CHICAGO - There were several key moments during yesterday's 8-5 loss that could only leave the Nationals shrugging their shoulders in disbelief, plays simply just out of their reach and plays that just underscored how good (and perhaps fortunate) the Cubs have been during their record 23-6 start to the season. There was, however, one very significant play that was entirely the Nationals' fault, one for which no excuse would suffice: a botched safety squeeze that turned into a double play. It...

We know that Caleb Joseph is a very solid defensive catcher. He was behind the plate last night when Ubaldo Jimenez pitched eight strong innings in a win over Oakland. Matt Wieters was behind the plate Saturday afternoon when Mike Wright gave up five runs in five innings. Some fans were so impressed with Joseph's defensive work last year (and rightfully so) that they thought the Orioles pitchers were in better hands with him catching over Wieters. Orioles pitchers tell us a different story....

Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez was motivated to pitch well tonight. But not, he said, because he gave up six runs in his last start. "There is always motivation to pitch good," Jimenez said after pitching the O's past the A's 5-2. "But I try to forget what happened in the past because there is nothing you can do with it. In baseball, every day is a new day. If you want to be there for your team, you have to find a way to move on. "The two-seam fastball was pretty good. I was able to...

The Orioles tonight announced that they have returned left-hander T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk after today's doubleheader. McFarland was recalled as the 26th player for Game 2 of today's doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics, but did not appear in the game.

Can Chris Tillman extend his streak of quality starts to four? Tillman closes out the series and the homestand with his ERA down to 2.81. He's allowed three runs in his last 19 2/3 innings. Tillman is coming off back-to-back nine-strikeout games to tie his career high. In five career starts against the Athletics, Tillman has gone 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.063 WHIP in 32 innings. The current group is batting .203 against him. Former Oriole Danny Valencia is 3-for-10 with a double and home run....

If a tie is like kissing your sister, what's splitting a doubleheader? The Orioles did it today, winning the nightcap 5-2 before 29,862 at Camden Yards. The good Ubaldo Jimenez showed up tonight. He held the Athletics to two runs over eight innings, scattering nine hits along the way and walking only one batter. He struck out the side in the eighth and left to a standing ovation. Jimenez matched the Orioles' longest start of the season and lowered his ERA from 5.20 to 4.54 in 35 2/3...

Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez bounced back very well from a poor outing. The Orioles offense came up with a much-needed big inning to back him. It all added up to a 5-2 win for the Orioles over the Athletics and a split of the day-night doubleheader at Camden Yards. The Orioles are 17-12 overall, 12-5 at home and 7-2 against the A's since the start of the 2015 season. Jimenez allowed nine hits and two runs over eight innings, matching Kevin Gausman for the longest 2016 outing by an...

CHICAGO - There was the slicing soft liner by Ryan Kalish that just barely got past a lunging Danny Espinosa and brought home two runs to give the Cubs a temporary lead over the Nationals in the bottom of the sixth. Then there was the double down the left field line by Anthony Rizzo that narrowly landed in fair territory and then bounced into the stands, putting the Cubs into prime position to break a tie game in the bottom of the seventh. And of course there was the ball Addison Russell popped...

CHICAGO - To beat the Cubs right now, you have to play perfect baseball. The Nationals played very good baseball this afternoon, but they were far from perfect. And so they remain winless against baseball's best team so far in 2016. The Cubs battled their way to score three times in the sixth and then twice more in the seventh, taking advantage of some near-misses by the Nationals defense to emerge with a 8-5 victory on a long day at Wrigley Field. Addison Russell's bases-loaded two-run...

Chris Davis remains in the lineup tonight for Game 2 of the Orioles' doubleheader after going 0-for-3 and being hit by a pitch in the opener. Davis probably would make a "contact" joke at his own expense. He's been scuffling at the plate, going 0-for-14 in his last four games and 1-for-18 in his last five to lower his average to .204 Though he didn't strike out today, Davis had whiffed eight times in the previous four games. He's hit one home run since April 23. Davis continues to receive...