Orioles manager Buck Showalter isn't a big fan of the expanded roster, feeling as though it drastically - and unfairly - changes games and strategies in the late innings. You play under the same rules for five months and then switch in September. However, he took full advantage of his extra bullpen options yesterday, using six relievers and playing matchups in the late innings. He kept Troy Patton in the game to face a left-handed hitter, brought in Willie Eyre to face a right-hander, and...

The Single-A Potomac Nationals shutout the Frederick Keys 8-0 to even their best-of-five series at one. Brian Peacock and Francisco Soriano smacked home runs while Eury Perez went 3-for-4 with a double and four runs scored. Left-hander Sammy Solis went 4 2/3 innings, scattering five hits, allowing no runs with one walk and seven strikeouts. Neil Holland, Joe Testa and Cameron Selik shut down the Keys from that point to preserve the win. Game Three tonight a Pfitzner Stadium features Evan...

What a way for the Orioles to end a run of 21 2/3 straight scoreless innings by their bullpen. Kevin Gregg suffered his seventh blown save of the year as Toronto scored twice in the last of the ninth to win 5-4. After Clay Rapada began the last of the ninth with a strikeout, Gregg came on and got a second strikeout. There were two outs and none on with a 4-3 lead when Gregg unraveled. Jim Hunter asks Buck Showalter about the Orioles' 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays He then gave up a walk, single...

Vladimir Guerrero's third hit of the day, a double to center field, scored Robert Andino with one out in the top of the eighth inning and gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Andino doubled off reliever Jesse Litsch to start the inning and the rally. He moved to third on Nick Markakis' grounder to the right side. Guerrero also had three hits Thursday against the Yankees. He's got 12 hits in his last 23 at-bats. The Orioles' bullpen has turned in 4 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings today. The...

The Washington Nationals today named infielder Steve Lombardozzi Minor League Player of the Year and right-hander Brad Peacock Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the 2011 season. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. Lombardozzi batted...

It was only a few days ago that Chris Davis went 0-for-6 with five strikeouts in New York, stranding seven runners in the process. He came within one strikeout of tying Sam Horn's single-game franchise record. Davis didn't let it get him down. He's 2-for-2 today, including a double in the top of the third inning that scored Vladimir Guerrero from first base and tied the game at 3-3. Davis is 5-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs since Wednesday's embarrassment in the Bronx. He was...

In baseball, they say speed doesn't go into a slump, and it's good to see the Orioles using some speed today and in recent games with callups like Matt Angle and Kyle Hudson. Hudson dropped a beautiful bunt toward third base and made second on a throwing error in the second inning this afternoon. Pedro Florimon was called out when he followed with another bunt. The Orioles have 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts in September, their third-best month this season for steals. They stole 15 bases in...

The Orioles did some two-out damage in the top of the first inning, stringing together three straight singles by Nick Markakis, Vladimir Guerrero and Chris Davis to take a 1-0 lead. It didn't last long. Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to give Toronto a 2-1 lead. Rick VandenHurk got ahead of Bautista 1-2 but couldn't put him away. And the former Oriole put the ball in the second deck for his 41st homer. He's also got 96 RBIs. VandenHurk is getting ahead of...

Adam Jones was scratched from the lineup with a sore ankle. He fouled a ball off it last night. Nick Markakis is back in right field, with Matt Angle moving to center. Josh Bell is playing third base and Chris Davis has moved to first. For the Orioles: Matt Angle CF Robert Andino 2B Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Chris Davis 1B Josh Bell 3B Kyle Hudson LF Pedro Florimon SS Craig Tatum C Rick VandenHurk RHP As a reader pointed out this morning, the Orioles' three-game winning...

Former Orioles pitcher Jesse Jefferson has died of prostate cancer. He was 62, and lived in his hometown of Midlothian, Va. The O's made Jefferson a fourth-round pick in the 1968 amateur draft and the right-hander reached the majors in 1973. He spend three of his nine big league seasons in Baltimore, going 7-7 with a 4.13 ERA in 42 games, 17 as a starter. When he started, he usually finished, recording 12 complete games in orange and black from 1973-75. Jefferson was traded to the Chicago...