For a few minutes, anyway, it looked like the Orioles were changing the script. Down 5-3 after three innings and 6-4 in the eighth, they rallied to tie this game in the eighth and went ahead 8-6 in the top of the 12th on Adam Jones' fourth hit of the night. On came Kevin Gregg and the lead was soon gone and moments later a promising rally had turned into just another loss. Gregg gave up a single and a hit by pitch to the first two batters in the 12th to quickly put the tying runs on base. A...

The Orioles scored twice against the Angels' bullpen in the top of the eighth inning to wipe out a 6-4 deficit and spare Tommy Hunter the loss. Nick Markakis and Adam Jones singled off reliever Bobby Cassevah, and Markakis scored on Vladimir Guerrero's grounder to short. Buck Showalter meets with Jim Hunter following the O's 12-inning loss Closer Jordan Walden was summoned to get the five-out save, but Matt Wieters singled on the first pitch thrown to him - a 96 mph fastball - and Jones...

I woke up this morning and hoped that last night's game was just a bad dream, but I'm pretty sure it happened. I'm pretty sure the Orioles blew an 8-6 lead in the bottom of the 12th inning. I'm pretty sure the game was tied, the bases were loaded and we were still waiting for the Orioles to record an out. Bad pitching, bad defense. The usual recipe for disaster. Chris Jakubauskas dominated the 11th inning. He was pounding the strike zone. It was a thing of beauty. But I guess you're...

It is a decision made by the third base coach that comes up sometimes two or three times in a game: when to send the runner. In the first inning with two outs in a scoreless game Saturday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Zimmerman at first, Michael Morse doubled to right field. Zimmerman raced around second and as Hunter Pence gathered the ball, Nationals third base coach Bo Porter held up Zimmerman at third. The next batter, Laynce Nix struck out looking to end the threat. After...

When Adam Jones homered in the top of the fifth at Anaheim tonight, it was a bit of a rare occurrence. Jones' road home run. The solo shot brought the Orioles to within 5-4 in game two of this series. It was his 22nd homer of the year, adding to his career-high, but just his fourth all year on the road. It was his first road homer in just about two months. He hit all three in June, on the 1st at Seattle, the 18th at Washington and the 21st at Pittsburgh. Since then, his last ten homers all...

The Orioles strung together three consecutive singles in the top of the first inning, but they didn't score. That's always a neat trick. Nick Markakis reached on an infield hit with one out. Adam Jones lined a single into left field and Vladimir Guerrero followed with a single to right, but Torii Hunter threw out Markakis at the plate. The Orioles also had three straight singles in the second inning, but they broke a scoreless tie. Mark Reynolds led off the inning with a single into left...

The Orioles are finalizing plans for their 2011 instructional league camp and workouts. Last year, they held a scaled-down version at Camden Yards while their Sarasota complex was being renovated. This year, the Orioles will hold instructional league workouts in Sarasota and they figure to host around 25 players from mid September to around October 5th or a few days later. The list of players that will take part has not been announced, but it figures to be a mix of some first-year players and...

Nationals catcher Jesus Flores said that Jhonatan Solano is progressing well at Triple-A Syracuse. Solano is batting .293 in 65 games with five homers and 32 RBI, including a .375 hot streak last 10 games. He got to play alongside Solano for a few games while with the Chiefs and was able to get a measure of how well the Colombian receiver is progressing. Flores said the just turned 26-year old Solano is improving every day on his defense. He has been focusing on blocking pitches softly instead...

This lineup looks very familiar. J.J. Hardy is atop the order, Vladimir Guerrero is batting fourth and Robert Andino stays in the seventh slot. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 1B Robert Andino 2B Nolan Reimold LF Josh Bell 3B Tommy Hunter RHP

Fans attending this weekend's series against the Philadelphia Phillies will have a chance to donate new school supplies for students in the surrounding area of District of Columbia Public Schools. Before both Saturday's 7:05 contest and Sunday's 1:35 series finale, fans heading the Nationals Park can stop by the Center Field Gates from the time gates open until the end of the second inning and do their part by donating supplies. All donations are welcomed, but supplies being requested...