WASHINGTON - The Orioles can't seem to get that one big hit that opens the flood gates.
They loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning on Derrek Lee's leadoff single - his eighth hit of the series - third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's throwing error and Mark Reynolds' infield hit.
Craig Tatum, batting seventh, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Lee scored, but he was the only one. Robert Andino grounded out to end the inning.
Opportunity wasted.
In case you're wondering, Tatum is...
WASHINGTON - I want to thank everyone for wishing me a Happy Father's Day. Right back at you. I hope you have something special planned today.
Somehow, the quotes I posted from Brian Matusz in my last entry appeared below Jeremy Guthrie's update. Just so there's no confusion, Matusz was doing the talking.
Luke Scott said his back was feeling better this morning, but he received more treatment and didn't think he'd be available to pinch-hit later.
Manager Buck Showalter wasn't ready to...
WASHINGTON - The Orioles will try to avoid a sweep today while anointing Chris Jakubauskas the stopper in this rotation - at least for a day.
Brian Matusz says his left hamstring is a little sore today, as expected, but he feels much better, his mobility is good and he expects to make his next start. He'll play catch today.
"It feels good," he said. "It's a little sore today, but my mobility's really good. My flexiblity's there. It's just a little sore from the cramping. We're going...
So I decide to check Triple-A Norfolk's box score from tonight's game against Buffalo because I'm curious about Chris Tillman's outing and I really need to get a life.
Here's Tillman's final line: 3 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 0 earned runs, 0 walks 3 strikeouts. 65 pitches, 38 strikes.
So why did he leave the game with two outs in the fourth inning? Did someone else in the organization get hurt this week?
Nope.
I texted a team official, apologizing for doing so at this late hour on...
WASHINGTON - Let's start with Brian Matusz and his hamstring cramps.
"It was just two pitches prior. I felt a hamstring cramp up, and it's one of those things I try to walk off, shake off. It just held up on a ball in the back of my hamstring. Not much more I could do than that, so I made the right decision to come out of the game. But it's just one of those things that happens. It was a hot day today, probably a little bit dehydrated, one of those things. But I've just got to take care...
WASHINGTON - The Orioles have lost four of five games on this road trip and are a season-high six games under .500, but at least they're not healthy.
Let's review today's physical issues:
Luke Scott left the game with back spasms and is day-to-day. Brian Matusz left the game with cramping in his left hamstring and is questionable to make his next start, though manager Buck Showalter seemed encouraged after today's 4-2 loss to the Nationals.
Buck Showalter gives updates for several...
WASHINGTON - A fairly promising start for Brian Matusz, at least statistically, has ended prematurely when he walked off the field with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells in the bottom of the sixth.
The game was tied 1-1 heading into the inning. Ryan Zimmerman doubled with one out and Michael Morse hit an opposite-field two-run homer to give Washington a 3-1 lead.
Danny Espinosa singled and stole second base as left-hander Clay Rapada began to warm up. With a 3-1 count on Jerry Hairston...
WASHINGTON - Derrek Lee is 2-for-2 today, making him 7-for-7 in this series.
Felix Pie pinch-hit for Luke Scott in the fourth inning and singled to right field to move Lee to third base after a one-out double. No word yet on why Scott came out of the game.
Update: Scott left the game with mid-back spasms. He's day-to-day.
Maybe Jeremy Guthrie is contagious.
Brian Matusz has allowed one run in three innings, on Ryan Zimmerman's shot into the last row of seats in left field, and it's a...
WASHINGTON - The sun is out, the game has started and Adam Jones has launched his 10th home run deep into the left field seats, but I wanted to pass along a few comments from manager Buck Showalter.
On Jeremy Accardo:
"He was trying to make some adjustments to get a little more movement, get guys off him. I mean, he had a lot of balls squared up off him that were at people, too. His numbers were actually, going into last night, a little better than he actually pitched. We keep a thing about...
WASHINGTON - Jeremy Guthrie tested his sore back by playing catch today, making 40 throws and expanding the distance to 90 feet.
Guthrie was diagnosed yesterday with a mild strain. He hopes to throw a bullpen session tomorrow and make Tuesday night's start in Pittsburgh.
"I'll see how my body feels, but tomorrow's my bullpen day," he said.
"It's improved. It's improved every day. I won't say it's completely gone, but it's improving every day."
Challenged to give reporters a...
WASHINGTON - Blake Davis didn't receive an invitation to spring training this year. He remained in a utility role at Triple-A Norfolk, mostly playing right field but also getting starts in the infield. He wasn't a leading candidate to make his major league debut this summer.
Anything can happen in this game.
Davis, 27, had his contract purchased and will be on the bench for today's game against the Nationals. He batted .284 (52-for-183) with five home runs and 24 RBIs in 49 games with the...
WASHINGTON - Blake Davis will wear No. 28.
Following in the footsteps of Radhames Dykoff.
For the Orioles:
J.J. Hardy SS
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Derrek Lee 1B
Luke Scott LF
Mark Reynolds 3B
Robert Andino 2B
Brian Matusz LHP
For the Nationals:
Werth RF
Desmond SS
Zimmerman 3B
Morse 1B
Espinosa 2B
Hairston LF
Rodriguez C
Zimmermann RHP
Bernadina CF
I left my house yesterday at 1:32 p.m. I arrived home at 1:32 a.m.
I didn't plan it that way.
Manager Buck Showalter suggests that we "sleep fast." Well, it went quickly for me. I'm ready to get back in my car and make the hour-long drive to Nationals Park, where the clubhouse will have a different look.
Brad Bergesen is back. That shuttle must be getting old for him. And Blake Davis has reached the majors for the first time after being a fourth-round pick in 2006 out of Cal-State...
WASHINGTON - Rookie Zach Britton carried a shutout into the fifth inning before surrendering four runs, only one earned, and piling 32 pitches on his left arm. He was removed for a pinch-hitter and settled for a no-decision.
Britton deflected the attention away from third baseman Mark Reynolds' costly throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.
"Obviously, it's easier to throw when you got an out, but you know, errors happen," he said. "I knew you guys would probably bring it up, so I might as...
WASHINGTON - Manager Buck Showalter completed his postgame interview session with the media in under three minutes. It's the only thing that didn't take long.
The game lasted 3 hours, 20 minutes and followed a 56-minute rain delay. Showalter clearly wanted to attend to more pressing matters afterward, which included designating reliever Jeremy Accardo for assignment. The Orioles made four roster moves, which I detailed in my last entry.
Busy night.
Showalter held his temper, but he clearly...
WASHINGTON - The Orioles designated reliever Jeremy Accardo for assignment after tonight's game. They also recalled pitcher Brad Bergesen, optioned infielder Ryan Adams to Triple-A Norfolk and purchased infielder Blake Davis' contract.
Accardo allowed 55 baserunners in 32 1/3 innings - 37 hits, 17 walks and one hit batter. Signed as a free agent over the winter, he's 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA.
Accardo took the loss tonight after allowing three runs and one hit, and walking two batters, in...
WASHINGTON - Jeremy Accardo replaced Zach Britton and retired one of the four batters he faced. He issued a leadoff walk to Wilson Ramos, gave up a double to former Oriole Jerry Hairston Jr. and walked reliever Sean Burnett before Roger Bernadina flied to left.
Accardo is charged with three runs after Jayson Werth's RBI single and Ian Desmond's sacrifice fly off reliever Jason Berken. Nationals 7, Orioles 4.
Accardo has been scored upon in four straight appearances and five of six, and his...
WASHINGTON - Welcome to National League baseball, where the starting pitcher is removed after five innings and 81 pitches, and another pitcher is used as a pinch-runner.
Vladimir Guerrero batted for Zach Britton in the top of the sixth and lined an RBI single into center field off reliever Todd Coffey. Chris Jakubauskas, scheduled to face the Nationals on Sunday, pinch-ran for him.
J.J. Hardy's sacrifice fly scored Robert Andino, who doubled with one out, to tie the game, 4-4.
The Orioles...
WASHINGTON - Left-hander Zach Britton has driven in one more run than he's allowed tonight.
Britton is shutting out the Nationals on one hit over four innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. He's thrown 49 pitches, 31 for strikes.
The Orioles are 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position through five innings. Twice tonight, they've put the first two runners on base and failed to score because of a double play.
Update: The Nationals scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth - three...
WASHINGTON - The Orioles returned left-hander Pedro Viola to Double-A Bowie without recalling him, but they've summoned two more minor leaguers.
As first reported by The Sun's Jeff Zrebiec, Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Brad Bergesen and infielder/outfielder Blake Davis are heading to D.C.
Bergesen could be recalled and start Tuesday if Jeremy Guthrie goes on the disabled list, or he could give the club another long reliever in the bullpen while Alfredo Simon's on the disabled list.
Davis...



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