Pick your reasons for the Nationals' latest loss to the Mets, this one by a 6-5 count in 12 innings. Point to Tanner Roark walking the bases loaded in the top of the third and then serving up a grand slam to Adrián González on his next pitch. Mention Brandon Kintzler taking the loss for the second straight day and surrendering a run for the third straight game. And be sure to include back-to-back, three-pitch strikeouts with the winning run on third by Michael A. Taylor and Pedro...

The Nationals bullpen held up its end of the ballgame for more than six innings, giving the team a chance to get back in the game. But in the end, it was not enough, as the Mets outlasted the Nats 6-5 in 12 innings. Brandon Kintzler allowed a leadoff single to begin the 12th inning. The Mets then used a sacrifice bunt to get pinch-hitter Juan Lagares into scoring position. The Nationals decided to intentionally walk Michael Conforto to get to Yoenis Céspedes. Céspedes muscled a Kintzler...

The Nationals can't say they didn't keep giving themselves opportunities to beat the Mets tonight and avoid a disheartening, early-season, three-game sweep at the hands of their division rivals. All the opportunities in the world, though, mean nothing if you can't deliver in those situations. Or, at the very least, not commit baserunning blunders every 15 minutes or so. So it was that the Nats went down again tonight, this time in an agonizing, 6-5, 12-inning loss on a cold, dreary Sunday...

Manager: Brian Snitker (3rd season) Record: 6-3 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.367/.558/.733 with 11 RBIs), LF Preston Tucker (.370/.400/.667 with 9 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (2 SB, 5 RBIs), SS Dansby Swanson (.382/.400/.618), RHP Mike Foltynewicz (15 Ks in 10 1/3 innings), RHP Arodys Vizcaino (1.93 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 2-1 Pitching probables: April 9: RHP Julio Teheran (0-0, 10.13 ERA) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 1.64 ERA), 7:05 p.m., MASNApril 10: RHP Mike Foltynewicz (1-0,...

Of all the crazy things that took place over 4 hours, 48 minutes and 12 innings on Sunday, the most improbable may have been saved for last. Orioles closer Brad Brach - in the span of a few pitches - went from a goat, and potentially blowing a key save, to one of the heroes. All he had to do to achieve that was face Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton with the bases loaded and no outs and his team leading by one. Good luck with that. No place to put them. No chance to pitch around them. Stanton...

Attempting to snap a four-game losing streak, the Nationals wanted to jump start their offense on a chilly Sunday night before a nationally televised audience. Of course, it had to be No. 34 first in line for the super charge. Bottom of the first after a one-out single from Anthony Rendon, Bryce Harper blasted a 1-1 Matt Harvey pitch over the right field wall just inside the foul pole. The Nats had the early lead 2-0. It was the seventh time in the Nats first nine games they have scored at...

NEW YORK - The rotation spins back to Dylan Bundy tonight and it couldn't happen at a better time. Kevin Gausman gave the Orioles five innings plus one batter in Friday night's 7-3, 14-inning win at Yankee Stadium. Chris Tillman went 5 1/3 innings the following day in a bullpen-depleted 8-3 loss. And Mike Wright Jr. closed the series yesterday by retiring only two batters in an 8-7, 12-inning win. The Orioles could use more length after manager Buck Showalter needed six relievers to cover for...

Daniel Murphy's advancement in daily workouts - running sprints in the outfield, taking full rounds of batting practice and grounders at second base - may suggest the rehabbing Nationals veteran is nearly ready to begin playing in games. To anyone who is having that notion right now, manager Davey Martinez wants you to start pumping the brakes a bit. Despite the significant progress he's made in the last week, Murphy still has some significant hurdles to cross before he suits up for a...

A little over 24 hours have passed since Nationals manager Davey Martinez was ejected from the 3-2 loss to the Mets. Martinez was tossed for the first time in his managerial career, arguing against the ejection of third baseman Anthony Rendon by home plate umpire Marty Foster. Since that incident on the field, Martinez has had some time to reflect. And he has heard and read a lot about the ejection on his phone and on television. "It was all over the news," Martinez said. "I'm not typically...

NEW YORK - Starter Mike Wright Jr. didn't make it out of the first inning today, Anthony Santander hit his first major league home run, left-hander Tanner Scott was in position to earn his first major league win before the Yankees tied the score in the seventh, Adam Jones lost a ball in the sun in the 10th that could have eventually lost the game, Craig Gentry prevented a walk-off in the 10th and provided a lead in the 12th, Brad Brach coaxed a 1-2-5 double play and the Orioles have exceeded...