The Houston Astros lead the major leagues in runs scored from the seventh inning on this year. The Orioles found out the hard way about that tonight. Down 2-1, Houston scored four times in the last of the seventh off three O's pitchers as the Astros rallied to beat the Orioles 5-2 in the opener of a four-game series and seven-game road trip. The Orioles fall to 23-27 and tie a season-high by falling four games under the .500 mark. Since their walk-off win on Friday night, they are 0-3. Chris...

For Orioles fans, "Baltimore Orioles: 60 Years of Orioles Magic" is one beautiful book. Jim Henneman has been more involved with the Orioles team since its arrival in Baltimore more than any other person alive. Jim's connection with the club from usher to press box attendant to writer covers every year since 1954 - and then some. That whole history is well laid out in Pete Kerzel's piece in February on MASNsports.com. Jim is a favorite of mine at the park to talk baseball (and eating). He...

Heavy thunderstorms rolling through the nation's capital forced the postponement of tonight's game. The Nationals and Blue Jays will make it up as part of a split doubleheader on Tuesday with the afternoon game scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. Nationals manager Matt Williams will throw a pretty stout 1-2 punch at the Blue Jays tomorrow with Jordan Zimmermann set to start in the daytime and Max Scherzer taking the mound in the nightcap. The Blue Jays will stick to the plan as well, with...

Nationals manager Matt Williams was encouraged by right-hander Doug Fister's bullpen session this afternoon. It was Fister's first since landing on the 15-day disabled list with a right flexor strain in his forearm. "He's done flat ground, long toss, the standard protocol ... but today was off the slope," Williams said. "Twenty-25 (pitches). He's got to continue to increase those bullpens until he's ready to go live hitters or simulation and go from there." Fister landed on the DL a...

The Orioles finally are playing their first game outside the Eastern time zone. It only took 49. Adam Jones' sprained left ankle has healed. Now he needs his bat to heat up. Jones hit .400/.440/.707 with six doubles, one triple, five home runs and 19 RBIs in 20 games in April. He hit .239/.272/.284 with two doubles, one home run and seven RBIs in 27 games in May. Jones is 12-for-34 (.353) with two doubles, two home runs, four RBIs, one walk and 10 strikeouts in nine career games as the...

Anthony Rendon was back at Nationals Park for a full workout this afternoon after spending the weekend playing for Double-A Harrisburg. Rendon has yet to take the field for the Nationals this season after being sidelined initially with a sprained left MCL and, more recently, a strained left oblique. The 24-year-old was 1-for-4 with an uncharacteristic three strikeouts while playing seven innings at second base on Friday night. He was able to ramp it up to nine innings at second base on Saturday...

The Nationals recalled left-hander Felipe Rivero on Monday and optioned left-hander Matt Grace to Triple-A Syracuse. Manager Matt Williams said Grace needs to work on keeping the ball down. The Reds scored four runs versus Grace on Sunday in an 8-2 win over the Nationals. "We want him to just be down in the strike zone," Williams said. "He's gotten hurt by that ball being up. That's not his game. His game is to sink the ball down and create grounders. In recent outings, that hasn't...

Adam Jones returns to the Orioles lineup tonight as the designated hitter after a two-game absence. Jones has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle sustained in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox. He played on Friday and sat out back-to-back losses to the Rays. Jones is looking for his first home run since May 11. He's driven in three runs during that stretch. Everth Cabrera is starting at shortstop, with J.J. Hardy listed among the reserves. Jimmy Paredes, 1-for-20...

The Nationals will be without center fielder Denard Span for tonight's game. The 31-year-old is dealing with a sore right knee resulting from an awkward fielding play in Chicago early last week. Span left yesterday's 8-2 loss in the eighth inning. Rookie Michael A. Taylor replaces Span in center field while Yunel Escobar returns to the leadoff spot in the order. The Blue Jays are 5-15 in their last 20 road games entering this three-game interleague set in the nation's capital. However, third...

The Nationals recalled left-hander Felipe Rivero this afternoon and optioned lefty Matt Grace to Triple-A Syracuse. Grace was unable to record an out in the seventh inning yesterday while allowing four runs on three hits and two walks. The 26-year-old had pitched well for most of his 17 appearances since making his major league debut on April 22. Grace went 2-1 with a 5.25 ERA in 12 innings. Rivero also made his debut in the big leagues this season, giving up a run on three hits with two...