Nationals right-hander Jefrey Rodriguez pitched to a pair of batters into the fifth inning following the 38-minute rain delay Sunday night against the Phillies. He allowed four runs on five hits in four innings with three walks (one intentional) and three strikeouts. The Nationals came from behind to beat the Phillies, 8-6, to salvage the third game of the series before heading to St. Petersburg, Fla. "I feel like I did a good job," Rodriguez said via team interpreter Octavio Martinez. After...

It is no secret that if the Nationals are going to get on a roll and wrest control of the National League East from the Braves and Phillies, a couple of their biggest bats - Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy - will need to lead that run. Sunday night, down 6-2 to the Phillies, Harper and Murphy led the attack in a spectacular 8-6 comeback win. Harper had a career-high three doubles and Murphy delivered the game's biggest knock, a two-run single in the eighth, which highlighted a three-run rally...

The Nats were down 6-2 in the fifth inning Sunday night and were desperately searching for a spark to avoid a sweep at the hands of the second-place Phillies at Nats Park. They found the spark in two parts: a three-run sixth and a three-run eighth to stun Philadelphia, 8-6. The Nationals pounded out 17 hits for their 41st win of the season. The comeback win was the Nats' 12th of the season, but the victory felt like it was so much more important because of the situation the club had placed...

The Phillies connected first, against right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, to take an early lead over the Nats. Phillies pitcher Nick Pivetta singled to begin the third. One batter later, Rhys Hoskins slammed a two-run shot over the right-center field wall for his 11th homer of the season. Hoskins connected on a 94 mph four-seam fastball. Rodriguez has employed his changeup more than he had in his last start, and his curveball has forced a lot of swings-and-misses. The Nats have three hits, all...

Unless the Orioles throw us a curveball later today or reverse field like Marcus Allen, they're going to activate third baseman Tim Beckham from the disabled list as the latest adjustment to their 25-man roster. Beckham hasn't played since April 23. He underwent core muscle surgery that involved repairing tears on both sides of his groin. (This blog doesn't come with illustrations. You're welcome.) The Orioles are down to a three-man bench as they return to American League competition and...

Nationals hurlers Jeremy Hellickson and Brandon Kintzler completed their rehab games today for high Single-A Potomac with polar-opposite line results in an 11-5 loss to Wilmington. Hellickson has been nursing a right hamstring strain since June 4, while Kintzler is returning from a right forearm flexor strain (June 10). Hellickson lasted 4 2/3 innings in Woodbridge, Va., Sunday, giving up 11 runs on nine hits with three walks in taking the loss. Hellickson threw a scoreless first inning, but...

Manager: Scott Servais (3rd season) Record: 47-31 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: DH Nelson Cruz (20 HR, 48 RBIs), 2B Dee Gordon (19 SB), SS Jean Segura (.334 with 21 doubles), RF Mitch Haniger (58 RBIs), LHP Wade LeBlanc (3-0, 3.26 ERA), RHP Edwin Diaz (27 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (2-4 in 2017) Pitching probables: June 25:RHP Félix Hernández (6-6) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (2-8), 7:05 p.m., MASNJune 26: LHP James Paxton (6-2) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (3-6), 7:05 p.m.,...

Manager: Kevin Cash (4th season) Record: 37-40 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 3B Matt Duffy (.318 with 23 RBIs), C Wilson Ramos (.289 with 9 HR, 36 RBIs), 2B Joey Wendel (.262), 1B C.J. Cron (16 HR, 38 RBIs), LHP Blake Snell (9-4, 2.48 ERA), Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (3-1 in 2015) Pitching probables: June 25: LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-4) vs. LHP Blake Snell (9-4), 7:10 p.m., MASN2 June 26 RHP Max Scherzer (10-3) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-3), 12:10 p.m., MASN Inside the Rays: The...

ATLANTA - The season record and placement in the standings allow the Orioles to remain patient with a rookie starter and keep running him out there every fifth day, enabling them to continue the evaluation process and monitor how he responds to adversity that could prove beneficial down the road. Learn about the pitcher and the person. But is there a limit, no matter how many games already are lost? The Orioles will place the topic on a scale and check how it balances out, weighing the pros and...

The Nats have now lost seven of their last nine games, and are now 18-20 at home and 11-13 in the National League East. So before they head out on a six-game road trip, they need to get away with a win or be saddled with their third home series sweep loss of the season. In order for the club to get a win, they will need a solid start from an inexperienced starter in right-hander Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 4.66 ERA), who is looking for his first win in his major league career. Rodriguez did fairly...