Maybe in a previous time or on a previous day, the comeback would have been completed. But not by the 2018 Orioles, who just suffered another frustrating loss last night, 5-4 to Philadelphia. The Orioles won a pair of one-run games versus the Yankees, but lost by one Thursday night. Down 5-0, they cut that to 5-4 when Trey Mancini hit a two-run homer and Jace Peterson followed with a solo shot in the seventh. The table was set to pull out a late win. But it didn't happen as the Orioles fell to...

Zach Britton began to warm in the Orioles' bullpen last night as they tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth inning. Manny Machado singled with one out and his club down by a run, and a save situation loomed. And then it was gone. Adam Jones flied to center field, the Phillies brought in left-hander Adam Morgan and Chris Davis struck out for the third time. (It might have seemed like a bold move to pinch-hit Danny Valencia, but if the club was willing to ignore the contract and sit Davis...

NEW YORK - The Nationals got just enough from each facet of their club to eke out a 5-4 series-opening victory against the Mets at Citi Field on Thursday. Anthony Rendon hit two homers, Bryce Harper cranked a moon shot and Max Scherzer allowed only three runs over seven innings to go into the break with a 12-5 record. The Nats improved to 47-46, keeping pace with the Phillies, but are still 5 1/2 games back in the National League East. The Braves had the night off. "I think that's a huge key,...

Yesterday on Twitter, the Orioles shared one of my favorite moments from Camden Yards history. It's hard to believe, but 25 years ago Ken Griffey Jr. hit the Warehouse during the Home Run Derby in Baltimore. It's one of my favorite moments in the ballpark's history and one that hasn't been duplicated all these years later. Griffey's shot traveled 465 feet into right field perfectly smacking the bottom of the Warehouse on the fly. "Wind blown," the young Griffey laughed when talking about...

There were some bloops that fell in and some plays not made on defense. But there was also some damage done by the opponent's No. 9 hitter. It was that kind of game for Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman. He allowed a career-high 12 hits tonight as Philadelphia beat the Orioles 5-4 at Camden Yards. With the Orioles down 5-1 in the seventh, the O's offense showed some life when Trey Mancini hit a two-run homer to right-center off starter Nick Pivetta. Jace Peterson followed with a homer to...

As Manny Machado walked to the plate tonight with two outs and no one on base in the bottom of the first inning, a couple of visiting fans yelled, "Come to Philly!" Their club is doing just fine without him, completing a delayed sweep of the Orioles with a 5-4 victory before an announced crowd of 20,100 at Camden Yards. Kevin Gausman allowed five runs and a career-high 12 hits, weak contact still hurting him, and the Orioles had their 16th loss in 19 games. With a 26-68 record, they're 42...

NEW YORK - The Nationals' longest-tenured player, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, spoke up Thursday about his club's chances of getting something going in its quest for a third straight division title. The Nats have started the season 47-46 and trail the Phillies by 5 1/2 games in the National League East. In his 14th year with the club, Zimmerman could be as close as one week away from returning to the lineup. He has been out since May 10 with a right oblique strain. He has missed 54 games. He...

Whatever the return for shortstop Manny Machado in the coming hours, days or weeks, the Orioles will be focused in part on improving a defense that has been in steady decline for the past three seasons. It's become a familiar refrain, but executing the plan has proven to be as challenging as stringing together wins. Team officials vowed again to make defense a priority over the winter, but the Orioles moved Platinum Glove winner Machado to shortstop and put Tim Beckham at third base, where his...

NEW YORK - Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman sat down during pregame and refuted claims that his calf has been the biggest reason why he has been slow in his recovery from his right oblique strain that has kept him on the disabled list since May 10. "I don't know, I don't have social media, so I'm not up into this stuff, but do I have soreness sometimes? Yes, of course. Am I injured? Absolutely not," he said. "Same thing with spring training. Was I injured? Absolutely not. Was I...

NEW YORK - A day after the Nationals lost a series in Pittsburgh in a 2-0 shutout at the hands of the Pirates, Nationals manager Davey Martinez spoke about the state of his club, which is back at the .500 mark at 46-46, and what this final series before the All-Star break against the Mets means. "I want them to come out today with a sense of urgency," Martinez said of Thursday's game at Citi Field, the first in a four-game series. "Treat these games - we're going into the All-Star break -...