Left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed a solo homer to Nick Markakis that led off the top of the second inning. The Braves have managed at least one base hit each inning, but to Gonzalez's credit, he wiggled out of those threats to allow just one run through three frames. Braves right-hander Aníbal Sánchez pitched two innings, allowing only one base hit from Trea Turner, a single in the first. But he was replaced by Wes Parsons to begin the third. The right-hander made his major league debut...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Major League Baseball is holding another "Players' Weekend" on Aug. 24-26, and one of the perks is the unveiling of more nicknames that will appear on the backs of game jerseys. The Orioles made so many trades last month, fans need a program to learn the real names. But they can take a break and maybe learn a little more about the personalities. Infielder Tim Beckham is "Swaggy," dropping the "T" that accompanied it last year. Infielder Danny Valencia is...

In the early morning lineup submitted for Thursday's afternoon finale between the Nationals and the Atlanta Braves, Bryce Harper was slated to bat cleanup. But less than a half an hour after that lineup was posted, a new lineup was set with Harper scratched and Michael A. Taylor inserted to play center field and bat seventh. "We thought he was going to be OK," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's out there trying to get loose this morning and it just wouldn't get loose. Pretty...

Following a pair of losses to the second-place Atlanta Braves, the Nationals are again in must-win mode to try to get away to Chicago with a split of the four-game series. The Nats won the first game of the doubleheader Tuesday 8-3, and with a win in the nightcap and a potential Arizona win, the club could have been just four games out of first place in the National League East. But since that moment the Phillies went 1-2 and the Braves 2-0, so the deficit is back up to six games. The Nats need...

Two days after he was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Orioles in the Manny Machado trade, right-hander Zach Pop was pitching at Prince George's Stadium for his new organization and his new team, the Double-A Bowie Baysox. It didn't go well. Not the first impression he wanted. But it has gone a lot better for the 21-year-old Canadian native since he gave up three runs without recording an out that first game. Over his past four games for Bowie, Pop has thrown seven innings, allowing...

There were any number of reasons the Nationals lost to the Braves on Wednesday night, and any number of ways they could have made up for those reasons and actually pulled off an impressive comeback that would've changed the entire outlook of this critical series. But the primary focus from many corners afterward was on Juan Soto's sixth-inning ejection, so it's worth revisiting that sequence, as well as all the principal participants' postgame comments. In the bottom of the fourth, Soto was...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Whatever plans the Orioles made or at least discussed to select outfielder Cedric Mullins' contract from Triple-A Norfolk remain on hold as long as he's unable to play due to a stomach virus. Mullins was kept home last night and missed the Tides' 1-0 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Harbor Park. Meanwhile, Adam Jones started in center field as usual and homered in the first inning. Manager Buck Showalter has downplayed how Jones took fly balls in right field during...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles third base coach Bobby Dickerson will show up at Tropicana Field on Thursday and slip into his uniform and his second role with the club. As the infield instructor, he's going to want answers. Review the tape from tonight's game and figure out who's responsible for the various breakdowns and how they can be prevented in the future. The Orioles committed five errors and still managed to rally past the Rays 5-4 on Trey Mancini's two-run double off Sergio Romo in...

The Nationals showed some much-needed emotion tonight during a critical game against the Braves. Unfortunately, it only came after they trailed by a hefty margin and after their youngest star was ejected for the first time in his life. After Tommy Milone dug his teammates into a six-run hole, and the Nats tried to claw their way back while also watching 19-year-old slugger Juan Soto and hitting coach Kevin Long get ejected during a wild bottom of the sixth. In the end, the fiery emotions...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A couple of the Orioles' relievers ditched the bullpen bench after the bottom of the sixth inning tonight and began to get loose. No throwing was involved with Andrew Cashner at 83 pitches and cruising, but arms began to flap and rotate. Hamstrings were stretched. A one-run lead might be passed along and there are no longer the predictable choices awaiting manager Buck Showalter. Or a game might be tied due to more defensive breakdowns, which is how it played out. It's...