He had done it at Triple-A late last summer. And he had done it in Viera, Fla., earlier this spring. So maybe it was only a matter of time before Chris Heisey hit his first career walk-off homer in a major league game. "I'm kind of knocking them all out here in a short period of time," he said with a laugh. "It was definitely nice to finally hit one in the big leagues." Even nicer to do it in the bottom of the 16th inning of the craziest game just about everyone in a Nationals uniform...

Dusty Baker had played, coached or managed in precisely 4,405 major league games before what figured to be a run-of-the-mill series finale between the Nationals and Twins. Chris Speier has been involved in some capacity since 1971, with a few breaks scattered in there. Davey Lopes is 70 and hasn't missed a season since he was a rookie with the Dodgers during the Nixon administration. Ask any of them where today's 16-inning marathon, with all of its twists and turns and drama that ultimately...

Yovani Gallardo is expected to meet up with the Orioles in St. Petersburg, Fla. for their three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Gallardo will receive treatment from head athletic trainer Richie Bancells after undergoing an MRI yesterday to confirm that his health issue is right shoulder and biceps tendinitis. And to figure out what's causing it. A cortisone injection will shut down Gallardo for a few days. Gallardo leaves the rotation and Kevin Gausman enters it. Gausman will...

Bryce Harper has a flair for the dramatic and Sunday he added to the record books with his ninth homer of the season. With his team down 4-3 in the ninth, Harper, on his scheduled day off, faced Twins closer Kevin Jepsen and launched a 3-2 fastball over the right-center field wall for a game-tying homer. The home run saved his team again. Eventually, Chris Heisey, who had replaced Harper after that pinch-hit homer, smacked his first walk-off home run of his career as the Nationals dropped the...

KANSAS CITY - It was a day when a close game got away from the Orioles in the last of the seventh inning. It was a day when their offense was held to one run on four hits - and none for extra bases - in a 6-1 loss to Kansas City. The Orioles had a chance to pull out a 4-2 run against Toronto and K.C., but it didn't happen. Royals starter Yordano Ventura held them to three hits over seven innings to improve to 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA. O's starter Mike Wright had a strong start going. He took the...

Bryce Harper doesn't even need to start games any more to have a major impact. Neither does Chris Heisey. Heisey's walk-off homer, the first of his career, ended a 16-inning marathon as the Nationals came back twice to sweep the Twins with a 6-5 win. Not in the starting lineup for the first time this season, Harper arrived in the bottom of the ninth to pinch-hit with his team down 4-3. Facing the Twins closer Kevin Jepsen, Harper crushed a 3-2 fastball over the center field fence to tie the...

KANSAS CITY - The Orioles took a 1-0 lead into the last of the fourth inning today at Kauffman Stadium. If they win, they'll take the series and improve to 12-5. Manny Machado, the league's leading hitter at .397, walked with one out in the first against Yordano Ventura. He reached second on Adam Jones' infield single and scored on Mark Trumbo's two-out single to left. Trumbo began today second to Machado in the AL in batting average at .381. That was his team-leading 16th RBI and all have...

No Bryce Harper? No problem for the Nationals, who continue to produce in the first inning even without their MVP slugger. Matt den Dekker, subbing in right field to give Harper his first day off this season, opened the bottom of the first this afternoon with a homer into the right field bullpen, giving the Nationals a quick lead on the Twins. den Dekker, who hammered a 3-1 fastball from rookie right-hander Tyler Duffey, became merely the latest member of the Nationals lineup to make a dent...

Orioles rookie Joey Rickard is listed on the ballot for the 2016 All-Star Game, to be played July 12 in San Diego. Rickard, Adam Jones and Mark Trumbo are included among the American League outfielders. Rickard, the Rule 5 pick from the Rays, leads major league rookies with 22 hits heading into today's games. The Orioles also are represented by first baseman Chris Davis, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, shortstop J.J. Hardy, third baseman Manny Machado, catcher Matt Wieters and designated...

KANSAS CITY - Orioles manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that right-hander Tyler Wilson is staying in the rotation - at least for now. He will start for the Orioles on Thursday at home against the Chicago White Sox. Wilson pitched five innings, allowing six hits and three runs, and got the win last night at Kauffman Stadium. He is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.70 in four appearances. Vance Worley will continue to pitch out of the bullpen. The Orioles will need to make another roster move to activate...