Left fielder Roger Bernadina returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Friday. He had been struggling at the plate to start the season, hitting a paltry .143 with just one RBI. But Bernadina hasn't sulked or moped around the clubhouse during the past few games. He continued to take extra swings to get his rhythm back. "I have been hitting a lot in the cage," Bernadina said. "I didn't feel rushed or anything. I was seeing the ball good. That was an important part to see the...

I feel like I could copy and paste any recent blog about Jordan Zimmermann not getting run support into this space and pass it off as my latest entry. But I wouldn't dare do that to you. Well, maybe I would if I was a little more tired and wanted to get out of the press box quicker. The story keeps repeating itself: Zimmermann turns in a quality start, gets minimal offensive help and gets stuck with a loss he didn't deserve or a no-decision he shouldn't have been stuck with. Tonight,...

CHICAGO - Manager Buck Showalter counted three mental errors by the Orioles tonight, which played a role in their 8-1 loss to the White Sox at rainy U.S. Cellular Field. The most glaring one came in the sixth inning, after left-hander Troy Patton replaced starter Tommy Hunter with the bases loaded, two outs and the White Sox leading, 5-1. Catcher Matt Wieters called for a breaking ball. That's not what he got. Adam Dunn, batting .179 before tonight, cleared the bases with a double, and the...

CHICAGO - In his previous start in Toronto, Orioles right-hander Tommy Hunter surrendered four home runs over six innings in a 7-5 victory. The White Sox have homered twice off Hunter in four innings tonight to build a 4-1 lead over the Orioles at U.S. Cellular Field. A.J. Pierzynski's two-run shot in the second erased the Orioles' 1-0 lead. The White Sox loaded the bases in the third, and Alex Rios came through with a sacrifice fly. And Alejandro De Aza homered with two outs in the fourth...

We're all knotted up 1-1 as we head to the top of the eighth, after Roger Bernadina smacked an opposite-field, two-out double in the bottom of the eighth, plating Rick Ankiel. Finally, some offense. It was just the Nationals' fourth hit of the ballgame, but it did the trick. Jordan Zimmermann is now off the hook, and while he still won't leave Nats Park with his first win of the season, he also won't get another tough-luck loss. The Nats had a chance to take the lead after Bernadina's...

Jordan Zimmermann has allowed one run through six innings. Is it possible for the offense to put two runs on the board and get this guy a win? Zimmermann has been sharp tonight in cool conditions, giving up just four hits and needing only 78 pitches to get through his six frames. But yet again, he's getting no offensive support, and trails 1-0 as we head to the bottom of the sixth. In the 20 innings that Zimmermann has been on the mound this season, the Nats have scored one run. That's...

While the Orioles began today in first place in the American League East, they began in last place in the AL in some defensive stats. They rank at the bottom of the league in fielding percentage at .973 and have the most errors with 12 through Tuesday's games. Matt Wieters has thrown out four of 13 base stealers so far to rank ninth in the league at 30.8 percent. Yes, the Orioles need to tighten up on the D. They do lead the AL with 16 double plays, so they've got that going for...

CHICAGO - Darren O'Day got out of a huge jam last night after replacing Wei-Yin Chen in the sixth inning, entering with runners on the corners and one out and preserving a 3-2 lead. He's made three straight scoreless appearances over 3 2/3 innings. O'Day figures to be tough on right-handers with his sidearmed delivery, and he's held them to a .214 average over his career. However, left-handers are batting only .246 against him lifetime, including .229 in 2010. His value to manager Buck...

CHICAGO - Rain is in the forecast tonight and tomorrow. A few drops fell during batting practice. Apparently, it's really supposed to be bad tomorrow, when I'm scheduled to fly out of here at 8:05 p.m. I can't afford a lengthy delay. The Kubatko luck strikes again. Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked about his decision to use Nick Markakis as the designated hitter tonight. "We'll move it around," he said. "One of the assets we have in not having it locked down. I've got a...

The tarp has been pulled off the field, the drizzle here at Nationals Park has stopped, and we're set to start tonight's game on time. As for what will happen later on, well, we'll have to hope for the best. Since being optioned to the minors and subsequently requesting a trade, John Lannan has really struggled. In two starts for Triple-A Syracuse since his surprising demotion two days prior to the start of the regular season, Lannan has allowed a combined 13 runs (nine earned) over just...