J.J. Hardy News

The best one came from club executive vice president Dan Duquette when asked whether the team's and Jones' hot start spurred the decision to sign Jones long-term. "The dude rang the cash register every time he hit a home run," Duquette said.

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Thursday's off day - which halted a span of 20 games in 20 days for the Orioles - was a needed respite for everyone on the club.

The Orioles opened the floodgates in a five-run fifth inning, tagging Chen for four runs before he could record an out en route to an 8-2 series-opening win over the Royals at Camden Yards.

Jason Hammel pitched six shutout innings, Chris Davis homered and drove in three runs, and the Baltimore Orioles cruised past the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Friday night.

FoxSports.com has reported that the Baltimore Orioles and Adam Jones are close to completing the largest extension in team history, but this signing means much more because they are not simply locking up a great player but making a commitment to winning.

It's been tough being a Baltimore Orioles fan for the last 14 years. Since consecutive playoff appearances in 1996 and 1997, the Orioles have not posted a winning season.

It seems everyone who covers the Orioles is swooning over Brian Roberts' rehab assignment in Bowie.

While Thursday's off-day might have come at the perfect time for the Orioles, the Royals might be better off without it.

The Orioles momentarily halted the Red Sox's hot streak on Tuesday, but Wednesday brings another chance for Boston to get back to .500 and draw closer in the American League East.

Boston Herald Sports Writer Patriots beat writer John Tomase joined the Herald in 2005 after six years covering the Red Sox.

Steve Tolleson, of all people, homered with Wilson Betemit aboard to give the Orioles the early lead.

Each day, it seems, that list grows longer. And yet, despite their injury travails, the Red Sox somehow have racked up nine wins in 11 games, including last night's 8-6 victory over the upstart Baltimore Orioles in the opener of a three-game series at Camden Yards.

News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports sources familiar with the preliminary exam done by two Dodgers doctors on Lance Berkman 's injured right knee said that they suspect an ACL tear.

The last time the Red Sox were in Baltimore, well, we all know what happened . Things are a bit different now.

The last time that Boston visited Baltimore, the club wrapped up an epic September collapse that kept it out of the playoffs for a second straight season.

The second inning of Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles was as ugly a frame as the Nationals have played this season.

Stras vs Chen In D.C.: Baltimore Orioles ' leadoff man Xavier Avery worked the count full and went down to get a low 98mph four-seam fastball from Washington Nationals ' right-hander Stephen Strasburg, singling up the middle for the first hit in the first at bat of Sunday's series finale in Nationals Park.

That season-opening sweep at Baltimore no longer looks so bad for the Twins. The first-place Orioles entered Saturday with the American League's second-best ERA , including a major league best 2.07 ERA from the bullpen.

BAL@WSH: Jones launches a two-run shot to left WASHINGTON -- The Orioles have been a balanced offensive team this season, but on Saturday, the top of the order did all of the heavy lifting.