SAN DIEGO - Howie Kendrick stepped to the plate in the top of the eighth Sunday afternoon, the Nationals and Padres tied. It was his first at-bat of the game, manager Davey Martinez having hoped to give him a well-earned day off, but now needing his veteran utilityman to pinch-hit in a key spot. Inside the visitors' dugout, the Nationals - to a man - just knew something big was about to happen, courtesy the 35-year-old they affectionately view as a grandfatherly figure. "I feel like when...

A few thoughts on the Orioles after they completed a 2-4 road trip, playing four consecutive one-run games, and reach another off-day today prior to division battles with the Blue Jays and Red Sox at Camden Yards: The information on starter Alex Cobb is scarce, to say the least. No one is talking much about him, the assumption being that there's nothing new to pass along. Cobb is rehabbing in Sarasota after soreness in his lower back forced him onto the injured list - his third trip since...

A few notes and thoughts on the Orioles road trip that ended Sunday. They went 2-4 on a homestand versus the Tigers and Giants, but the 2-4 on the road against Texas and Houston seemed better. There were six competitive games against teams that currently hold American League playoff berths. Bundy was good again: Fans an media alike have analyzed - and probably overanalyzed - Dylan Bundy's pitching. But for now, he's pitching well again. Bundy allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) over...

SAN DIEGO - The first one, a pinch-hit rocket to left by Howie Kendrick, was impressive both because of the situation and the fact it gave the Nationals a lead in the top of the eighth. The second one, a 402-foot shot to center by Trea Turner, drew some oohs and aahs because it had now extended the Nationals' lead to two runs in very short order. The third one, another blast to center by Adam Eaton, was reason for some to drop their jaws and others to boo Padres reliever (and former Nats...

HOUSTON - One question had been answered today before the Orioles took the field. They wouldn't use 162 different lineups. But could they win a series for the first time since April 22-24? Could they win back-to-back games for the first time since May 4-6? Not if they can't score. Wade Miley carried a shutout into the seventh inning, the Orioles came up empty after loading the bases with no outs and top prospect Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run homer in his second major league at-bat in the...

SAN DIEGO - There are any number of factors a manager must consider when filling out a lineup card, but the identity of the opponent's starting pitcher typically is high on the list. What, though, does a manager do when the opponent's starting pitcher is a reliever who threw an inning the previous night and is scheduled to be the first of a parade of arms coming out of the bullpen? That's the dilemma Davey Martinez faced this morning as he selected a batting order for the Nationals' series...

SAN DIEGO - It's another picture-perfect day here. Too bad we have to leave after today's series finale at Petco Park. The Nationals will hope to leave on a high note with back-to-back victories and a four-game split with the Padres. To do that, they'll need a big start out of Stephen Strasburg in his hometown and some sustained offense against a conga line of San Diego relievers. Strasburg notched his 100th career win his last time out, but it was actually one of his worst performances of...

HOUSTON - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn't know that he'd used a different lineup through the first 64 games until told about it last week. It wasn't done intentionally. It wasn't devised as some sort of a plan. Hyde has been basing his decisions on personnel and how the club is approaching the 2019 season. Nothing more to it. But today marks the first repeat, with Hyde posting the exact same lineup as yesterday. The Orioles were the last team to come up with a different combination for...

HOUSTON - The Orioles will try again today to win their first series since April 22-24, going 0-11-1 leading into today's finale against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. They're repeating a lineup for the first time this season, sticking with the group that produced a 4-1 win yesterday afternoon. Hanser Alberto is leading off, Jonathan Villar is batting fifth and Anthony Santander is batting sixth. Stevie Wilkerson is playing left field again and Richie Martin is the shortstop. Everyone is in...

SAN DIEGO - Did Brian Dozier know, when he stepped to the plate in the top of the fourth Saturday night, that he was sitting on 999 career hits? "No," he insisted. "I knew it was creeping up, just because of people like you guys tweeting about that kind of stuff." Wait, does Dozier follow Nationals reporters on Twitter? "No," he replied. "I actually deleted Twitter because of you guys." Fair enough. Dozier could be excused for trying to block out the criticism that was being levied at...