The Orioles have been hitting well lately with runners in scoring position. Although it took a while for the clutch hits to come today, they did arrive as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 4-2 to win the series, two games to one at Tropicana Field. In improving to 12-11, this is the third time this year the Orioles lost the first game of a series to an American League East team, but came back to win the next two. The Orioles are 4-2 against Tampa Bay, and have won five of their last six games. Down...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - A sharp single from right fielder Bryce Harper moved left fielder Jayson Werth into scoring position with two outs in the first. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman then picked up his team-leading 16th RBI by flicking an offering from Mets starter Dillon Gee safely into right field to plate Werth. For Harper, the single extends his career-best on-base streak to 19 games. Right-hander Doug Fister surrendered singles to Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson and center fielder Juan...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters provided an update today on his rehab schedule at extended spring training. However, he's still unable to pass along a timetable for his first injury rehab games or his return to the Orioles' 25-man roster. Wieters caught five innings in Saturday's extended game and threw out a couple of runners, another positive step in his return from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. He was back in the Orioles clubhouse this morning to visit...

Here is an impressive stat for the Orioles: They are 4-2-1 in seven series this year and, with a win today, they would be 5-2-1. What makes that impressive is that they are only 2-6 in series-opening games. Yes, that all does count the game Wednesday against Chicago as both a one-game series and, of course, a series-opening win. The Orioles have won three-game series this year against both the Red Sox and Yankees by winning the last two games after a loss in the first game. They try to do that...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy and infielder Ryan Flaherty will begin their injury rehab assignments on Monday at Double-A Bowie. Both players are expected to play three games with the Baysox. They may skip the 11 a.m. game Thursday and use it as a travel day. Orioles manager Buck Showalter is hoping that Hardy and Flaherty will join the team this weekend in New York. Flaherty, on the disabled list with a strained groin muscle, ran the bases again today and said he's...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Center fielder Denard Span returns to the Nationals lineup today after resting the past two days with abdominal soreness in the region of his most recent core muscle surgery in March. Span's bat is a welcome site. The 31-year-old was on tear before he left Thursday's game, going 7-for-18 with two homers, four doubles, five RBIs and six runs scored in his previous four contests. Doug Fister brings a 3.24 ERA into his fifth start of the season this afternoon. Fister has...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manny Machado will bat leadoff again today for the Orioles, the fourth time in his career that he's been atop the order. After going 0-for-3 with a walk last night, Machado's now 2-for 13 in the leadoff role. Steve Pearce will get another start at second base. For the OriolesManny Machado 3BJimmy Paredes DHAdam Jones CFChris Davis 1BSteve Pearce 2BDelmon Young RFTravis Snider LFCaleb Joseph CEverth Cabrera SS Wei-Yin Chen LHP The pitching matchups for the two-game...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals are nearing the end of their long 10-day journey through three National League East cities. After being swept by Miami and starting the trip 0-3 last weekend, the Nats have battled back to give themselves a chance to return to Washington with a respectable 5-5 split on the road. "To bounce back from a tough series in Miami, this is a resilient group," Ian Desmond said. "We're gonna keep our heads up and keep pushing forward." This afternoon's game also...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado charged a slow bouncer last night from Tampa Bay's Steven Souza Jr. and fired across the diamond for the out, making the play appear routine. Soft hands, cannon arm. The usual tools that Machado brings on the field. Souza Jr. tested Machado again in the third inning, laying down a two-out bunt with Kevin Kiermaier at third base. Again, Machado charged the ball and recorded the out with a laser to first baseman Chris Davis. Machado...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - An RBI infield single from rookie center fielder Michael A. Taylor in the second inning and some exceptional early defense was all left-hander Gio Gonzalez needed as the Nationals handed the Mets a 1-0 defeat tonight, their first shutout loss of the season. Gonzalez's stellar outing got off to a shaky start when Mets center fielder Juan Lagares, the game's second batter, singled up the middle. First baseman Lucas Duda followed with a double into the left field corner. Lagares...