Strasburg wants to better execute his pitches
Strasburg wants to better execute his pitches
Byron Kerr
Nationals
MIAMI - Stephen Strasburg did not feel like he had his best stuff on Sunday. Pretty scary notion for the rest of the National League, because the right-hander still went out and delivered five scoreless innings in a 5-2 Nationals win over the Marlins. Strasburg surrendered only three hits, all singles, and did not allow the Marlins past second base. He walked two and struck out eight. His first three strikeouts were with the changeup, two from the curveball, and three from his four-seam...
Strasburg delivers, Harper and Rendon homer for series sweep
Strasburg delivers, Harper and Rendon homer for series sweep
Byron Kerr
Nationals
MIAMI - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg ran his scoreless string to 23 innings against the Marlins, and Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon slammed solo homers, as the Nationals won 5-2 to sweep the three-game series. The Nationals have now won 11 straight meetings against the Marlins and this was their third road series sweep of the season. Suddenly, the Nationals are 29-22, seven games above .500 for the first time this season. They are only one game back of the first-place Braves in the National...
Orioles complete road trip with 8-3 loss (with quotes)
Orioles complete road trip with 8-3 loss (with quotes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles come off their 11-game road trip with more bumps and bruises as they reach the Memorial Day marker. The seventh loss was especially painful today with an early three-run lead and Kevin Gausman on the mound against a team that gives the impression of having more interest in cutting costs than deficits. The Rays sent 12 batters to the plate in the third inning and scored six runs, and the Orioles lost 8-3 at Tropicana Field to remain stuck on one road series...
Showalter on Jones, Trumbo, Beckham and more (O's down 8-3)
Showalter on Jones, Trumbo, Beckham and more (O's down 8-3)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - There wasn't much news to come out of this morning's media session with Orioles manager Buck Showalter. A few injury updates Adam Jones is able to play, but he's out of the lineup. Showalter is starting Craig Gentry in center field. "He's got to get off this turf," Showalter said. "We've got four in Toronto before long. He's just sore. Everybody gets sore here. Just thought it was best, talking to him. "We've set up kind of a semi-plan when the year started to...
Martinez on Harper, Madson, Difo and more (Nats win 5-2)
Martinez on Harper, Madson, Difo and more (Nats win 5-2)
Byron Kerr
Nationals
MIAMI - Nationals manager Davey Martinez provided more insight on Bryce Harper's struggles at the plate in this series as the team prepares for the Sunday finale. The slugger has had six strikeouts in the last two games. He has reached base on two hits and a walk since Friday. Harper is hitting .203 in his last 15 games and .200 in his last 30 contests. He has 18 strikeouts in his last 15 games. "He hit some balls hard," Martinez said. "Yesterday, obviously, he's fouling more pitches off...
Orioles and Rays lineups
Orioles and Rays lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Adam Jones is out of the lineup today as the Orioles conclude their 11-game road trip. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to get Jones off the turf, especially with a day game Monday at Camden Yards. Just the usual soreness for Jones. Craig Gentry is in center field and Jace Peterson is in right. Pedro Álvarez is the designated hitter and Chance Sisco is catching. The Orioles are expecting the Rays to use right-hander Austin Pruitt behind starter Sergio Romo. Mark Trumbo is...
Game 51 lineups: Nats at Marlins
Game 51 lineups: Nats at Marlins
Byron Kerr
Nationals
MIAMI - The Nationals seek their third road series sweep today as they send one of their aces, right-hander Stephen Strasburg (5-4, 3.36 ERA), to the hill. The Nats used late-inning offensive surges to down the Marlins 9-5 and 4-1, hitting a pair of homers in each game. The Marlins counter with right-hander Elieser Hernandez (0-1, 2.08). In three starts dating to April 3, 2017, Strasburg has thrown 18 consecutive scoreless innings against the Marlins. The Nats have now won 10 straight games...
O's game blog: Kevin Gausman pitches road trip finale
O's game blog: Kevin Gausman pitches road trip finale
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles play their road trip finale this afternoon at Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays. The trip began as the Birds went 1-3 at Boston and then 2-2 in Chicago. They have split the first two games of this series - beating the Rays 2-0 on Friday and losing 5-1 yesterday. The Orioles are 17-35 overall, which is a .327 winning percentage that projects to a final record of 53-109. The Orioles are 7-22 on the road, winning just four of their last 22 away from Baltimore. They are now...
Harper's frustrations, plus an update on Murphy and Goodwin
Harper's frustrations, plus an update on Murphy and Goodwin
Byron Kerr
Nationals
MIAMI - Lost in the hoopla of another late surge and win Saturday for the Nationals were the struggles of right fielder Bryce Harper in this series. He connected on a two-run double and a single late Friday, which were big in helping the Nats to a 9-5 win. But he has also struck out six times in the series. Manager Davey Martinez has noted the building frustration for Harper at the plate. "He'll snap out of it, that's the only thing I can say," Martinez said after Saturday's 4-1 win....
More on the struggling offense, plus minor league notes
More on the struggling offense, plus minor league notes
Steve Melewski
Orioles
The Orioles' up-and-down offense has certainly had many more downs than ups in the 2018 season. In the series finale in Chicago on Thursday afternoon, the Orioles scored nine runs in the first three innings. They have scored three runs in 24 innings since. They lost 5-1 to Tampa Bay on Saturday afternoon to fall to 17-35 overall and to 7-22 on the road. They are 4-6 on an 11-game road trip that ends today before they return home to face the Washington Nationals starting Monday. Chris Davis...