The Single-A Potomac Nationals downed the Lynchburg Hillcats 6-3 to advance to the playoffs again and a chance to defend their 2010 Mills Cup Carolina League crown. A four-run eighth inning broke open a close game and the P-Nats led 5-1 before holding off a late Lynchburg rally. Eight of the nine players in the starting lineup notched at least one base knock as the P-Nats have now won nine of their last 12 games. Jeff Kobernus, Justin Bloxom and Zach Walters each had two hits and combined for...

It was just one of those nights. The Orioles didn't pitch, they didn't hit and they didn't stay in the game for very long. The Orioles allowed 10 runs or more for the 13th time this season. "We made a lot of bad pitches," manager Buck Showalter said following a 13-0 loss to the Blue Jays. "When you give up 20 hits ... Jo-Jo (Reyes) was pretty flat. Didn't have much angle going tonight. Didn't pitch well, obviously. "I was impressed with their kid (Henderson Alvarez). It goes without...

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators edged Portland 2-1 to clinch at least a tie atop their division over Richmond. Bowie lost Wednesday so they are eliminated from contention for the division title. The Senators (78-59) have five straight games remaining at home. Any combination of one Senators win and a loss by Richmond (73-64) and Harrisburg clinches the top spot in the division. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg can clinch the division and will pitch his final minor league rehab assignment...

So much for the recent good run of Orioles' starting pitching. Lefty Jo-Jo Reyes, coming off an outing where he gave up just one run in six innings against Minnesota, got hammered tonight by his former team as Toronto routed the Orioles 13-0 at Camden Yards. Reyes gave up eight hits and seven runs over 2 2/3 as his O's ERA jumped from 4.57 to 6.66. O's starters were 6-2 with an ERA of 3.09 and six quality starts over the previous nine games and the Orioles team ERA was 2.74 in the nine...

We don't have a brawl at Camden Yards. Just a blowout. Manager Buck Showalter sent up Matt Angle to pinch-hit for J.J. Hardy in the bottom of the seventh, and Angle reached on a throwing error by shortstop Yunel Escobar - and a horrible call by first base umpire Joe West. Jake Fox pinch-hit for Nick Markakis and bounced into a double play. Matt Wieters is the only reserve left on the bench, and Showalter won't use him tonight. Nolan Riemold moves from left to right field. Angle is playing...

Here is another update on pitcher Matt Hobgood, who was placed on the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds disabled list on Tuesday. He will not pitch anymore this season for Aberdeen, but he is not being shut down. Hobgood was examined yesterday by Orioles orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens, who did not find any injury in his right shoulder. Hobgood will soon head to Sarasota to continue to workout and the Orioles have not ruled out him pitching some during instructional league games. He...

The Orioles introduced their first-round draft pick, pitcher Dylan Bundy, to the small gathering here at Camden Yards before the bottom of the second inning. Bundy acknowledge the ovation with a wave of his right hand before disappearing through the home plate tunnel. Earlier today, Bundy talked about how rapidly he wants to reach the majors. He's 18 and fresh out of high school, but he doesn't expect the process to drag out. Orioles' first-round pick Dylan Bundy gets introduced to the...

Now that he is leaving the Orioles, Mike Gonzalez is pitching like the player the Orioles thought they were acquiring in December of 2009. No, this is not the new Oriole way. That player was coming off a season with Atlanta where he pitched to a 2.42 ERA and gave up just 56 hits with 80 strikeouts over 74 1/3 innings. Now that he is heading out of Baltimore, Gonzalez looks like that pitcher again. Before we go any further I can make a prediction and feel good about it coming true. Gonzalez...

According to an Orioles official, the club will receive pitcher Pedro Strop, 26, from the Rangers as the player to be named later in the Michael Gonzalez deal. Strop was 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 11 relief appearances with the Rangers this season. He's 0-1 with a 7.24 ERA in 33 major league games spread over parts of three seasons. Strop is 4-4 with 11 saves and a 3.59 ERA in 39 games with Triple-A Round Rock, with 53 hits, 24 walks, 55 strikeouts and two home runs in 47 2/3 innings. A native...

The Orioles have purchased pitcher Rick VandenHurk's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. He's heading to Baltimore and will take one of the openings on the 40-man roster. VandenHurk, acquired from the Marlins at last summer's non-waiver trade deadline for reliever Will Ohman, is 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA, 40 walks and 108 strikeouts in 154 1/3 innings. He's allowed one earned run or fewer in each of his last three starts. Manager Buck Showalter offered his thoughts on reliever Michael...