BALTIMORE - The comeback campaign for Danny Espinosa continued with a huge three-run homer in the sixth inning to lift the Nationals over the Orioles 7-4. Espinosa scuffled mightily with his bat the last two seasons, leaving the Nationals requesting that the 28-year-old abandon switch-hitting in favor of batting exclusively from the right side. Espinosa spent all of spring training attempting to get comfortable facing right-handed pitching from the right side. Once opening day arrived though,...

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones told reporters after tonight's game that he is fine after he got hit in the face by Nationals first baseman Tyler Moore's glove as he slid into first base in the last of the fifth. Jones also reached for the bag with his sore right shoulder but was out on the play. "He made sure he tagged me," Jones said. "I'm all right. Cry later." It was another night without a hit with a runner in scoring position for the Orioles who are 0-for-15 with RISP in this...

The Orioles are only one game above .500 again and still unable to solve the riddle of why they can't get a big hit with runners in scoring position. They'd settle for a small one. The Orioles went 0-for-8 with RISP tonight in a 7-4 loss to the Nationals before 44,495 at Camden Yards. They had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Chris Parmelee flied out and Adam Jones popped up. The most recent failings made the Orioles 0-for-15 with RISP in this series, 1-for-35 in the...

Miguel Gonzalez looked like he was on a roll. The Orioles right-hander had retired 10 straight heading into the top of the sixth inning and held a 4-2 lead. But four batters and two homers later, the Orioles trailed by two runs and the Washington Nationals used that rally to beat the Orioles 7-4 tonight in front of a sellout of 44,495 at Camden Yards. Bryce Harper entered tonight just a .200 career hitter against the Orioles, but he led off the sixth with a laser shot to right for his 26th...

BALTIMORE - The Nationals had an early chance to score tonight. Yunel Escobar slapped a single to right in the first. After Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez got Bryce Harper swinging, Clint Robinson ripped a two-out double into the right field corner. Escobar, who is battling tightness in his left hamstring, motored around from first as third base coach Bob Hendley signaled for the plate. Orioles right fielder Steve Pearce fired to second baseman Ryan Flaherty who relayed to catcher Caleb Joseph...

The Nationals are sending Max Scherzer to the mound on Sunday as expected for the series finale at Camden Yards. His start became official earlier today, eliminating him from pitching in Tuesday night's All-Star Game. Scherzer threw a bullpen session yesterday in preparation for the start. Cora Purcell, a 104-year-old Orioles fan from Frederick, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. She received a loud ovation, the ball and a spring training invite. Manager Buck Showalter walked out of the...

Chris Davis has been scratched from tonight's lineup due to gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, and replaced in right field by Steve Pearce. Davis had played every game since his suspension ended after opening day. He's batting .238/.322/.475 with 15 doubles, 19 home runs and 52 RBIs in 85 games, with 108 strikeouts in 303 at-bats. Davis is 3-for-6 with a home run against Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann. Pearce is 3-for-7 with a home run. Here's the new Orioles lineup: Manny Machado 3B...

BALTIMORE - Nationals manager Matt Williams has opted to start his ace Max Scherzer in this season's first half finale on Sunday in Baltimore. The decision leaves Scherzer unavailable to pitch for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game in Cincinnati. "Rules stipulate that if you are a starting pitcher certainly on Sunday that you're not available for the All-Star Game to pitch," Williams said. "He's gonna go and enjoy the process and be part of it, but he'll be...

The Orioles look to continue their winning ways against the Washington Nationals when the teams continue their weekend series tonight. The Orioles' 3-2 win last night was their 21st in 51 games in the all-time series between these clubs decided by a single run. The O's are 16-5 in those games. The Orioles have won eight of their last 10 against the Nationals and are 11-4 since 2012. The Orioles are 15-5 at home versus the Nats since 2008 and lead the all-time series, 30-21. Before Friday's...

For a relief pitcher, it can take only a few outings to go from pitching lights out to struggling. Orioles right-hander Chaz Roe knows all about that. Roe got called up from Triple-A Norfolk on May 24 and immediately threw six scoreless outings to start his Orioles career. After his first 15 games, he had an ERA of 0.90 and a .162 average against. But he has been scored on now in three of his last four outings. Over five innings, he allowed eight hits and six runs and opposing batters have hit...