The Nationals haven't won back-to-back games since April 17-18. Today, of course, is May 16. That's a long time to go without winning consecutive games. That's also the last time the Nats won a series (against the Giants). That's a long time to go without winning two of three. Suffice it to say, the Nationals would love to snap both of those streaks this afternoon. If they can beat the Mets, they'll have won back-to-back games and captured the series. In order to do that, they'll need...

Nationals center fielder Victor Robles slammed his eighth homer of the season in a 5-1 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday night. But his ability to lay down a perfect push bunt in the first inning provided another example of what the budding star can do with his bat. Robles turns 22 on Sunday. He scored two of the Nats' five runs in the win. In the first inning after Adam Eaton walked, Robles dropped his bunt away from Mets pitcher Wilmer Font, moving Eaton to second base. Font could not...

NEW YORK - The Orioles had become roster move slackers after lots of early activity, but they're trying to pick up the pace again. They optioned reliever Evan Phillips on Saturday, recalled him yesterday as the 26th man for the doubleheader, returned him to Triple-A Norfolk after Game 2 and were prepared to recall left-hander Josh Rogers. Rogers was on standby for a flight to Cleveland, where the Orioles begin a four-game series tonight. The Tides are in Toledo, making for a short trip. But it...

Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin did it again. This time, it was an eight-inning gem for a 5-1 win over the Mets at Nationals Park in which he allowed only one run on four hits. He walked just one batter and recorded a season-high-tying 11 strikeouts. Corbin (4-1) set the tone in the first inning with three straight swinging strikes on a ridiculous 83 mph slider that batters cannot reach down to get. "Once he gets through that first inning, he tends to just cruise," said Nationals manager...

There are nights, like this, when you are reminded the Nationals indeed are capable of playing good baseball. They can get a dominant outing from one of their elite starters, and they can reward him for the effort by stringing together big hits in multiple innings, making all the plays they need to make behind him and then closing things out sans bullpen drama. The Nationals couldn't have drawn up a much better formula for success than they did tonight during a 5-1 victory over the Mets. "It...

NEW YORK - Following a game that featured four more home runs hit off Orioles pitching, Andrew Cashner seemed to find a solution in the nightcap by limiting the contact against him. Can't drive the ball over the fence if you can't touch it. Cashner struck out six of the first nine batters he faced. A four-seam fastball averaging 93.87 mph, according to brooksbaseball.net, was sitting at 96. The Yankees didn't get their first hit until DJ LeMahieu's comebacker with two outs in the third...

At Single-A Delmarva, the Shorebirds' amazing start has been the result of many factors, but strong starting pitching has ranked right up there. One pitcher who got off to a fast start was right-hander Blaine Knight and he already has been promoted to Single-A Frederick. But others remain with the team, including the club's 2018 top draft pick. And that is 19-year-old right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who is 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA through six starts. Knight left after going 3-0 with an ERA of 0.68...

The Nationals have been hoping for a quick start against the Mets tonight after watching New York score four runs to begin Tuesday night's opener. They got that in this second game of the series. Adam Eaton walked against Mets starter Wilmer Font. Victor Robles singled. Anthony Rendon brought Eaton home with a run-scoring double. A Juan Soto groundout to shortstop scored Robles. Howie Kendrick's single to center scored Rendon. End of one in D.C., the Nats led the Mets 3-0. Left-hander Patrick...

NEW YORK - Catcher Austin Wynns didn't intend to serve as a team spokesman this afternoon as he stepped outside of the visiting clubhouse and met the media. But he was asked about the 88 home runs surrendered by Orioles pitching in 41 games, putting them on pace to shatter the major league record. A question placed on a tee. Wynns expressed feelings that no doubt are shared in every corner. "We lead the league in home runs," he said following a 5-3 loss to the Yankees in the first game of...

For weeks, Davey Martinez insisted he preferred to keep Victor Robles at the bottom of his daily lineup, believing the rookie outfielder was benefitting from the lower-pressure position in his batting order. Circumstances - injuries, plus Robles' success - left Martinez with no choice but to move the 21-year-old up in the lineup. But three weeks later, it's becoming clearer why Martinez felt the way he did all along. Though he homered Tuesday night during the Nationals' 5-2 loss to the Mets,...