FREDERICK, Md. - Last night, Single-A Frederick used solid starting pitching and stellar defense to beat Potomac in the fifth and deciding game of a first-round playoff series. But both were missing tonight and Frederick's offense struggled as well as the Keys lost to Kinston 3-1 in Game 1 of the Mills Cup championship series here at Harry Grove Stadium. Kinston scored once in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead. After a Manny Machado RBI double tied the score in the last of the third,...

Jake Fox doesn't get into many games, but he's making his rare appearances count. Fox's two-out, pinch-hit double scored Nolan Reimold in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, 2-2, and force Rays manager Joe Maddon to go to his bullpen. Fox was batting for Kyle Hudson with two outs and Reimold at second. Reimold walked and stole second base with one out before Ryan Adams struck out. David Price threw Fox two sliders, a changeup and another slider before his 92 mph fastball was lined...

FREDERICK, Md. - The Single-A Frederick Keys trail the Kinston Indians 3-1 in the last of the fourth of Game 1 of the Mills Cup finals. Kinston's Jesus Aguilar led off the top of the fourth with a solo homer to left off Nick Haughian to give the Indians the 2-1 edge. The next batter, Tyler Cannon, doubled to right. He would score on a dribbler to third that went for an infield single and an error on third baseman Dale Mollenhauer, who threw past first base. Kinston went on to put runners on...

The Orioles are holding a 1-0 lead that nearly slipped through their fingers in the second inning. Actually, it almost crashed to the floor and shattered into a million pieces. That's a lot of debris for a one-run lead. The Rays loaded the bases with no outs on a single, walk and single. That's when Alfredo Simon went to work, striking out John Jaso on four pitches and inducing a double-play grounder with one pitch to Sean Rodriguez. Simon started off Jaso with two 95 mph fastballs. He...

The Nationals instructional league begins in late September and the coaching staff will get a chance to teach and mold top catching talent within the organization. Three of the players on this year's instructional roster finished the season with the Single-A Hagerstown Suns: David Freitas, Cole Leonida and Adrian Nieto. Freitas hit .288 with 13 homers, 73 RBIs in 123 games. Georgia Tech product Leonida battled through injuries to play 39 games with two homers and 16 RBIs. Instructional will...

FREDERICK, Md. - Here are some notes on the Single-A Frederick Keys as they begin the Carolina League championship series here tonight, hosting Kinston. First baseman Aaron Baker, who joined the Orioles after his July 30 trade from Pittsburgh in the Derrek Lee deal, said the Keys are a close team with very good chemistry. Baker hit a big two-run homer last night against Single-A Potomac and went 4-for-15 in that series. "It's a great feeling to be a part of this awesome team. I feel like I...

Manager Buck Showalter says the results of the X-ray taken yesterday on Adam Jones' right thumb are "very similar to the last X-ray" taken in early July. Jones has some swelling in the thumb and stiffness in the knuckle, which makes it painful to grip a bat. It doesn't bother him to throw. The Orioles haven't scheduled any other tests for Jones, who remains day-to-day. "There are other more detailed X-rays you can get into, but I don't see right now where that's a need yet,"...

It's no secret the bonds of a major league baseball team can closely resemble those of a fraternity. Twenty-five guys, living in and out of suitcases, spending virtually every minute together for an entire season. Ah yes, the brotherhood of baseball. So what would the spirit of a fraternity be without a little good ole' fashioned hazing, right? As it so happens, pictures, like the one seen below, recently made their way onto Nationals catcher Jesus Flores' Twitter account, showing the...

FREDERICK, Md. - The Single-A Frederick Keys didn't have long to celebrate their Game 5 win in the playoffs last night against Potomac. Tonight, they host the Kinston Indians in Game 1 of the Mills Cup championship series, looking for their first title since 2007. Frederick will start left-hander Nick Haughian tonight in game one. A ninth-round pick in 2008, the 24-year-old Haughian went 8-7 with a 3.67 ERA this year. He didn't pitch in the series with Potomac and will be pitching on nine...

Kyle Hudson is starting in center field tonight. Adam Jones is out of the lineup for the fourth straight game. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 3B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Adams 2B Kyle Hudson CF Alfredo Simon RHP Update: The X-rays taken on Jones' right thumb came back negative. It's still painful to grip a bat because of the swelling and stiffness, so he remains day-to-day.