Right-handers Max Scherzer and Jose Fernandez went toe-to-toe for the first six innings tonight, both allowing two runs. But Scherzer outlasted Fernandez, taking his start into the seventh where his defining moment of the night took center stage. With the game knotted 2-2, Miguel Rojas smoked a double off Scherzer with one down. Scherzer quickly responded, fanning Casey McGehee for the second out. With Dee Gordon - owner of the National League's second best batting average - stepping to the...

Two Fridays ago, the Nationals sported their blue jerseys and faced their National League East rivals, the Braves, in front of the hometown crowd at Nats Park. With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 10th, Michael A. Taylor came on to pinch-hit and sent a walk-off three-run home run into the stands. Fast forward to last night's scene in D.C. The boys dawned their patriotic get-up as they hosted another division foe, the Marlins. The ballgame was knotted at 4-4 after nine innings. To the...

Jose Lobaton does not get many opportunities to play as the backup catcher. Even more rare is the chance for him to impact the game in his last at-bat. Friday night, Lobaton's fly ball to left field scored Jayson Werth from third base with the winning run as the Nationals completed a 5-4 comeback win over the Marlins in 10 innings. "What do you want me to say, (I am) happy," Lobaton said afterwards at his locker. "That was something that you really want to do every time you got that...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If the Orioles are going to make that magical run and qualify as the second wild card - they remain 4 1/2 games behind the Astros - they'll do so with an inexperienced starter in the rotation or a healthy Miguel Gonzalez trying to salvage his season. Maybe both. It's not an ideal setup by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not slamming Mike Wright or Tyler Wilson, two promising young hurlers who will vie for jobs in the rotation or bullpen next spring. They've got...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles have lost three of their last 10 games by scores of 14-6, 10-1 and tonight's 8-6 final against the Rays. The other two most recent losses were 10-4 and 8-6. When they're on the short end of a final, they're not shy about giving up runs. There's no logical explanation, of course. It's just another layer of frustration in a season that's down to its last 15 games. "I wish there was something we could pinpoint so we could keep those games close," said...

BOWIE, Md - In a must-win game tonight, Orioles 22-year-old pitching prospect David Hess came up very big for the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He kept their season alive and put them on the brink of a championship. Continuing his very strong second half, Hess allowed just three hits and one run over seven innings as Bowie beat Reading 9-1 to force a fifth and deciding game Saturday night at 6:05 p.m in the Eastern League Championship Series. Bowie and Reading have split the first four games and will...

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer yielded a leadoff single to Dee Gordon. Two batters later, Christian Yelich launched a two-run homer to deep right-center field. It's the second straight night a Nats starter has allowed a two-run homer in the first inning. Scherzer has now surrendered 25 home runs on the season, seven more than last year and his highest total since 29 in 2011. Update: Clint Robinson answered with a solo shot to the second deck in right to start the second. It was...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles' pecking order for closers starts with left-hander Zach Britton, who's 33-for-36 in save situations this year. Next in line is Darren O'Day, who notched his third save last night. Is Brad Brach third among the options if he's available to pitch? "I wouldn't handicap it that way," manager Buck Showalter said before tonight's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. "Basically, I look at the opposition and who they have off the bench and what we have...

Nationals manager Matt Williams gave Michael A. Taylor a night off with right-hander Jose Fernandez on the mound and the Marlins throwing two left-handers the next two days. Taylor has struggled at the plate since banging his right knee on the center field wall at Nationals Park while trying to make a leaping catch against the Padres on Aug. 27. The 24-year-old missed seven games dealing with bruising and swelling around the knee, which limited him in the field and on the basepaths. Since...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter won't commit to left-hander Zach Britton closing tonight if there's a save situation - at least not while he's talking to reporters in the dugout during batting practice. That's information he prefers to keep private. Britton said he's available after resting the past two nights. Showalter isn't going to tip off the opposing manager by laying out his bullpen plans and which relievers can be used. "I'm not going to tell you Zach is...