The Orioles are trying to get back into this game. J.J. Hardy singled with two outs in the third inning to score Nolan Reimold, who reached on a ground-rule double, and Nick Markakis followed with his 100th career home run. The ball landed on the flag court in right field. Estimated distance: 368 feet. White Sox 6, Orioles 3 Markakis' last home run came July 24 against the Angels. Left-hander Mark Buehrle retired the first seven batters before Reimold's double. That's two straight hits...

In his last start, Chris Tillman held the Blue Jays to two runs and four hits over seven innings in a 6-2 victory at Camden Yards. In tonight's start, the first five White Sox's batters strung together a single, home run, double, double and double. So much for building momentum. Tillman was down 4-0 before recording his first out on his 20th pitch of the inning, getting a ground ball from Alex Rios that was met with a sarcastic ovation from fans. Adam Dunn walked, but Tillman struck out...

J.J. Hardy continues to hit home runs at a pretty amazing pace. He now has 21 on the year and that is tied for 11th best in the AL with teammate Adam Jones. Mark Reynolds, by the way, is tied for fourth, with 26. Hardy is second in the majors in homers by a shortstop to Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki, who has hit 23. But while Tulo averages a homer every 19.0 at-bats, Hardy has hit one every 15.95 at-bats. His 21 homers are the most by an AL East shortstop since Miguel Tejada hit 24 for the...

The Orioles apparently are on the verge of purchasing reliever Willie Eyre's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Eyre isn't heading to Baltimore at this moment, but I'm anticipating another roster move within the next day or two. Update: The Orioles could announce Eyre's promotion after tonight's game or before tomorrow's series-opener against the Tigers. The club could choose to send down a reliever or a position player. Third baseman Josh Bell, whose playing time is limited again with...

With four days to go until the deadline to sign this year's draft picks, the Orioles do not have deals with top pick Dylan Bundy, second round pick Jason Esposito or sixth-round pick Nicky Delmonico. That is not unusual and if they sign one or all three, it could go down to the final day and often does. I asked Orioles manager Buck Showalter today if he had talked recently with scouting director Joe Jordan and had gotten any sense of what might happen over the next few days? "Joe had...

No matter how hard the media tries, manager Buck Showalter is not going to provide a timetable for left-hander Brian Matusz's return to the Orioles. Showalter said it wouldn't be "shocking" if Matusz was recalled before rosters expand on Sept. 1, but he's not looking to heighten expectations and place additional pressure on the young southpaw. "If everybody feels like he's ready to come back, he will," Showalter said. Matusz tossed a five-hit shutout today at Triple-A Norfolk, and...

Vladimir Guerrero has returned to the lineup and will bat fourth. J.J. Hardy returns to the leadoff spot. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Chris Tillman RHP

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann was pitching efficiently and looked like he was headed towards another one of his outstanding starts. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster (10-8) allowed only a Ryan Zimmerman home run in the first, so that did not give Jordan much wiggle room in the late stages of the game. Sound familiar? Zimmermann hasn't had much run support all season long. It happened again Thursday at Wrigley Field as the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals, 4-3. With the score...

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman reached 19 games in his current hitting streak with a monster solo shot out of Wrigley Field in the first inning off of the Cubs' Ryan Dempster. It is the second longest hit streak of Zimmerman's career, the homer coming on a slider from Dempster, who has allowed 16 homers this season. The Nationals are looking to win their first road series under Davey Johnson and lead the season series with Chicago, 4-2. Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann has...

Left-hander Brian Matusz appeared to take another big step forward in his eventual return to the Orioles' rotation. I say "appeared" because I don't have a scouting report from today's start against Lehigh Valley. But Matusz has blanked the Iron Pigs - yes, I just wrote that - on five hits over seven innings, with one walk, eight strikeouts and two hit batters. Matusz has thrown 95 pitches, 64 for strikes. He's induced seven ground balls and three fly balls. Matusz is locked in a duel...