Nelson Cruz hit his major league-leading 40th homer and Nick Markakis drove in three to break out of a batting slump as the Orioles beat New York 5-4 at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles are 94-63 with the win. That is their most wins since the 1997 Orioles won 98. Cruz's solo shot leading off the fifth off Brandon McCarthy made him the sixth player in the O's history to hit 40 or more. That list also includes Chris Davis (53 in 2013), Brady Anderson (50 in 1996), Frank Robinson (49 in 1966),...

While the Nationals and Orioles deal with rotation depth going into October, here is how they compare to other teams. * Angels: The Angels' rotation is Jered Weaver and questions. Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs are injured. Weaver is money. C.J. Wilson is inconsistent. Matt Shoemaker, the rookie who saved the rotation when Richards and Skaggs went on the disabled list, is coming back from an oblique injury and hasn't pitched since Sept. 15. His next start will be in the postseason, a huge...

NEW YORK - Remember when Nelson Cruz stayed on the free-agent market into spring training and it seemed as though nobody wanted him? Remember when fans and media debated whether the Orioles should sign Cruz or Kendrys Morales? Has it really been seven months? Cruz just hit his 40th home run leading off the top of the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 5-1 lead over the Yankees. Cruz becomes the sixth Oriole to hit 40 or more home runs in a season, joining Chris Davis (53 in 2013), Brady...

NEW YORK - To find Kelly Johnson's last home run before tonight, you've got to flip the calendar back to July 11. Back to Camden Yards with Miguel Gonzalez on the mound for the Orioles. It's a small baseball world, my friends. Try not to flip over it. Johnson was playing for the Yankees, the first of his three teams this season. He's hit seven home runs, three against the Orioles. Johnson hit his first as an Oriole tonight leading off the top of the second inning. He's starting in the...

There was a big ovation as the Nationals took the field at Nats Park for the first time since wrapping up their second National League East title in three seasons last Tuesday in Atlanta. Right-hander Tanner Roark allowed a double in the first inning, but has since recorded six straight outs. Jayson Werth made a diving catch in right to rob Kirk Nieuwenhuis of extra bases, ending the second inning. Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon surrendered a leadoff hit to Denard Span and later a walk to...

Nationals manager Matt Williams said right-hander Jordan Zimmermann is doing "good," but is still pretty sore after getting hit by a batted ball last week in Miami. "He's got a pretty good black and blue shoulder," Williams said. "He's going to go out and throw. Actually, he threw the day after he got hit, was OK. Looks pretty bruised up." Williams said they will get a further report later today on how Zimmermann's shoulder is feeling. The good news is Williams does not anticipate...

One week later, Ubaldo Jimenez (5-9, 4.90 ERA) is back on the mound for the Orioles. Last Tuesday, he made his first start in a month and gave up two runs in five innings to get the win against Toronto as the Orioles clinched the American League East championship. After a season filled with disappointment for Jimenez, one in which he lost his rotation spot late in the year, he was on the mound to help win the clincher. After that game, in a champagne-soaked clubhouse, he talked about how...

NEW YORK - Chris Tillman didn't pitch in the 2012 Division Series against the Yankees. He's come a long way in two years. Tillman was named the opening day starter and he's taking the mound for Game 1 of the Division Series on Oct. 2 at Camden Yards - opponent to be determined. "Just like the first game he pitched this year, he carries that torch well," said manager Buck Showalter. "This gives him the option of pitching two games in the first round. "He's pitched 200 innings two...

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter made the expected announcement today, naming Chris Tillman the Game 1 starter in the Division Series on Oct. 2 at Camden Yards. Showalter didn't reveal the other names, saying again that he's considering all the matchup possibilities while waiting on the opponent. However, Wei-Yin Chen is likely to start Game 2. It's just not official. Tillman is 13-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 33 starts. He's eclipsed 200 innings for the second year in a row. Tillman...

Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon both get a night off as the Nationals open a three-game series against the Mets tonight. Zimmerman, who also sat out Sunday's game, was originally scheduled to start at third base today. But since he felt soreness in his hamstring on Saturday, manager Matt Williams wants him to go through a workout today. Rendon sits for the second time in six games as Williams rests his regulars leading up to the playoffs. Kevin Frandsen is at third and Asdrubal Cabrera...