FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals were quiet as the trade deadline expired earlier this evening. General manager Mike Rizzo didn't wait until the end, making his splash on Tuesday in the controversial trade for veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon. "We thought improving the bullpen was something that we would like to do," Rizzo said. "We thought if there was room to improve ourselves, we were fortunate to come up with a deal that worked for us. (We) acquired a close down relief pitcher and we are...

The baseball landscape has changed dramatically. So, let's answer questions about the shifting: Q: Which team made the biggest improvement in the National League East, the Nationals or Mets? A: The Mets added three bats in Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, and an All-Star setup guy in Tyler Clippard, while the Nationals added closer Jonathan Papelbon. The Nationals are better, even though the Mets have re-energized the weakest run-producing lineup in the NL. The Nats' Drew Storen...

Orioles pitcher Mike Wright left tonight's game with an injury with one out in the fifth inning and a runner on first base. The Orioles are losing 6-1 and digging into their bullpen. Wright replaced starter Wei-Yin Chen with one out in the fourth. He retired Ian Kinsler on a ground ball to open the fifth and Victor Martinez followed with a single. Wright didn't throw another pitch. Manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Dave Wallace and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells walked to the...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals are still looking for their first base runner against Matt Harvey, who's perfect through five innings. The hard-throwing right-hander has struck out six of the 15 batters he has faced. Meanwhile, Gio Gonzalez is fighting control issues. The left-hander recorded the first two outs in the fourth before issuing back-to-back walks to Juan Uribe and Travis d'Arnaud. Wilmer Flores then battled Gonzalez, smacking a line drive past Ian Desmond on the seventh pitch of...

Wei-Yin Chen is done after 3 1/3 innings tonight, allowing a run in the first, another in the second, a two-run shot from J.D. Martinez in the third and back-to-back homers by James McCann and Jefry Marte in the fourth to fall behind the Tigers 6-0 at Camden Yards. Chen hadn't allowed more than three runs in a start since May 20 vs. the Mariners, when he surrendered a season-high four. The three home runs also are a season high. The 3 1/3 innings tied his career low. Mike Wright replaced Chen...

SALISBURY, Md. - Single-A Delmarva left-hander John Means threw a seven-inning no-hitter in the Shorebirds' 4-0 victory over Charleston in the first game of a doubleheader Friday night. Means, an 11th-round pick by the Orioles out of West Virginia in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, walked one and struck out six in his first career no-hitter. He threw 78 pitches, 50 for strikes, in a game that lasted only 1 hour, 51 minutes. "That's a first for me," Means said. "Never thrown a no-hitter...

I'm still buried in pregame quotes and I'm trying to dig my way out. Let me present you with a sampler platter. More is on the way. Dan Duquette on today's trades: "We were able to make a couple of trades to help our team and try to get ready to get back to the playoffs. We're real happy and excited that we were able to pick up (Gerardo) Parra. He's one of the top hitters in the National League this year and he fits the profile of an everyday position player for us. Two-time Gold Glover,...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Gio Gonzalez has dominated the Mets this season. In two wins, Gonzalez allowed only two runs while fanning 13 over 13 innings. The left-hander has been one of baseball's best pitchers in July, going 3-0 in four starts with a 1.88 ERA. Gonzalez squares off with Mets right-hander Matt Harvey in a rematch from July 20 when the Nats downed the Mets 7-2 in D.C. The Nats struck early against Harvey that night, plating five runs in the first three innings. The Nationals pitching...

As an active day for the Orioles winds down, they still have a game to play tonight. They host the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a four-game series. The Orioles' comeback from seven runs down fell one short last night in a 9-8 loss to the Tigers. They are 51-50 and had a five-game win streak snapped with that loss. Over a longer stretch, the Orioles have lost 11-of-19 and 16 of their last 26 games. They are 2-2 versus Detroit and 30-19 at home. Matt Wieters was a pinch-hitter in the...

The Orioles confirmed that they designated Chris Parmelee for assignment and stated that Gerardo Parra has reported to the club. Parmelee batted .216/.255/.433 with seven doubles, one triple, four home runs and nine RBIs in 32 games. He got off to a sizzling start after the Orioles purchased his contract, but he was 7-for-50 with three RBIs and 13 strikeouts this month. Here's Tommy Hunter: On his reaction: "It's sort of surprising, I guess, but if your name's been in it all day, it's not...