Given the current state of their depleted lineup, the Nationals cannot afford to give the opposition extra runs with shaky play in the field. They certainly can't afford to give them four extra runs. The Nationals lost to the Cardinals for the third straight night, this time by a 5-1 count. They again struggled to come up with productive at-bats when they had opportunities to do something significant at the plate. But they also made life a whole lot tougher on their lineup - not to mention ace...

CHICAGO - The Orioles decided tonight in Game 2 that they weren't going to spot the White Sox an early lead. Jonathan Villar drove in the final run of Game 1 with a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and scored the initial run in the nightcap after a leadoff single and stolen base in the first inning. Dwight Smith Jr., also starting both ends of the doubleheader, lined an RBI single into left field for a 1-0 lead against Iván Nova. Nova faced the Orioles in his last start and allowed nine runs and...

The Nationals scratched left fielder Juan Soto from the lineup with back spasms about an hour prior to first pitch against the Cardinals. Michael A. Taylor took over center field, Adam Eaton played left field and Victor Robles was in right field. The Cardinals did not waste any time getting on the board against Nationals ace Max Scherzer. After recording the first out, Scherzer allowed singles to Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong. Marcell Ozuna then dropped a double into right field after Robles...

CHICAGO - A defense that has brought relief to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde during stretches where home runs allowed and injuries tested his patience suffered a breakdown in Game 1 of today's doubleheader. Careful where you lean. Three of the four runs surrendered by David Hess through three innings were unearned. The first four ground balls that he induced didn't turn into outs, and not because they sneaked through the infield. An ugly loss was teed up, but the Orioles swung their way out of...

OK, it's only three games on the heels of 25 games with decidedly worse results. It's going to take much more time for the Nationals bullpen to be considered fixed after a disastrous opening month to the season. But that doesn't mean the last three days can't be viewed with optimism, because it's been a night-and-day performance for this beleaguered group. Beginning with Erick Fedde's four-inning appearance Sunday in relief of Jeremy Hellickson, the Nationals bullpen has turned itself...

Manager Davey Martinez mentioned Tuesday night after a 3-2 loss that the month of April is finally over and May 1 is upon the Nationals. Today in preparing for their third game of the series against the Cardinals, Martinez emphasized more the importance of this game after two losses in the series and five losses in their last six games. "You prepare yourself every day to play, whether it's April or May going to come out and play," Martinez said. "The month is over. Here we go, May 1, we got...

CHICAGO - The revolving door attached to the Orioles bullpen pushed Tanner Scott back to Triple-A Norfolk and brought in right-hander Shawn Armstrong, who's been added to the 25-man roster for today's doubleheader. The Orioles claimed Armstrong off waivers from the Mariners Sunday afternoon and he joined the club yesterday. "It's been a lot, but the Orioles made it super easy for me," he said. "I can't complain. They've done anything and everything for myself and my family. Went to...

It's a new month, and the Nationals can only hope things go better in May than they did in April. One way to try to make that happen? Dominant performances from the top of their rotation. They're sending Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg to the mound the next two days against the Cardinals, so the table is certainly set for this to happen. Scherzer was fantastic in his last start against the Padres, striking out 10 while allowing only two runs in seven innings. He did surrender a homer to...

Maybe the Orioles will have it going again tonight on offense when they once again face Chicago White Sox right-hander Iván Nova (0-3, 8.42 ERA). He gets the start for the Sox in Game 2. Last Tuesday in Baltimore, they hit him hard in a 9-1 win. The Orioles produced 11 hits and nine runs over four innings against Nova at Camden Yards. They hit four homers, with Renato Núñez hitting a solo shot, Joey Rickard and Chris Davis each getting a two-run shot and Dwight Smith Jr. collecting a...

CHICAGO - The Orioles decided to use an outfielder as the 26th man in today's doubleheader, with Anthony Santander ticketed for a start in Game 2. Santander has joined the club from Durham, where Triple-A Norfolk is playing. "With the rainout yesterday, the off-day tomorrow, we feel good about our pitching situation," said manager Brandon Hyde. "A little bit beat up from the position-player standpoint. There are a couple guys I don't want to go both games, so Tony's going to be in...