We are witnessing the maturation of a budding superstar in Bryce Harper this week. After the Nationals blew a five-run lead, the 22-year-old with a flair for the dramatics clobbered a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to close out the Braves 8-6. "Just right when I hit it, I knew it was gone," Harper said. "No disrespect to that other guy, I just knew it was gone. Got around the bases, pointed to right field because my fans out there, love them, so had to point out there. Got...

It might be a bit lost in all the hoopla of another walk-off home run from the sensational Bryce Harper, but right-hander Doug Fister played his part in the Nationals' 8-6 win over the Braves on Saturday. Fister provided 6 2/3 innings to the Nationals' cause, allowing three runs on six hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. He got into a jam in the seventh after recording two quick outs, but the Braves managed only one run off of his pitching in the first six frames. Fister said his...

It all looks so much better when the Orioles combine a solid pitching performance with a few home runs. Saturday's win was much needed and today the Orioles look to salvage a four-game split in this series. A win today would give the Orioles a 4-3 record on the road against Tampa Bay and the Yankees mixed in with an 0-2 record against the Mets. Wei-Yin Chen began yesterday with the lowest ERA (2.83) among qualifying major league starting pitchers that were winless this season. He finally got...

NEW YORK - We'll find out this morning whether Bud Norris is able to make his start against the Yankees or if manager Buck Showalter must dig through his bullpen to piece together at least nine innings. Norris has registered quality starts in his last two outings, surrendering six runs over 13 2/3 innings. However, he began yesterday tied with the Blue Jays' Drew Hutchison for most earned runs allowed in the American League with 26. Norris has worked 24 innings. Hutchison's total was 31 1/3...

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson returned to Nationals Park today as the team honored its first manager by unveiling his name in the Nationals Ring of Honor. Robinson became the Nationals first manager, guiding the team from Montreal to Washington. "I take a lot of pride in it," Robinson said. "The players were great. It was a good situation for us coming from Montreal although it was kind of bittersweet to leave those fans up there." Robinson's Nationals greatly overachieved in their first...

NEW YORK - The Orioles avoided a roster move and won a game today, defeating the Yankees 6-2. However, they may have to scratch their starter on Sunday. Bud Norris was sent back to the team hotel with chills and might not take the mound for Sunday's series finale that also concludes the road trip. A decision will be made in the morning. "He wasn't running a fever," manager Buck Showalter said. "We just sent him home precautionary. See how he is tomorrow." The Orioles won't take a starter...

The Nationals are on quite a roll with the long ball. Catcher Jose Lobaton joined the party in the second inning with a two-run shot into the second deck beyond the right field wall at Nats Park. For Lobaton, both of his homers this season have come off Braves starter Julio Teheran. Second baseman Danny Espinosa followed Lobaton's blast with a double to center field. Three batters later, third baseman Yunel Escobar hit a two-out flare to center plating Espinosa for the Nats' third run. Nats...

In need of a victory to end a four-game losing streak, the Orioles turned to a familiar formula today: Get solid starting pitching and hit a few homers. Wei-Yin Chen went seven innings and the Orioles backed him with a three-homer game as they beat New York 6-2 at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles had scored just 10 runs during the losing streak but they broke out today in improving to 13-15 for the season and handing New York just its sixth loss in the last 22 games. Jimmy Paredes got the offense...

Manager: John Gibbons (8th season) Record: 16-16 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 3B Josh Donaldson (.317/.379/.578 with 7 HR and 21 RBIs), C Russell Martin (.293/.396/.609 with 7 HR and 10 RBIs), 21B Devon Travis (.288 with 7 HR and 25 RBIs), RF/DH Jose Bautista (5 HR and 18 RBIs), 1B Edwin Encarnacion (5 HR and 18 RBIs), RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-2, 3.62 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 5-1 Pitching probables: May 11: RHP Marco Estrada vs. RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, 7:05 p.m., MASN May 12: LHP Mark...

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg had a good bullpen session today, four days removed from his May 5 loss to the Marlins in which he felt tightness in his shoulder. Strasburg revealed that it was actually his ankle that was bothering him in that start, causing him to change his mechanics to try to protect it. That, in turn, caused the slight pain in his shoulder. "It went good," Strasburg said. "No problems. I actually threw it for the first time without having my ankle taped up, it...