ATLANTA - They had just watched Victor Robles provide the latest in a summer full of jaw-dropping, inspiring moments to bring the Nationals back from the dead. Down to their last out in what had been a sleepy night at SunTrust Park for 8 2/3 innings, the Nats had just tied the game on Robles' monster home run off Braves closer Luke Jackson. And then, chaos. And confusion. And a dispiriting, 4-3 loss to Atlanta that opened up manager Davey Martinez to all sorts of questions and criticism for...

After giving up a season-high six runs and three homers in his first post All-Star Game start, Orioles left-hander John Means was looking to get back on the horse tonight. He did. He had a strong ride against a good offense, pitching the Orioles past Boston 11-2 in the series opener at Camden Yards. It didn't hurt his cause that the O's offense produced a second straight strong game. Means produced a pre-All-Star Game ERA of 2.50, the best ever by an Orioles rookie. If there was concern the...

While Andrew Cashner provided a reminder today of what the Orioles lost in their rotation as he chatted with teammates behind the batting cage, they remained confident that Dylan Bundy will rejoin it next week on the West Coast. The experimenting and auditioning will only cover two-thirds of the group, with John Means remaining in his role as unlikely ace. Means completed six innings, Anthony Santander and Keon Broxton homered, and the Orioles posted an 11-2 victory over the Red Sox before an...

ATLANTA - An inflamed bursa sac in his back will prevent Max Scherzer from pitching Sunday night against the Braves, but the Nationals ace is optimistic he'll be good to go soon, once a cortisone shot he received earlier this week takes full effect. Scherzer, who hasn't pitched since July 6 due to what initially was explained by the Nationals to be a mid-back strain, learned on Monday he's actually dealing with scapulothoracic bursitis: inflammation of the bursa sac between his scapula and...

The Orioles' homestand continues this weekend as they host the Boston Red Sox for three games beginning tonight. The Orioles (29-66) went 1-3 against Tampa Bay and 1-1 against Washington to begin the homestand. The Orioles are 2-5 their past seven games but 7-8 over the last 15 games. Over longer stretches, they have lost 25 of 35 and 37 of the last 51 games. Baltimore is 9-22 in series-opening games. The Orioles are 14-29 versus American League East teams and 3-7 against Boston, including a...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said catcher Pedro Severino has been ill for the last three or four days and might not be available for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox. Catcher Austin Wynns has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and is on the bench tonight. Severino would have started against left-hander David Price. Left-hander Tanner Scott is on the taxi squad and likely will be recalled before Saturday night's game. Wynns could be optioned if Severino is feeling better. In the...

After a day away from the team for the birth of his second daughter, Hanser Alberto has rejoined the Orioles tonight. The 26-year-old infielder brings with him a .306 batting average that ranks seventh-best in the American League and 14th in the majors. "Feels great. To be a dad for the second time is amazing. Baby is good, mommy is good. Life is good. Now I have to work even harder. Now I've got two," Alberto said, flashing that smile seen so often this year. He was asked if he told his new...

As Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt studied videos of Cardinals batters in preparation for Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series - the biggest game in Houston franchise history - he got an unusual interruption. Astros owner Drayton McLane came up to Oswalt and promised to buy him a bulldozer if he could pitch the team into the World Series for the first time. The incentive worked. Oswalt pitched seven strong innings and beat the Cardinals 5-1 in St. Louis, sending the Astros to the...

ATLANTA - The Nationals couldn't have asked for a better start to this big weekend series. Now they'll look to keep it rolling tonight and perhaps move to within three games in the loss column of the Braves. They'll do so with a historically notable battery. Patrick Corbin and Yan Gomes are each celebrating their birthdays today (Gomes is 32, Corbin is 30). And they're paired up, which makes this only the second time in major league history that a starting pitcher and catcher have shared...

The Orioles have recalled catcher Austin Wynns from Triple-A Norfolk, giving them an extra position player after they optioned reliever Tayler Scott following Wednesday night's game. Catcher Pedro Severino is ill and presumably unavailable tonight. The Red Sox are starting left-hander David Price, but Chance Sisco gets the start behind the plate. The bullpen had a chance to freshen up with yesterday's off-day and left-hander John Means is starting tonight. His ability to provide some length...