The team goal is always most important in professional sports. Personal accomplishments are cool and all, but at the end of the day, players will tell you that batting titles, Gold Gloves and other individual achievements don't mean nearly as much if the team hasn't had success. Professional athletes are still proud, competitive people, however. They want to be put in situations where they can help the team and pull their share of the weight. But now that we're in the final stages of the...

Should we now be referring to Chris Tillman as an ace? Well, it depends on what you mean. In the past, I have found that the most contentious part of the discussion is trying to define what it means to be an ace. Some like to think an ace is the best pitcher on a team, but that definition has some trouble. For example, think about the Diamondbacks with Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. They certainly were both aces. Others like to think of an ace as being one of the best 30 pitchers in...

On Monday night, the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1. It might not seem like that big of a deal, but as each game passes we inch closer to the end of the regular season, with every game taking on additional meaning and importance. The past few seasons, the Braves have stood in the way of the Nats' playoff hopes, as the Phillies once did before they all got old at the same time. The divisional rivalry with the Braves has been studded with losses - particularly late, close losses that...

Could Steve Pearce, the player who has bounced around the major leagues seemingly from team to team in recent years, finally be finding a home wearing orange and black? In the 2012 season, Pearce began spring training with Minnesota and was released. He later caught on with and then was designated for assignment by the Orioles, Astros and Yankees. Heck, this year he was DFAd by the Orioles on April 22 and re-signed on April 29. Now he is a mostly a regular at first base with Chris Davis often...

BOSTON - It doesn't seem that long ago when playing at Fenway Park was excruciating for the Orioles. A cup-splitting kick that doubled them over for days. Not anymore. The Orioles are 19-9 in Boston since Sept. 20, 2011. Overall, they're 32-19 against the Red Sox since 2012. The Orioles have won 11 of their last 15 games since being swept at Wrigley Field. They're 66-14 this season when scoring at least four runs in a game, including 26-1 beginning on July 19. Miguel Gonzalez is pitching...

BOSTON - The Orioles' magic number is down to 11 and their lead in the American League East is up to 10. Try wrapping your arms around this one: The Orioles haven't led by that many games since Sept. 22, 1979. None of the current Orioles were born. "We hear it, we hear what's going on, but it doesn't feel like that," said first baseman Steve Pearce, who contributed two hits and an aggressive slide into second base in the Orioles' 4-0 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. "We still know...

It was an important decision in a nail-biting moment of the game. With the Nationals leading 1-0 over the Braves and two out in the seventh, right-hander Doug Fister had walked two batters. The dangerous Andrelton Simmons was ready to dig in. Manager Matt Williams jumped out of the dugout and made his way to the mound. Fister at first did not see Williams coming toward him, but he knew he wanted to have a shot and getting Simmons. "I always hope for that chance," Fister said. "My back was...

The division lead is up to eight. The magic number is down to 12. Things continue to look up for the Nationals. Doug Fister went seven scoreless innings, the Nationals managed just enough offense on Ian Desmond's RBI single and Anthony Rendon's run-scoring fielder's choice, and Drew Storen struck out the side in a dominant ninth to give the Nats a 2-1 win over the Braves. Fister turned in an absolute gem, and while he got into a bit of trouble in the seventh, Matt Williams trusted him to...

Miguel Gonzalez was real good. Again. The Orioles' defense was pretty good again too and Boston's was not. Gonzalez, with big help from Tommy Hunter, worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings tonight as the Orioles blanked Boston 4-0 at Fenway Park in the opener of a three-game series. With the win, the Orioles are 84-59 to reduce their magic number to 11 and lead the American League East by 10 games over both New York and Toronto. This is the first time the Orioles have lead the AL East by 10 games...

BOSTON - Miguel Gonzalez may never give up another run as long as he lives. That's probably extreme, but his scoreless innings streak has reached 14. Gonzalez is shutting out the Red Sox on three hits over five innings tonight and he continues to hold a 1-0 lead. He's retired nine of the last 10 batters he's faced. Gonzalez has thrown 77 pitches, 22 coming in the first inning, when he allowed two hits and walked a batter. The Orioles have aided Gonzalez with two double plays. He's...