Dusty Baker admitted, after the fact, that his Nationals didn't exactly put forth their best effort Monday during the club's annual Independence Day morning game. "Everybody was dragging yesterday with that 11:05 game," the veteran manager said. "I just didn't want to say it." Whatever it was that plagued the Nationals during that uninspired loss to the Brewers sure seemed to still be dogging them tonight during a repeat performance. A tepid offensive attack against right-hander Zach...

What a treat to be joined by MASN reporter and journalist Mel Antonen. When I asked if he would join me on "Hitting the Books," he immediately said yes - and even more quickly said he had a couple of children's books he would like to talk about. When you get that kind of response that requires no time and is delivered with enthusiasm, I can't wait to hear what he has to say. I was right. His books, "George, Paul, John and Ben" and "Cowboy and Octopus," are wonderful. They immediately...

LOS ANGELES - For the first time since the 2013 season, the Orioles have five players headed to the All-Star Game. Manny Machado will start at third base for the American League team next Tuesday in San Diego. He is joined on the AL roster by four teammates: pitchers Zach Britton and Brad Brach, outfielder Mark Trumbo and catcher Matt Wieters. The Orioles have had 20 players selected since 2012. They got three that year, five in 2013, three in 2014 and four last year. Here is some reaction from...

The Orioles have five All-Star representatives for next week's game in San Diego, a group that doesn't include pitcher Chris Tillman, first baseman Chris Davis and second baseman Jonathan Schoop. Third baseman Manny Machado is the only Oriole among the American League starters, earning his third selection. This year marks the first time that he's been voted into the game. Joining Machado, who received 2,985,003 votes, are outfielder Mark Trumbo, catcher Matt Wieters, and relievers Zach...

Four Washington Nationals players were named 2016 Major League All-Stars on Tuesday evening, with outfielder Bryce Harper, second baseman Daniel Murphy, catcher Wilson Ramos, and right-handed pitcher Stephen Strasburg all awarded the annual mid-season honor. The 2016 American League and National League rosters were unveiled during the "Esurance All-Star Selection Show" on ESPN Tuesday night. This is just the second time in Nationals history (2005-present) that the club will send as many as...

Now that's how you walk the tightrope. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed a double, a walk and a passed ball in the first inning, but his quick glove ended a big Brewers threat and kept the game scoreless. Aaron Hill doubled and two batters later, with men on second and third, Chris Carter's hot shot line drive back to the mound was stabbed out of the air by Gonzalez to end the inning. In the bottom of the second inning, Daniel Murphy blooped a single to left-center field. Two batters later,...

The Nationals had been a first-place club on All-Star selection day three times in the last four years, but that didn't always translate into a throng of players actually donning curly W caps at the Midsummer Classic. This year, when the All-Stars gather in San Diego, the Nats will be well-represented in accordance with their place in the standings. The Nationals had four players selected to the All-Star squad this evening, with Bryce Harper again voted by fans as a starting outfielder. Daniel...

LOS ANGELES - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has been selected as the starter at third base for the American League in the All-Star Game, which will be played on Tuesday, July 12 at Petco Park in San Diego. Machado is batting .325 with 29 doubles, 18 homers, 50 RBIs, a .380 OBP, a .584 slugging percentage and an OPS of .964. Machado's name is all over the American League stats leaderboards. He ranks fourth in batting average, fifth in hits and is second in doubles, extra-base hits,...

Hyun Soo Kim is in left field and Mark Trumbo is in right, as the Orioles try to end their five-game losing streak in Los Angeles. Kim is batting second. Jonathan Schoop is seventh. The Orioles are 12-4 in Chris Tillman's 16 interleague starts. Tillman is 4-1 with a 4.88 ERA against the National League, and he's 4-0 with a 2.91 ERA in his last seven starts since July 7, 2014. Tillman has posted a quality start in each of those seven outings and the Orioles are 7-0 in those games. For the...

LOS ANGELES - The Orioles are trying to end a few streaks tonight in the second game of this three-game series with the Dodgers. The Orioles have lost five in a row, the Dodgers have won 10 games in a row. With their American League East lead down to two games, the Orioles (47-35) try to end a losing streak during which they have been outscored 38-20. The Orioles have allowed 28 runs over the last three games and 62 in the past nine. O's starting pitchers have worked only 11 1/3 combined...