The 162-game season can be a meat grinder much of the time, with tense contests, tough decisions and constant roster-tinkering required for a team to navigate its way through six months and emerge on top. So when a team can enjoy a week like the Nationals just did, five times holding a lead of five runs or more en route to victory, it offers a much-welcomed respite for all those involved. "I'll tell you, it's good for the manager," Dusty Baker chuckled following the Nationals' 8-0 win over...

Right-hander Tanner Roark demonstrated his ability to keep the Phillies guessing with seven strong innings in Saturday's 8-0 victory. In his last three starts against Philadelphia, Roark has allowed only two runs over 21 innings. His ERA in those three games stands at 0.86. He did a nice job of following catcher Wilson Ramos' lead, earning outs with his two-seam fastball, slider and curveball. "Execution on (my pitches) and keeping the hitters guessing because I don't want to fall into a...

Right-hander Tanner Roark got out of a major jam early against the Phillies on Saturday. And he was quickly rewarded. Coming off his shortest stint of the season at Cincinnati, there certainly had to be some anxiety when the Phillies got men on second and third with two quick base hits with no outs to begin the second. But just like the five runs the Reds scored last Sunday, Roark was unfazed in this challenge at Nats Park. Roark then struck out the side and dodged the first rally by the...

TORONTO - The Orioles today drafted left-handed pitcher Brandon Bonilla for the second time. They drafted the 22-year-old Bonilla this afternoon in round 13 out of Hawaii Pacific University. They also selected him in round 25 in 2014, but failed to sign him then and he went back to school. Bonilla is the son of former Oriole Bobby Bonilla and the godson of Barry Bonds. The sides never came too close on a deal in 2014. Brandon Bonilla was the closer this year and earned a spot on the National...

The Nationals have relied on the home run often during their recent offensive surge. So far today, they're scoring runs the old-fashioned way: with a string of quality at-bats and timely base hits. Thanks to four singles, a hit-batter and a perfectly executed squeeze bunt, the Nationals racked up four runs in the bottom of the second this afternoon, storming out to an early lead against the Phillies. There were no long bombs in this rally, only a bunch of solid hits off right-hander Aaron Nola...

It is a contract year for catcher Wilson Ramos, but that has not seemed to bother the six-year veteran. The 28-year-old has been with the Nationals since a mid-season trade with the Twins in 2010. For the last month, he has scorched the ball for the Nationals, hitting .340 with 33 hits, six of those home runs, and 22 RBIs. On the season, he is slashing .345/.395/.962. Ramos is set to be a free agent in 2017, currently earning $5.35 million. Shortstop Ian Desmond appeared to squeeze his bat a...

TORONTO - After two minor league rehab starts - one at Single-A Frederick and one at Triple-A Norfolk - the Orioles decided that right-hander Yovani Gallardo, on the DL with right shoulder tendinitis, would need a third before he is expected to return to their rotation on June 18 when the Orioles host Toronto. Gallardo will leave here tomorrow and fly to Charlotte. He'll pitch there for the Tides on Monday night. "You know, I'm OK with it," Gallardo said this morning. "It was a group...

Though Brad Brach served up a walk-off home run last night to Edwin Encarnacion, the Orioles bullpen continues to lead the majors with a 2.62 ERA and has registered 183 strikeouts in 199 1/3 innings. The club's relievers rank only 14th in the majors in innings pitched. Mike Wright gave the Orioles seven innings in his last start against Kansas City, allowing an unearned run and lowering his ERA from 5.88 to 5.14. He's facing a tremendous challenge this afternoon. Wright is 0-3 with a 7.11 ERA...

Orioles Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard is batting second and starting in right field today and Nolan Reimold is in left field. Francisco Pena is catching Mike Wright. Paul Janish is starting at third base. Manny Machado remains at shortstop while waiting for the appeal to be heard on his four-game suspension. For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Joey Rickard RF Manny Machado SS Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo DH Jonathan Schoop 2B Nolan Reimold LF Francisco Pena C Paul Janish 3B Mike Wright RHP

TORONTO - When the Orioles face the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon at Rogers Centre, we will find out if rookie right-hander Mike Wright can build on his best start of the 2016 season. On Monday at home against Kansas City, Wright gave up one unearned run on five hits over seven innings with two walks and four strikeouts. He threw shutout ball the first six innings of that game. The game followed by just days Wright being optioned to the minors. But he quickly returned to the roster when...