allenson, the Orioles' Triple-A skipper the last five seasons at Norfolk. His pitching coach is former Oriole Alan Mills and the batting coach is former Double-A Bowie skipper Brad Komminsk. Right-hander Sebastian Vader, the Orioles 18th-round pick in 2010, is going to be the IronBirds' opening...

With the Nationals still atop the National League East, there has been much talk lately about the All-Star Game and which Nats deserve to go. However, it's a safe bet that no one in a Washington uniform will be voted into the starting lineup, since none of the regulars is close to the lead at any position. That leaves pitchers, the team's main strength this season, and reserves. Their fate is up to NL manager Tony LaRussa and his staff. On the mound, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez...

The Orioles tagged Erik Bedard for seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings Thursday night, hanging a rare interleague loss on the former O's lefty. For his career, Bedard was 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA, 1.011 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings in interleague play prior to last night's game. Some of his finest interleague outings came in Baltimore, including a dominating run through the senior circuit in 2006. Bedard went 3-0 against the National League in 2006 with a 1.29 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, and...

It started as just a simple idea, one which took shape during a conversation in the Zimmerman living room back in early 2006. Ryan Zimmerman, fresh off a season which saw him make his major league debut, wanted to start a foundation which would raise money to benefit the treatment and ultimate cure of Multiple Sclerosis, the debilitating disease which his mother Cheryl was diagnosed with in 1995. The ziMS foundation was born, and initially was focused around a charity golf tournament in...

Here is an interesting contrast in stats for the Orioles' offense. They scored just 25 runs during a nine-game road trip that preceded the homestand that ended last night. But they scored 44 runs during the six games at Camden Yards. In the three-game series against Pittsburgh, the Orioles scored 27 runs on 44 hits with a .396 team batting average along with 12 doubles and seven homers. In the six games during the homestand, they batted .310 with 71 hits including 16 doubles and 11 home...

The Orioles began last night's game against the Pirates with the lowest bullpen ERA in the majors at 2.40. Darren O'Day gave them a scoreless seventh inning, retiring the side in order. Dana Eveland allowed a run in two innings, which the Orioles didn't mind conceding in a 12-6 victory. Tommy Hunter collected his first win since April 24 because the Orioles showered him with runs and the 'pen protected his lead. The unit hasn't fallen out of step without Matt Lindstrom, who posted a 1.29...

Steve Pearce is batting .320 with eight RBIs in seven games with the Orioles. He'd probably like a few more against the Pirates, who watched him homer and drive in five runs tonight after he went 2-for-3 with an RBI last night. "It's nice playing against the Pirates. It just feels good having a great game and helping contribute to this win," he said. "I'm just looking for the opportunity. The biggest thing with me over the years was I just wasn't able to stay healthy, I earned playing...

The Orioles have won five games in a row for the third time this season. They've won seven of their last nine games and have taken their last three series. The Orioles scored a season-high 12 runs tonight, giving them 27 in this series, and Steve Pearce delivered a career-high five against his former team. What kind of impression is Pearce making on manager Buck Showalter? "Good one," Showalter said. "Taking advantage of the opportunity, providing some versatility, putting some good...

To see a player drive in five runs in one game is pretty rare. Before tonight, the Orioles had one player do it this season when Matt Wieters knocked in five on April 16 at Chicago. Tonight they had two players do it in one game as the Orioles beat Pittsburgh 12-6 in front of 29,995 at Camden Yards to sweep the three-game series. Both Wieters and Steve Pearce had five-RBI games tonight in a game where the Orioles roughed up their one-time ace, Erik Bedard, for seven runs and eight hits over 3...

Tommy Hunter retired the first 12 batters he faced tonight, which almost went unnoticed while the Orioles picked apart former Oriole Erik Bedard. Hunter was strong, striking out three of the first six Pirates, but he won't turn in a quality start. Not after allowing five runs and seven hits over six innings. Rod Barajas hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and the Pirates scored twice in the sixth on Casey McGehee's RBI grounder and Pedro Alvarez's single. Seven of 12 batters reached...