Brad Bergesen, making his third start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, gave up three runs over seven innings in a 4-1 loss to the Durham Bulls. Bergesen allowed seven hits - including a home run - walked one and struck out five. He threw 105 pitches, 72 for strikes. His ERA is 1.64. Bergesen was coming off a complete-game shutout in his last outing. He's allowed four runs and 14 hits in 22 innings since the Orioles optioned him, with eight walks and 18 strikeouts. Six of those walks came in his...

We all know the real reason we go to the ballpark. It's not so we can sit and watch a baseball game for nine innings, or spend the afternoon with our friends and family sharing in some quality time. Forget all of that. The real perk of going to a major league baseball game? It's all about the food, baby. It's hard to imagine going to a sporting event without something delicious and equally unhealthy by my side. From Philly cheesesteaks during a Phillies game to a famous Dodger Dog, ballpark...

I devoted a segment of my "O's Xtra" appearance on MASN yesterday to the possibility of the Orioles negotiating a contract extension with shortstop J.J. Hardy, and more specifically, whether it was too soon to consider making such a commitment. My friend Jeff Zrebiec at The Sun beat me to the punch today - after we teamed up to take two of three sets in doubles this morning - but I wanted to address the topic in blog form. The Orioles have held internal discussions about extending Hardy's...

As a fifth-round draft pick with a father who played, coached and managed in the majors leagues,

Nationals left-hander Tom Gorzelanny is scheduled to make a injury rehabilitation start tonight with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, playing a 7 p.m. game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse. Gorzelanny went through bullpen sessions and simulated at-bats with Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams last week in Woodbridge, Va., at Pfitzner Stadium. Williams said Gorzelanny looked very good in those outings and deemed him ready to go for tonight's...

When the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds begin a new season on Friday night at home against Hudson Valley, 19-year-old right-hander

It has been a big week for right-handed reliever Patrick Lehman. The George Washington University product went from being activated from the disabled list with the Single-A Potomac Nationals to a promotion to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators in a matter of two games. At Potomac, Lehman was an impressive 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA and a team-leading seven saves. He tallied 11 strikeouts in 13 games with just three earned runs. Lehman was cruising along early for the P-Nats, acclimating himself to...

Tyler Clippard is a wanted man. Nearly any time you hear about a playoff-bound team speaking with the Nationals about a potential trade, the availability of Clippard is almost always one of the first questions asked. And why wouldn't they? Over the past three years, and especially this season, he has been a lights-out reliever who gets it done in high-pressure situations and has a propensity for the all-important strikeout. This season, Clippard has a league-leading 16 holds with a 1.86...

I realize that the Orioles were off Thursday, but today's open date is a blessing and comes at a most opportune time. They'll need at least 48 hours to regroup. Yesterday's loss left a stench. The Orioles didn't pitch, they didn't field the ball and they didn't make smart choices on the basepaths. The only good news is it counts as one loss. I've tried to rid myself of the memory by diving into a base, but I'm not lucky enough to develop concussion symptoms. Derrek Lee will come...

Single-A Potomac Nationals outfielder Destin Hood has been named to the Carolina League All-Star team that will face the California League All-Stars on June 21 in Modesto, Calif. He is the only P-Nats player this season to garner such an honor. Hood has had a very consistent season at the plate, batting .276, including 13 hits in his last 10 games. Five times in that span, the Mobile, Ala., native, has had multi-hit games. Potomac Nationals hitting coach Mark Harris said, "For Hood to be...