Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper slipped on the first base bag attempting to beat out a grounder, injuring his left knee in the bottom of the first inning of the game Saturday night against the Giants at Nationals Park. The game had been delayed for three hours because of heavy rains. Harper's left cleat appeared to slip on the wet first base bag as he leaned forward to try to beat Giants first baseman Ryder Jones. The knee appeared to buckle and he went down hard. After writhing in pain...

OAKLAND, Calif. - Well, that was one way to respond to a tough one-run loss on Friday night. The Orioles scored seven runs on eight hits in the top of the first inning tonight at the Oakland Coliseum. They knocked A's starter Sean Manaea out after he got just one out - and that was an out at the plate. The seven runs ties for their biggest inning of the year and matches their highest run total for any one game on this road trip. They beat the A's Thursday night 7-2. Manaea had allowed 12 runs...

In a team sport like baseball, chemistry on and off the field, specifically how each teammate treats the other, how they motivate and help each other, regardless of age or experience, goes a long way in how good the overall club can be in a highly competitive professional atmosphere. The Nationals enjoy a double-digit lead in their division due in large part to the talent they have on the field. But with all the injuries they have endured through the first 4 1/2 months of the season it might be...

OAKLAND, Calif. - Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jiménez is fine to make his next start. Jiménez fanned 11 and gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings last night. He was pulled from the game after being hit on the right leg by a hot-smash grounder off the bat of Chad Pinder that went for an infield hit. After the game, Jiménez said he was pretty certain he was going to be fine. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed this afternoon that he is. "The biggest problem he had - it's the same place he...

OAKLAND, Calif. - Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman remains a member of the bullpen for now. But he is a member yet to appear in a major league game in relief yet. Since his last start on Aug. 3 at home against the Tigers, Tillman has had eight days' rest as he awaits his first appearance out of the Orioles bullpen. "I've just been going out and doing what I would normally do," he said this afternoon of the inactivity. "I'd normally play catch and try and stay ready. It's new to me, so...

Nationals manager Dusty Baker had the latest on how close Stephen Strasburg is to returning to the rotation. "It's not written in stone but he had a good session the other day," Baker said. "He's supposed to go out here pretty soon for a rehab assignment." Pitching coach Mike Maddux said Strasburg's most recent bullpen session went well and that he is building stamina. His likely rehab assignment is Monday night for high Single-A Potomac at home in Woodbridge, Va., against Salem. Maddux...

The Nationals and the Giants will get their series underway tonight after Friday's rainout. Right-hander Edwin Jackson was moved up from his Friday start to start tonight at home in San Francisco's only visit to Nats Park this season. The Giants counter with veteran right-hander Jeff Samardzija (7-11, 4.75) and move Chris Stratton to Sunday. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman's next hit (No. 1,623) will surpass Tim Raines for second place on the franchise all-time hit leaderboard. On Wednesday,...

Chris Davis remains in the lineup and continues to bat seventh. Tim Beckham stays in the leadoff role as the Orioles continue their four-game series in Oakland. Beckham is 22-for-44 with the Orioles, including four doubles, two triples, three home runs and six RBIs. He's 6-for-12 in his last three games. Beckham is the first player to begin his Orioles career with an 11-game hitting streak since Eric Byrnes in 2005. Dylan Bundy has faced the Athletics once in his career, allowing an unearned...

OAKLAND, Calif. - After their second one-run loss in four days on this road trip, the Orioles play the third game of their weekend series tonight against the Athletics. The Orioles let a 4-3 lead get away in the eighth last night and lost 5-4 to the A's. They are 2-3 on this 10-game road trip and that included Tuesday's 3-2 loss in Anaheim to Parker Bridwell and the Angels. The Orioles missed a chance to get back to the .500 mark Friday night. They are 57-59 and 22-36 in road games. They are...

Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy have been managing against each other for the better part of the last two decades, their careers nearly running parallel. Baker first became manager of the Giants in 1993, with Bochy hired by the Padres in 1995. Baker was fired by the Giants after the 2002 World Series; four years later, Bochy took over in San Francisco. Baker has since managed the Cubs, Reds and now Nationals; Bochy still remains with the Giants, owner of three World Series rings. Along the way, the...