Nationals manager Davey Martinez has made it mandatory to watch right-hander Jeremy Hellickson as he makes his way through his starts, especially the third time through the order. In his last start, Hellickson had allowed only one run through five innings on a David Peralta solo homer against the Diamondbacks April 28. Peralta came up for the third time in the sixth and hit another homer. After Hellickson retired Jarrod Dyson, he was pulled. He had registered 56 pitches. Martinez said...

The Nationals have a chance today for their first four-game sweep of the season as they battle the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale. With a win, the Nats get back to the .500 mark for the first time since April 20. Manager Davey Martinez believes they have found something with their new lineup. Bryce Harper will stay in the leadoff spot, with Matt Adams in the No. 3 hole. Ryan Zimmerman and Matt Wieters return to the lineup after a day off. Wilmer Difo has done a very nice job in the No....

ANAHEIM, Calif. - For two nights in a row in Anaheim, the Orioles offense did little until the ninth inning. The Orioles lost 10-7 last night but scored five in the ninth to make the final more respectable. They entered the final inning behind 10-2. In this series they've scored two runs on six hits in innings one through eight and seven runs on eight hits in the ninth Tuesday and Wednesday. When Chris Davis was asked why it took so long to score, he had this answer: "I don't know. I don't...

It was just 12 days ago that Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy had an ERA of 1.42 that ranked fourth-best in the American League. But for the second game in a row, he got hit hard tonight as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Orioles 10-7 at Angels Stadium. The Orioles are 8-22 and have lost eight straight road games. They start this six-game road trip at 0-2. The Orioles have lost eight of 10 and 16 of their last 20 games. Bundy tied a career high by allowing three homers tonight and now has...

For more than a century, the "Neighborhood Play" existed in baseball as sort of an accepted form of breaking the official rules of the game. By the letter of the law, an infielder turning a double play must have his foot on the bag with the ball in his possession before making the throw to first. But throughout the vast majority of the history of this sport, umpires looked the other way when a guy cleared his feet away from the base a microsecond before making his throw, in the process...

One, two, three. The Nationals' top of the order, in it's present form, is clicking. Bryce Harper leading off has been a find. Trea Turner can still do Trea Turner things from the two-hole. Matt Adams has been scorching the ball and the Nats have taken full advantage of his hot bat in the No. 3 spot. All this adds up to another runaway win against the Bucs as the Nats win, 9-3. The trio at the top of the order has combined for 11 hits, five homers, 10 runs and 14 RBIs in these last two...

The unorthodox lineup the Nationals unveiled Tuesday night was supposed to be a temporary one, but perhaps Davey Martinez is going to have to reconsider its long-term potential now. Because although the Nationals' out-of-nowhere offensive explosion of the last 48 hours might be temporary, there just might be some staying power here as well. With Bryce Harper again leading off, Matt Adams batting third and Wilmer Difo batting ninth, the Nationals ransacked the Pirates pitching staff again...

The Orioles will find out tonight whether Chris Tillman's last start was a sign or a tease. Whether his success was based more on the opponent or ... The second question may go unanswered because Tillman is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in six career outings against the Angels. He's 7-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts against the Tigers. Manager Buck Showalter lined him up properly. Didn't skip him after the rainout. Everyone was pushed back a day and Tillman got the ball. In two starts at Angel Stadium,...

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will seldom, if ever, publicly express how he will use - or not use - his relievers. So if he is making any changes involving struggling reliever Brad Brach, he didn't say so today. In fact, the skipper expressed confidence in Brach, who took the loss last night. Over his past four games, Brach has allowed 10 hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings. His ERA in the ninth inning is 14.73. "He's going to get (more) opportunities," Showalter said....

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Less than 24 hours since last night's collision with third baseman Pedro Álvarez's left arm, Orioles catcher Chance Sisco has soreness near his nose, but nothing worse. No concussion, no cuts. Officially, he suffered a facial contusion. Pretty remarkable since the collision - as Sisco went running to chase a foul pop along third base - left him on the ground for several minutes looking like a boxer that had just been knocked out. Sisco said today he is fine and available...