Nationals utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. answers a lot questions about his father, Jerry Sr., and grandfather, Sam - a pinch hitter extraordinaire in the 1970s and Negro League player, respectively. One of four three-generation baseball families, the Hairstons are proud of their storied baseball history and multi-generational accomplishments. Certainly, Sam and Jerry Sr. taught their children about life and baseball - passing on their talent and advice. But that's not the whole story. At...

Playing in his second injury rehab game tonight, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Triple-A Norfolk's 5-2 victory over Indianapolis. Hardy, on the disabled list with a strained left oblique, was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Friday night's game. The Orioles are expected to activate Hardy before Tuesday's game against the Mariners at Camden Yards. Left-hander Chris George was credited with the win tonight after holding Indianapolis to...

Here is how different this series is for the Orioles against Tampa Bay as compared to their season-opening, three-game sweep versus the Rays. In the opening three games, the Orioles allowed 12 hits total in the three games. The last two days Tampa has 12 extra-base hits off Orioles' pitching. Tampa batters hit just .132 with three runs over three games earlier against the Orioles. In winning the first two in this series, the Rays have hit .321 as a team scoring 14 runs. The Orioles have had...

It was yet another Orioles game where the talk was about a lack of offense. Once again, Derrek Lee stood by his locker to answer similar questions after Saturday's 8-2 loss to Tampa Bay. "We didn't swing the bats. I don't know what else to say. We didn't score any runs," he said. "We are putting too much pressure on our pitching staff, scoring one and two runs every day. We're fighting hard, maybe too hard. We probably need to try and do a little less, play small ball or something like...

Today's game represented only the second time in franchise history that the Orioles drew 10 walks and scored two runs or fewer in a nine-inning game. They lost to the Chicago White Sox 3-1 on July 14, 1974. You can look it up. The Orioles were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position today and left 12 on base. "What did we draw, 10 walks today? And we just couldn't take advantage of it," manager Buck Showalter said after today's 8-2 loss. "It's a rare opportunity against any team,...

Maybe somebody could explain to me why proponents think it is a good idea to have more instant replay in baseball. Baseball already has replay for close calls on home runs and is thinking of adding replay to help umpires with trapped balls. Too much replay puts the sport on a slippery slope toward technological umpiring. Even after last season, when umpire Jim Joyce cost pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game in Detroit on a blown call at first base, I couldn't agree with those who think...

Jeremy Guthrie entered his start today at Camden Yards with a run of seven consecutive quality starts against Tampa Bay. He also had given up just three runs total in three home starts this season. But this afternoon, Guthrie allowed three-run homers to Evan Longoria and B.J Upton as Tampa routed the Birds 8-2 in front of 18,961. Prior to today, Guthrie was 9-8 with an ERA of 2.93 in 20 starts since last season's All-Star break. Plus, he pitched eight shutout innings versus Tampa on opening...

The Washington Nationals today recalled outfielder Roger Bernadina from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Bernadina batted .270 with four doubles, one home run, two RBI and seven walks in 18 games with the Chiefs. The 26-year-old is tied for fifth in the International League with eight stolen bases. Bernadina is a career .243 hitter with 21 doubles, four triples, 11...

Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson began today ranked first in the American League in run support (9.19) among starters with five or more outings. Jeremy Guthrie ranked fourth-worst at 2.31. Hellickson shut out the Orioles over five innings today, but he allowed three hits, walked four and threw two wild pitches. He left with his pitch count at 92 - two more than Guthrie in the same amount of innings. The Orioles didn't score for the fourth time in Guthrie's last six starts while he was on...

Tampa Bay has seven baserunners in four innings and has scored four runs. The Orioles have seven baserunners in four innings and are being shut out. Rays left fielder Sam Fuld raced toward the line and made a diving catch to deny Robert Andino in the fourth with two outs and Matt Wieters on second base. Wieters has walked twice. In Jeremy Guthrie's last five starts before today, the Orioles scored six runs while he was in the game and were held scoreless in three of those games while he was...