For the first time in 11 days, the Nationals actually gained ground on the Mets. The Red Sox helped the Nats by knocking off the Mets 3-1, while Washington took care of business, smacking three homers in a 5-1 win over Miami. Ryan Zimmerman began the longball parade with a solo shot into the Red Porch to start the second. He has now driven in runs in six straight games. Zimmerman is batting .286 (6-for-21) with three homers and 11 RBIs over the mini hot streak. "I think he's swinging it good....

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann went old school on the Marlins in a 5-1 victory, perfectly in line with the 1980's theme celebration going on at Nationals Park Saturday night. Zimmermann (11-8) used his fastball, with his velocity spiking in the upper 90's mph, to toss seven innings and allow only one solo homer in recording his third straight win. Manager Matt Williams felt Zimmermann's outing was "really good" because of his fastball command. "Fastball velocity was really up first three...

For the Orioles, it was another night when they could not score more than three runs as they suffered yet another loss on this road trip. Texas pushed across a tiebreaking run in the sixth to beat the Orioles 4-3 at Globe Life Park. The Orioles fall to 63-66 with their ninth loss in their last 10 games. The Orioles have scored three or fewer runs in each of the nine losses and have scored just 25 runs in their last 11 losses. The game ended in frustration for the Orioles when Manny Machado...

ARLINGTON, Tex. - Ubaldo Jimenez came close tonight to allowing another run in the first inning, but he escaped a jam following Delino DeShields' leadoff triple. Shin-Soo Choo grounded out and DeShields broke for home on Prince Fielder's bouncer to the mound, running into a 1-5-2 putout. Adrian Beltre flied to deep left-center field to send Jimenez back to the dugout at 15 pitches. As I wrote earlier today, Jimenez had surrendered at least one run in the first inning in five of his eight...

Ryan Zimmerman crushed a solo homer into the Red Porch at Nationals Park to lead off the second inning. It was Zimmerman's 12th home run of the season. He has 11 RBIs over his last six games. Danny Espinosa and Jordan Zimmermann reached on bunt singles to start the second. After Jayson Werth grounded into a double play, Anthony Rendon ripped a base hit to right, scoring Espinosa. Update: Rendon led off the sixth with a bloop single to right. Three batters later, Clint Robinson belted a deep...

With eight losses in thier past nine games, the Orioles look to get their offense going and get back in the win column tonight at Texas. They have scored just eight runs in the four losses on this 1-4 road trip and just 22 runs in their past 10 losses. On the mound tonight, Ubaldo Jimenez (9-8, 4.26 ERA) pitches against Rangers left-hander Martin Perez (1-3, 5.30 ERA). In his last start, Jimenez gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings Monday at Kansas City. Jimenez surrendered six runs...

ARLINGTON, Texas - Orioles manager Buck Showalter still isn't showing his hand regarding the September call-ups. The Orioles will add a few bullpen arms, including Chaz Roe, who's supposed to come off the disabled list on Wednesday. One or two minor league relievers initially are expected to be promoted. More players will be summoned after Triple-A Norfolk's season is done. The Tides are in position to make the International League playoffs and the Orioles won't raid their roster, though...

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper hit three homers against Marlins right-hander Tom Koehler on May 6 here at Nationals Park. The Nationals won that game 7-5. He has five homers with nine RBIs in 23 plate appearances and 21 at-bats against Kohler with a 1.048 slugging percentage. Four of those homers have come this season. Harper has six homers this season against the Marlins, 15 for his career versus the Fish. Jayson Werth has also hit two homers in his career off of Koehler. Ryan Zimmerman...

Denard Span received hugs and handshakes from teammates and coaches as he walked into the Nationals clubhouse for possibly one of the last times on Saturday afternoon. The 31-year-old center fielder will have season-ending surgery on his left hip on Tuesday. "I have a torn labrum, an impingement in my left hip," Span said. "I just gotta get it worked on. I gotta get it repaired, get my hip bone shaved down so I can get it back to working properly." Span indicated the post-surgery recovery...

With all the injuries the Nationals have had to deal with this season, one constant in the lineup has been starting shortstop Ian Desmond. He was given a day off here and there because his offensive game wasn't as consistent in the first half of the season, but any nagging nicks and bruises never prevented him from missing any time. The rest of the projected starting infield has not been so fortunate. Anthony Rendon (left knee sprain), Yunel Escobar (hand) and Ryan Zimmerman (foot) have all...