Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond couldn't hide the disappointment. Losing the first game of the best-of-five National League Division Series was one thing, but twice failing to come through with runners in scoring position and striking out on both occasions obviously left a bad taste in his mouth. "We were in it the whole way," he said after the Nats' 3-2 loss in Game 1 of the NLDS at Nationals Park. "We battled back. It just wasn't enough today." The Nationals may have rebounded from a...

The Nationals had the last four days to look ahead to this afternoon's ballgame. The last two and a half weeks, if you count the time since they clinched the National League East title. They had a couple of days to wonder about whether they would face the Giants or the Pirates, and a couple more to map out how they might match up against San Francisco. Now they have less than 24 hours to turn the page and move on to a crucial Game 2. In the regular season, the focus is on the big picture. You...

If the Orioles can't close out the American League Division Series on Sunday, you'll need to know the starting times for Game 4 and a possible Game 5. Game 4 on Monday at Comerica Park will begin at 12:07 p.m. unless the Royals sweep the Angels in the other Division Series. If that happens, the Orioles and Tigers will start up at 1:37 p.m. Either way, the baseball gods are testing the Orioles' ability to win day games. Game 5 on Wednesday at Camden Yards would begin at 5:37 p.m. if the...

Zach Britton admitted that for a brief moment today, he was like a fan. While he was warming up in the last of the eighth inning Delmon Young came to bat. Seconds later, Young lined a pitch into left field to score three runs and give the Orioles a 7-6 lead. Britton let out a cheer in the bullpen and then realized now he was going into the game and it would be a save situation in the ninth. So it was an interesting few minutes for the O's closer. He took a moment to notice how crazy the...

Fans kept chanting "We Won't Stop" today as the Orioles rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead. They didn't stop until the final out. The Orioles may not stop until late October. Delmon Young's pinch-hit, bases-loaded double in the eighth gave the Orioles a 7-6 victory over the Tigers in Game 2 of the American League Division Series before 48,058 at Camden Yards. They hold a 2-0 lead in games as the teams head to Detroit. Young was 10-for-20 as a pinch-hitter during...

Delmon Young was asked if it was Orioles magic. "Magic is the word to use, but we are just trying to beat a very good ballclub in Detroit," Young said. "We did it yesterday and we've been doing it all year against teams in our division. When we get guys on, we feel like we can win. "They gave us an opportunity with (Adam) Jones getting hit by the pitch. Nelson (Cruz) and (Steve) Pearce came through with base hits, so we had the opportunity." Made it sound simple anyway. But Young...

After again watching his bullpen let the Orioles post a big eighth inning to cement a Division Series win, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus didn't know how he'd handle a lead going forward with his club one game away from being eliminated. For the second straight game, Joba Chamberlain and Joakim Soria simply couldn't record outs. Handed a three-run lead in the eighth, the late-inning duo combined to surrender four runs on three hits and a walk in their combined one inning of work. In Game 1 a...

It was an amazing and stirring comeback win. Last night the Orioles used the eighth inning to pull away. Today they produced a remarkable comeback win in the same inning. Delmon Young's pinch-hit, three-run double to left off Joakim Soria turned a 6-4 deficit into a 7-6 lead and the Orioles beat Detroit in front of another frenzied sellout crowd at Camden Yards. It was an amazing comeback by the Orioles who take a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series. The last 13 teams with a 2-0...

Game 1 of the National League Division series is under way in Washington, D.C. It is only the fourth home playoff game in the nation's capital since 1933. Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg induced three flyouts to begin the game. Giants right-hander Jake Peavy walked Jayson Werth with two outs in the bottom of the first. He was the first baserunner for either team. But Adam LaRoche struck out to end the inning. Update: Peavy has managed to get swinging strikeouts to end the first two...

Reading between the lines of Nationals manager Matt Williams' comments in his media session this morning, Ryan Zimmerman could be pointing toward a start in Game 3 of the National League Division Series when the Giants start left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Zimmerman said yesterday that he is comfortable coming off the bench, and that will be his role today in Game 1. Williams opted to start Anthony Rendon at third base and Bryce Harper in left field, so Zimmerman will be a bat in reserve. But...