masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgWASHINGTON – 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 – 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 unearned – to take a 4-2 lead. Wilson Ramos and Jerry Hairston led off with singles, and Ramos scored on Mark Reynolds’ 15th error, a wild throw after fielding Jason Marquis’ sacrifice bunt. Other runs scored on Roger Bernadina’s grounder and singles by Ian Desmond and Ryan Zimmerman.

This game turned in a hurry. Britton was cruising along and the wheels came off.

Britton threw 32 pitches that inning.

Down on the farm, Jake Fox hit his second home run for Triple-A Norfolk, a two-run shot in the sixth inning. He’s batting .182.

Fox is serving as the Tides’ designated hitter again.

Ronnie Welty hit his ninth home run for Double-A Bowie, a three-run shot.

Pasadena’s Chorye Spoone allowed five earned runs (six total) and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, leaving his ERA at 5.12.

Short-season Single-A Aberdeen is playing its opener tonight, and Parker Bridwell has struck out six batters in four scoreless innings against Hudson Valley. He’s allowed three hits and hasn’t issued a walk.

Bridwell was a ninth-round pick last year out of Hereford (Tx.) High School.