Say it quietly, but the Orioles' bullpen continues to throw well, at least it has for the last nine games. The Orioles 'pen put up four scoreless innings tonight in relief of starter Chris Jakubauskas who got the win in the Birds' 4-0 victory over Oakland. This was the O's fourth shutout of the season. But about that 'pen ... Over the last nine games now, the O's 'pen has worked to an ERA of 0.30 allowing just two earned runs over the last 30 innings in that time. That is some roll...

Double-A Bowie's

The Washington Nationals today selected 28 players on the second day of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark and Nationals Director of Scouting Kris Kline made the joint announcement. The Nationals selected Texas Christian University left-handed pitcher Matt Purke, widely considered one of the most-complete...

The Orioles made 29 picks in day two of 2011 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday, completing rounds 2-30. After two days of the draft, the Orioles have selected 30 players overall, 15 pitchers and 15 position players, with 21 of their 30 selections being college products. The Orioles selected 5 left-handed pitchers and 10 right-handed pitchers, 1 catcher, 4 third baseman, 3 shortstops and 7 outfielders. The draft will conclude tomorrow with rounds 31-50. ORIOLES 2011 DRAFT SELECTIONS ROUND ...

Two days after receiving a cortisone injection in his ailing shoulder, Luke Scott returned to left field and rediscovered his power stroke. Scott homered onto Eutaw St. for the sixth time in his career, the most in Camden Yards history, to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. The ball traveled an estimated 418 feet. Scott hadn't hit a home run since May 3 in Kansas City. He sat out the past two games after receiving the injection, and with the opposition starting...

The Orioles have made it through the first 30 rounds of the First-Year Player Draft. Bring on the last 20 picks tomorrow. So far, they've taken 10 right-handers, five left-handers, two catchers, one first baseman, four third basemen, two shortstops and six outfielders. They've selected 21 college or junior college players, including 12 of their 15 pitchers. Orioles right-hander Chris Jakubauskas is shutting out Oakland on two hits over four innings, with one walk and four strikeouts. He...

J.J. Hardy didn't have an official at-bat as a leadoff hitter in the majors until tonight. On the second pitch thrown to him, Hardy homered to left field to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. It wasn't supposed to work out that way, but manager Buck Showalter will take it. Baseball-reference lists Hardy as appearing in the leadoff spot in one game, but not having an at-bat. Hardy can't remember the circumstances. Maybe he was part of a double-switch. Hardy jumped on an 0-1 pitch tonight from...

The Orioles took a Baltimore-area kid among their draft picks today when they selected Kevin "K.J." Hockaday in the 14th round with the 425th overall selection. Hockaday played high school ball at John Carroll in Harford County and the Joppatowne resident has a college commitment to play at the University of Maryland. His high school coach, Joe Stetka, is also an Orioles' associate scout. He said it was emotional for him and the Hockaday family today when the hometown kid got drafted by...

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts won't be cleared to begin baseball-related activities for at least two more weeks after being reexamined today by Dr. Michael Collins, a concussion specialist based in Pittsburgh. Roberts reported that he's feeling a little better, and he could begin light activities, such as cardiovascular exercises, during this two-week period. "I wouldn't call it bad news," manager Buck Showalter said. "We knew the process and precautions that we have." Roberts...

In the 17th round of the First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles selected right-hander Nick Carmichael of Palomar (Calif.) College. In the 18th round, they took third baseman Bradley Roney of Wetumpka (Ala.) High. And in the 19th round, they selected Central Arkansas left-hander Dustin Ward. Yes, eighth-round pick Johnny Ruettiger, a center fielder from Arizona State, is the nephew of Daniel Ruettiger, the walk-on Notre Dame football player whose story inspired the movie "Rudy." I've been...