Series Finale

Orioles reliever Pedro Strop has heard the boos from the Camden Yards crowd this year as he's struggled to find the form that made him one of the best setup men in baseball for most of last season. But as Strop walked off the mound Wednesday afternoon after a two-run seventh-inning lead quickly turned into a four-run deficit, the boos from the announced 25,964 reached their loudest this season - and likely the loudest toward an Oriole since maligned former closer Kevin Gregg's tenure.

Orioles reliever Pedro Strop has heard the boos from the Camden Yards crowd this year as he's struggled to find the form that made him one of the best setup men in baseball for most of last season. But as Strop walked off the mound Wednesday afternoon after a two-run seventh-inning lead quickly turned into a four-run deficit, the boos from the announced 25,964 reached their loudest this season - and likely the loudest toward an Oriole since maligned former closer Kevin Gregg's tenure.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --Orioles rookie Kevin Gausman knew his introduction to the major leagues wouldn't be easy, but he also didn't think it would be this tough. Making the jump from Double-A, the Orioles' much-heralded pitching prospect knew he'd be forced to make adjustments on the fly. He knew his mistakes would be magnified. And now after four major league starts - and after suffering another early outing - the 22-year-old right-hander said he needs to go back to what made him the prospect the Orioles know he is. In the Orioles' 8-0 shutout loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, Gausman lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits.

During the weekend's first two games here in Tampa Bay, the Orioles' offense seemingly went vacationing in Florida - not even sending a postcard to acknowledge their absence. But in Sunday's series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, Baltimore's bats made it clear they were back at work. After scoring just one run in their previous 23 innings, the Orioles jumped on Rays left-hander Matt Moore on their way to a 10-7 win over Tampa Bay, snapping their five-game losing streak to the Rays and avoiding a three-game sweep at Tropicana Field in front of an announced crowd of 19,921.

Having grown up around Orioles baseball, Steve Johnson's dream was always to play for his hometown team. That dream came true Sunday, when the St. Paul's alum was told he was being recalled by the Orioles. His first call was to his father, former Orioles pitcher Dave Johnson. "I think we were both shocked," Johnson said. "I was still in shock and he was definitely in shock. "Growing up, with my dad playing for them, and being around them and following them, being a fan, even when I was with the Dodgers, that's why I signed back with them this year.

During the weekend's first two games here in Tampa Bay, the Orioles' offense seemingly went vacationing in Florida - not even sending a postcard to acknowledge their absence. But in Sunday's series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, Baltimore's bats made it clear they were back at work. After scoring just one run in their previous 23 innings, the Orioles jumped on Rays left-hander Matt Moore on their way to a 10-7 win over Tampa Bay, snapping their five-game losing streak to the Rays and avoiding a three-game sweep at Tropicana Field in front of an announced crowd of 19,921.

TORONTO -- There was no solemness in the Orioles clubhouse following their 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Wednesday night, unless you counted one player bemoaning one of his fantasy football wide receivers laying an egg on the first night of the NFL season. Nope, these Orioles are still relaxed. Yes, they were knocked out of first place with the loss and the Yankees' win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday. But this is a team that battled back from being 10 games behind seven weeks ago. One game isn't going to get them down.

BOSTON -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter said in the first days of spring training that he wanted to float the designated hitter spot among different players. After seeing his DH's open the season 1-for-26 with a .038 batting average, the lowest in the American League, Showalter has placed Nick Markakis in that spot for the Orioles' series finale in Boston on Thursday. The move also allows Showalter to get left-handed hitting outfielder Chris Dickerson, who joined the team Wednesday from Triple-A Norfolk, into the lineup against Boston right-hander Alfredo Aceves.

The Orioles face Rays all-star left-hander David Price this afternoon in the teams' series finale at Tropicana Field. Price is 6-2 with a 2.45 ERA in his career against the Orioles. In two starts against the O's this season, Price has allowed just one run over 14 1/3 innings. He held the Orioles to one run on seven hits with 10 strikeouts in a 10-1 win at Camden Yards on July 25. "We don't like seeing him," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He's one of the best pitchers in the game.

Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen goes for his 12th win of the season this afternoon against the Tigers here at Comerica Park. That would mark the most wins by an Orioles pitcher since Erik Bedard won 13 games back in 2007. If the Orioles can win today and take the series from the Tigers, they were finish the season series with Detroit with a 3-3 record. Of their completed series, the Orioles are 7-2-1, with series wins over Atlanta (2-1), Kansas City (5-4), Minnesota (5-2), Philadelphia (2-1)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --Orioles rookie Kevin Gausman knew his introduction to the major leagues wouldn't be easy, but he also didn't think it would be this tough. Making the jump from Double-A, the Orioles' much-heralded pitching prospect knew he'd be forced to make adjustments on the fly. He knew his mistakes would be magnified. And now after four major league starts - and after suffering another early outing - the 22-year-old right-hander said he needs to go back to what made him the prospect the Orioles know he is. In the Orioles' 8-0 shutout loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, Gausman lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits.

Orioles closer Jim Johnson entered the ninth inning of Sunday afternoon's game against the Toronto Blue Jays coming off two clean outings, including saving a one-run win the day before. But Johnson walked off the field -- with Blue Jays players running around the field in jubilation -- with an all too familiar feeling of frustration. Johnson couldn't preserve a three-run, ninth-inning lead, blowing his fourth save in his past five opportunities in the Orioles' 6-5 walkoff loss at the Rogers Centre.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he hopes that getting second baseman Ryan Flaherty consistent at-bats at Triple-A Norfolk - while getting the 26-year-old to work on offensive problems away from the major league spotlight - will help him rebound from a tough start to the season. Flaherty, who has held most of the starting second baseman duties since Brian Roberts was injured in the third game of the season, was hitting just .133/.228/.233 in 30 games before he was optioned to the Tides on Saturday night.

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.

The last time the Orioles faced knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, they were mystified by pitches with so little spin that you could nearly make out Bud Selig's signature on the baseball. But Tuesday, the Orioles figured out the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner at Camden Yards in their first meeting against him as a member of the bolstered Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles batted around in a four-run second inning against Dickey, slapping his fluttering knuckleball around the holes in Toronto's infield, and then held on for a 4-3 win. Almost as impressive was how the Orioles bullpen closed out another late-inning, one-run lead for the team's 100th consecutive regular season win when leading after the completion of the seventh inning, a run that began Aug. 8, 2011 and correlates with the team's transformation into a winning ballclub.

After playing Saturday's doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers -- and with both Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen starting -- the Orioles will likely need a starter to pitch in Wednesday's afternoon game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he's evaluating all of his options, which include bringing up a pitcher from the minor leagues to make a spot start or using someone out of the bullpen if they are rested. “Last night, it was just a matter of, 'OK, here's our options.

The Orioles are going for their first three-game sweep of the Rays today in Baltimore since since July 24-26, 2007. Thanks to wins in the first two games of this series, Baltimore (22-12) sits two games in front of the Rays (20-14) atop the AL East standings. The Orioles have purchased the contract of outfielder Xavier Avery from Triple-A Norfolk, and Avery will be making his major league debut today, leading off and playing center field. Avery was a non-roster invitee who played often this spring, even after he was sent back to minor league camp.

NEW YORK - After his team was on the wrong end of an offensive onslaught Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he wanted to “let the smoke clear” before deciding whether Zach Britton would make his next scheduled start. The 12-3 pounding the Orioles took from the Yankees through the raindrops was particularly stinging. The Orioles had a chance to sweep their first three-game series in the Bronx since 1986 and cut the Yankees lead in the American League East to 4 ½ games.

BOSTON -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter said in the first days of spring training that he wanted to float the designated hitter spot among different players. After seeing his DH's open the season 1-for-26 with a .038 batting average, the lowest in the American League, Showalter has placed Nick Markakis in that spot for the Orioles' series finale in Boston on Thursday. The move also allows Showalter to get left-handed hitting outfielder Chris Dickerson, who joined the team Wednesday from Triple-A Norfolk, into the lineup against Boston right-hander Alfredo Aceves.

Colleges Terps drop series finale to N.C. State in baseball Maryland surrendered seven runs in the first two innings and lost to host North Carolina State, 9-4, in the series finale Sunday. The Terps (15-12, 4-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) were undone by nine Wolfpack hits and three errors in the first two innings. N.C. State (19-10, 5-7) recorded 18 hits compared to the Terps ' 10. Matt Bosse and Charlie White each had two hits for Maryland. Blake Schmit went 2-for-5, including a solo home run, his team-leading second of the year.