Serie

THURSDAY'S TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS F1 Malaysia: practice SPEED2 a.m. MLB pre. Minnesota@Detroit (T) MLB9 a.m. Atlanta@Washington (T) MASN10 a.m. Houston@Mets MLB1 Kansas City@Angels MLB4 Yankees@Boston ESPN7 C. base. Florida@South Carolina ESPNU7:30 M. bask. NCAA: Wisconsin vs. Syracuse 13, 97 DII semi.: Stonehill vs. W. Wash.

Earlier this week, the Orioles were spiraling out of the American League East race, couldn't win at home and were watching helplessly as their staunch bullpen faltered and their starters routinely checked out early. Suddenly, after winning two straight against the division-leading New York Yankees - including Wednesday night's 6-3 victory - it's May again. There's no need for panic. For the moment, it's all Natty Bohs and roses (or Black-Eyed Susans) at Camden Yards. “I think so,” said Orioles' first baseman Chris Davis when asked if beating the Yankees in the last two games should calm the masses for a bit. “I think the fact that it was against New York, who's at the top of our division and a team we feel we can compete with, I think it was huge.

History Founded in 1908 as the Football Club Internazionale Milano, Inter Milan has a history rife with controversy. The founding members of the club were unhappy with the absence of international players on the AC Milan team, so Inter Milan was formed as a club open to all foreigners. Inter Milan's nickname is the Nerazzurri, which is tied to the team's black and blue colors. The team has captured 18 Serie A titles, four Supercoppa Italiana crowns, and three UEFA League and UEFA Europa Cup championships.

T. Rowe Price plans to launch a new series of 11 target-date retirement funds later this summer, the Baltimore-based money manager said Wednesday. Target date funds automatically become more conservative as investors age. Price began offering such funds in 2002 and they had assets amounted to $88.1 billion at the end of March. This original series is designed to provide income for a retirement lasting 20 to 30 years. The new series, called T. Rowe Price Target Retirement Funds, will provide income for a shorter withdrawal period.

D-III college softball Gravdahl's homer helps Salisbury stay alive in Series Salisbury senior catcher Michelle Gravdahl (Long Reach) hit her 11th home run of the season in an elimination game in the NCAA Division III softball championship against Anderson (Ind.) University to eliminate the Ravens and stay alive in the World Series with a 2-0 win in Eau Claire, Wis. Gravdahl's homer to left with one out in the bottom of the first inning put Salisbury ahead, and the Sea Gulls added a run in the fifth.

On paper, Lisa Scottoline is a little intimidating. She's got more than 30 million copies in print of her books, including 20 best-selling novels. She writes a weekly column, with her daughter, for The Philadelphia Inquirer. She's a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and taught a class at the latter called "Justice and Fiction. " But ask her about any connections she might have to Baltimore, where she'll be visiting May 20 as a featured author in the Baltimore Sun Book Club, and you'll quickly discover her self-deprecating sense of humor.

Jeremy Guthrie received a warm reception from the crowd at Camden Yards when he took the mound Thursday for the first time here since he was traded away before last season. Then the Kansas City Royals right-hander did his part to beat his former team, handing the Orioles a 6-2 defeat in front of an announced 23,282. Guthrie, who was the Orioles' Opening Day starter in 2008, '09 and '11, held them to two runs (one earned) on seven hits over six innings to snap the Orioles' season-high four-game winning streak and allow the Royals to salvage the series finale.

He pulled on a Terps visor, to the crowd's delight. He rubbed noses with Gov. Martin O'Malley. And the Dalai Lama was met Tuesday with rounds of applause from a crowd of 15,000 at the University of Maryland, College Park's Comcast Center. "Sit down," the 78-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader said in a firm but friendly voice when he approached the podium and the crowd rose to its feet. "No formality! We are [the] same. … The way we are born, the way we die: no formality. " Clad in red robes and his trademark spectacles, the Dalai Lama appeared at the university to give an address on peace, compassion and fellowship as part of the Anwar Sadat Lecture Series.

The necessity of a two-income family today often leaves parents scrambling for child care and juggling countless responsibilities. It is no wonder that young parents today may feel overwhelmed. There is good news, though, and a place to go to find some much-needed guidance. Jewish Community Services is offering a new parent discussion series that addresses some of the challenges of parenthood. These groups are free and open to the public once a month on Tuesdays, meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center at 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue.

Tryouts for the Maryland team in the second annual Big 26 Baseball Classic against Pennsylvania will be held at two locations in the state later this month. The first tryout is scheduled for May 18 at the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex in Berlin for players on the Eastern Shore, while the second tryout is set for May 19 at Joe Cannon Stadium in Hanover for local players. The top 26 players from Maryland will be selected to take on the Pennsylvania team in a three-game series at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, Pa., from July 26 to 28. Maryland won the first Big 26 Baseball Classic last year.

SEATTLE -   After winning three of four in Oakland to begin their season-longest 11-game road trip, the Orioles headed to Seattle looking to capture another series and, perhaps, guarantee a winning West Coast jaunt without yet stepping foot in Southern California. They even caught a major break when Seattle's all-word ace Felix Hernandez was not scheduled to pitch in this series. But just when you think you have baseball figured out, a guy like Aaron Harang can muck things up. Seattle's veteran right-hander, who was fighting for his job, threw six solid innings and the Mariners roughed up Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen for an 8-3 blowout in the rubber match of the three-game series.

Need a reminder of how lucky Baltimore music lovers are sometimes? Just pull out a calendar. Between May and September, thousands gather in West Mount Vernon Park to see rising bands, sip local beer and generally have a good time in the sun. Add the fact that the concert is free, and it has made WTMD's First Thursdays concert series - which starts this week - an essential spring and summer activity in the city. According to WTMD program director Scott Mullins, the planning for First Thursdays begins when we're all bundled up in heavy coats.