I'm not sure what rates higher on the Shock Scale. You can decide. The Orioles got a hit with a runner in scoring position. Adam Jones singled to score J.J. Hardy, who led off the game with a single off the Green Monster and advanced to second on Nick Markakis' single. Red Sox pitcher Andrew Miller deflected the ball, but couldn't stop it from rolling into right field. The Orioles were 4-for-37 with runners in scoring position before tonight. Matt Wieters walked with two outs and stole...

Nationals left-handed reliever Doug Slaten has been on the disabled list since June 4 with a left elbow injury. Recently, he has started throwing again. Slaten said he has been building up arm strength and throwing from short distances, but has yet to throw off the mound. "It is speeding up as of late," Slaten said. "So that is a good sign. "I am just throwing, building up arm strength again. I feel like it is there. I definitely need to build up some more strength. But getting on the...

Brian Roberts tweeted earlier today that he's been taking swings in the cage "the past few days." I was told that Roberts will be re-evaluated by Dr. Michael Collins next Wednesday in Pittsburgh, which is a longer wait than I expected. Roberts is hoping to be cleared for full baseball activities. Swinging a bat represents progress, considering that he had been limited to playing catch and tracking pop ups, along with his conditioning program. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Alfredo...

Sad news to report, Nationals fans. After a tremendous effort and certain bruises to thumbs around the DC area, all in an attempt to send Nationals right fielder Michael Morse to next week's All-Star game, Major League Baseball announced that Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino has won the National League Final Vote contest. The 9.2 million votes for Victorino helped the "Flying Hawaiian" edge out the Dodgers' Andre Ethier, Rockies' Todd Helton, Diamondbacks' Ian Kennedy...

If Adam Jones is going to go to the All-Star Game in Phoenix, it will have to be as an injury replacement. The Orioles center fielder finished fourth of our five participants in The Final Vote, a competition which yielded White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko as the final member of the American League All-Star team. Konerko was followed in the fan voting, which concluded at 4 p.m. Eastern time, by Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez, Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, Jones and Rays second...

By now, you're used to coming to MASNsports.com each morning for the best in Orioles coverage. That includes our initiative of welcoming guest bloggers to our pages, and their contributions during the season's first half added both new voices and divergent viewpoints to our ongoing discussion of all things orange and black. Guest bloggers - those who reside into what's become knows as the "blogOsphere" - will continue to be a part of our site after the All-Star break, too. But instead of...

Can lightning strike twice for the Orioles? Last year they went to Texas for the last series before the All-Star break and swept that four-game series. Tonight they begin a four-game series in Boston that leads into the break. I'm pretty sure most fans are not expecting four O's wins over the next four days, but last year's team did lose six of seven before that Texas sweep. This club has now lost eight of nine and is 6-17 over the past 23 games. In that stretch the team ERA is 5.78, the...

The Orioles will lean heavily to the right tonight against Red Sox left-hander Andrew Miller. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP

I would never suggest that the Orioles are catching a team at a good time. Not the way they're playing. But they won't have to face Boston starters Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, and they won't have to pitch to Carl Crawford. Crawford is expected to be activated from the disabled list on July 18, when the Red Sox visit Camden Yards. All good things must come to an end. Adrian Gonzalez, the American League's Player of the Month for June, missed last night's game with a stiff neck, but...

Right-hander Shairon Martis continued a hot streak of consistent pitching for Double-A Harrisburg on Wednesday, showing the form that got him time most recently with the Nationals in 2009. The difference now is how well he is controlling games, dropping his ERA from 5.25 to 2.68. Martis went seven strong innings in notching the victory as the Senators dispatched the Erie SeaWolves, 4-3 at Metro Bank Park. Manager Tony Beasley said Martis was good because he set the tone early with his best...