Manager Buck Showalter used six relievers tonight. That's a lot of baton passing. Kevin Gregg finally dropped it at the end, walking two batters and surrendering Adrian Gonzalez's two-run double. Oriole relievers allowed five earned runs (eight total) and 10 hits, with four walks, in 3 1/3 innings. So why did Showalter remove starter Chris Tillman after five innings and 88 pitches? It's always a good idea to wait for the explanation instead of immediately ripping a decision. Showalter...

Playing the percentages, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle pulled starting left-handed pitcher Paul Maholm in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 2-2 game. Hurdle brought in right-handed reliever Jose Ascanio to face Nationals switch-hitting second baseman Danny Espinosa, who has had only three hits in his last nine games and was 0-for-2 Monday night. Danny Espinosa talks about his strong at-bats in the Nationals' win Espinosa, switching over to bat left-handed, saw the move being made and...

A 6-0 lead wasn't passed to steady hands. Michael Gonzalez replaced Chris Tillman in the bottom of the sixth and allowed four runs (one earned) and three hits in one-third of an inning. Jeremy Accardo replaced him and let two inherited runners score, along with one of his own. Gonzalez has allowed runs in his last three outings and hits in his last five. In five appearances covering four innings, he's surrendered seven runs (four earned) and 10 hits. Accardo has allowed runs in five...

I tried listening to the Orioles game on my ride home from Harry Grove Stadium, but I kept losing the signal. I heard enough to know that first baseman Derrek Lee left the game with a strained left oblique, which a team spokesman confirmed in a quick phone call to the Fenway Park press box. The Orioles are listing him as day-to-day. I've been asked on Twitter about the severity of the injury. It just happened a few innings ago and I was in Frederick, so a definite answer isn't coming...

Danny Espinosa welcomed Pirates relief pitcher Jose Ascanio to Nationals Park Monday night with a two-run blast deep into the right field bullpen, lifting the Washington Nationals to a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 21,960. Nationals starter John Lannan struggled throwing strikes early on, but settled down to go 6 1/3 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing only two runs with four walks and four strikeouts. Cole Kimball pitched one inning of relief for his first major league...

Many may not be able to stay awake for the end of this one, but the Orioles hold a 3-0 lead on Boston in the fifth inning. Each team has had a mess of base runners and chances to score more runs than they have. For Boston, that's a goose egg so far versus Chris Tillman. Boston has four hits and two walks against Tillman, but is 0-for-5 so far with runners in scoring position. Tillman has thrown 74 pitches so far. The O's took a 2-0 lead in a messy top of the first for Daisuke Matsuzaka on...

Double-A Harrisburg Right-hander Brad Peacock was named Player of the Week in the Eastern League for May 9-15 after a scintillating performance at the Richmond Squirrels Friday night. Peacock threw seven innings, scattering five hits, allowing one earned run with one walk and a career-high 14 strikeouts. Peacock said he had never struck out more than 10 hitters in the past. "I am pretty sure that was my best outing of my career," Peacock said. "I was definitely in a zone. Derek Norris...

FREDERICK, Md. - Alfredo Simon has returned to the U.S. tonight after flying to the Dominican Republic on Saturday. He's expected back in Baltimore around 10:30 p.m. and will pitch for Double-A Bowie tomorrow night in Richmond. This will be Simon's third rehab start with the Baysox. Brian Matusz said he felt good tonight while throwing 60 pitches in four innings against the Single-A Potomac Nationals, "but I felt better in the bullpen warming up before the game." Matusz allowed one run...

FREDERICK, Md. - Brian Matusz stranded a runner on third base in the third inning, getting a strikeout and fly ball. He threw 10 pitches, six for strikes. Matusz has thrown 47 pitches, 29 for strikes. He's on a 55-60 pitch limit. Potomac's No. 9 hitter, Eury Perez, reached on a bunt single, stole second with one out and took third on catcher Brian Ward's throwing error. Jeff Kobernus struck out and Destin Hood flied to center. Matusz is working quickly, and he's not getting much rest....

FREDERICK. Md. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz retired the side in order in the top of the first inning, throwing 10 of his 14 pitches for strikes. Cutter Dykstra, son of former major leaguer Lenny Dykstra, flied to center field on a 1-1 pitch. Jeff Kobernus struck out on three pitches, and Destin Hood shattered his bat while grounding to third base on a 2-2 pitch. The radar gun readings that are posted on the scoreboard don't appear to be accurate. One pitch was clocked at 51 mph. A...