Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez was authoritative on the mound Thursday, demanding the ball and delivering a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in a 3-0 shutout of the Mets. "I've had some fun outings this year, but definitely more aggressive this time in the strike zone," Gonzalez said. "That's a lot of credit to the catcher Willy (Wilson Ramos), we were on the same game plan. We just wanted to attack these guys, especially early in the game....

A long day ends with a win, one that trims the Nationals' magic number to clinch the best record in the National League to one. Gio Gonzalez threw seven stellar, scoreless innings, striking out a career-high 12, leading the Nats to a 3-0 win over the Mets. Anthony Rendon went 2-for-3 with an RBI and the Nats did enough to get to Zack Wheeler the second time through the order, putting up three runs in the fourth. That was all they needed. Here's Matt Williams after the win: On Gonzalez...

Even two dramatic homers in the ninth inning tonight could not stop a storybook ending for Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees. In his final home game, Jeter's RBI single in the last of the ninth gave the Yankees a 6-5 walk-off win over the Orioles. After it ended, the O's players stayed and watched the Yankees on-field celebration, applauding Jeter in a show of respect for the Yankee captain. Down 5-2 in the top of the ninth, the O's stunned the crowd and tied the game when Adam Jones...

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez is dealing better than a blackjack dealer at the Bellagio in Game 2 of a split doubleheader between the Nationals and Mets at Nationals Park. He has struck out seven of the first nine batters he has faced, including six straight. The Mets have one base hit from Daniel Murphy that was quickly wiped out by an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play. Zack Wheeler is matching him with five strikeouts and one Anthony Rendon single allowed through three innings. No score heading...

NEW YORK - The Orioles lined the railing of the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium tonight to watch a video tribute to Derek Jeter. Players applauded after it ended, a nice show of respect. The sentimental mood disappeared like baseballs into the night. Nick Markakis hit a ball into the second deck while fans were chanting Jeter's name as part of the traditional roll call, and Alejandro De Aza followed with a home run to give the Orioles a quick 2-0 lead. Maybe that's how the Orioles wanted...

NEW YORK - About 90 percent of the questions directed at Orioles manager Buck Showalter today came from New York writers wanting his thoughts on Derek Jeter. Most of it you've already heard. Showalter hasn't named a starter for Sunday's game in Toronto, saying Ubaldo Jimenez and Miguel Gonzalez are options. He told reporters yesterday that he was leaning toward Jimenez. Today, he mentioned Jimenez first when asked about the possibilities, for what that's worth. Both pitchers threw bullpen...

The Nationals are busy trying to clinch the top seed in the National League postseason. Ryan Zimmerman is just trying to get back to full strength. Zimmerman - playing in just his second game since July 23 - played seven innings Thursday, going 1-for-4 and scoring a run in the Nationals' 7-4 loss to the Mets. The final score wasn't what Zimmerman or the Nationals wanted, but for the 29-year-old, it meant another step toward recovery. "I was running at the same percentage," Zimmerman...

The Orioles play the Yankees for the final time this season tonight and a victory would give the Orioles their second-most wins ever in the season series. The most victories for the Orioles in one season against New York was in 1966 at 15-3. They were 13-5 versus the Yankees in 1965, 1967, 1968 and 1976. Last night's win matched that as the 2014 Orioles. The Orioles have pitched as well against the Yankees this season as they have vs. other American League East teams: * Orioles against NYY...

NEW YORK - Steve Pearce has returned to the Orioles' lineup tonight for the first time since being scratched on Friday with a sore right wrist. Pearce, who received a cortisone injection, was used yesterday as a defensive replacement at first base. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Alejandro De Aza LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Steve Pearce 1B J.J. Hardy SS Kelly Johnson 2B Jimmy Paredes 3B Kevin Gausman RHP For the Yankees Brett Gardner CF Derek Jeter SS Brian McCann C Mark Teixeira...

Listen to songs like "Catfish" by Bob Dylan or the "The Greatest" by Kenny Rogers and one thing is obvious: Baseball and music are better together. While in different fields, baseball players are often compared to musicians and called "rock stars." Although they have completely different jobs, both know how to thrill a crowd, unite a city and get people cheering. Oh yeah, and they both know how to celebrate! On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Orioles celebrated clinching the American League East...