BALTIMORE - The Nationals edged the Orioles 3-2 thanks to an impressive homecoming for former Orioles Jeremy Hellickson and Mark Reynolds. Hellickson (2-0) allowed two runs over five innings and Reynolds slammed his sixth homer of the season as the Nats ran their record on the road o 18-8. The 31-22 overall record now challenges for the top spot in the National League East. Hellickson went 2-6 with a 6.97 ERA over 10 starts for the Orioles in 2017. Reynolds fared better, hitting 60 homers in...

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy was not as sharp as he was for a complete-game win in Chicago, but he still delivered his team-leading seventh quality start. But with the Orioles offense still not doing much, he wound up with another loss tonight. Washington right-hander Jeremy Hellickson held the Orioles to two runs over five innings and then four bullpen pitchers locked down the win as the Nationals beat the Orioles 3-2 at Camden Yards. The Nationals, who have not won a season series since...

There are only so many ways that a manager can manipulate a 25-man roster while trying to resuscitate his offense. Sub out a few names, raise or lower guys in the lineup, say a few prayers and maybe light a few candles, depending on the level of desperation and religious denomination. Buck Showalter dropped Trey Mancini from the leadoff spot to sixth yesterday afternoon and completely out of the order last night, the slump white-knuckling his left fielder to the tune of a .113 average in the...

BALTIMORE - A couple of ex-Orioles helped the Nationals take a 3-2 lead tonight at Camden Yards. A bunch of relievers then made sure that razor-thin lead held up the rest of the way. Behind five strong innings from Jeremy Hellickson, Mark Reynolds' latest homer and then four scoreless innings from their ever-changing bullpen, the Nationals eked out a one-run victory to earn their second straight win in this Battle of the Beltways series and fifth straight win overall. Hellickson and Reynolds,...

BALTIMORE - Bryce Harper and O's shortstop Manny Machado got Tuesday's game off to a hot start with solo homers in their first at-bats. In the top of the first, Harper's blast came on the third pitch of the game from Orioles starter Dylan Bundy. Harper got a hold of a 91-mph fastball and deposited it in the right field seats. It was his 17th of the season. In the bottom of the frame, Machado crushed a Jeremy Hellickson offering into the left field stands for his 16th of the season. In the...

Third baseman Danny Valencia has been scratched from tonight's lineup. Jace Peterson is playing third base and Joey Rickard goes to left field and bats seventh in Valencia's slot. Bryce Harper homered off Dylan Bundy in the top of the first inning to give the Nationals a quick 1-0 lead. Zach Britton didn't know today whether he'd start or work a later inning in the first game of his rehab assignment. He felt confident only in his travel itinerary. Britton was headed to Triple-A Norfolk...

The Orioles host the Washington Nationals tonight in the second game of a three-game interleague series and a seven-game homestand at Oriole Park. The Nationals took the series opener 6-0 Monday as Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer off Alex Cobb. Lefty Gio Gonzalez pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings to improve to 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 11 starts this season. Shortstop Manny Machado singled in the first inning and has now hit safely in 18 of 22...

BALTIMORE - With the news that reliever Ryan Madson is close to returning after a pectoral strain has had him shelved since May 17, Nationals manager Davey Martinez will have to decide who goes and who stays in an eight-man bullpen that has done a nice job recently of finishing games. The bullpen has allowed only two earned runs in the last five games, the Nats have gone 4-1 in that span. Coupled with the Madson news is that left-hander Matt Grace is also close to returning from his groin...

BALTIMORE - The Nationals expect to get two key relievers back on their active roster this weekend. Ryan Madson and Matt Grace each have taken significant steps in recent days in their rehab from injuries, and each is on track to come off the disabled list for this weekend's series in Atlanta. Madson, out since May 17 with a right pectoral strain, threw off a mound earlier this week and reported no problems, convincing club officials he was on the verge of returning to the roster. "One more...

With his decreasing average causing his frustrations to increase, Orioles left fielder Trey Mancini is getting a day off today, at least at the beginning of the game. He is not in tonight's starting lineup. After going 1-for-13 over the weekend versus Tampa Bay, Mancini went 0-for-4 and hit into a pair of double plays in last night's 6-0 loss to Washington. He is batting .118 (6-for-51) over the past 13 games. Mancini is well-known for being hard on himself and that was apparent again during...