Before the Nationals' run of 10 straight wins, which started on Aug. 12 and lasted until Aug. 22, the longest winning streak this season came over a five-game stretch between June 28 and July 2, when the Nats beat the Chicago Cubs in both games of a doubleheader in Wrigley Field and took three straight from the Colorado Rockies on the road in Coors Field. The Nationals set a new season high of six straight with the second of back-to-back walk-off wins over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug...

Manager: Ron Gardenhire, 13th year Record: 59-74 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Brian Dozier (.240/.345/.419, 30 doubles, 20 HR, 61 RBIs, 94 R, 20 SB); RF Oswaldo Arcia (.228/.299/.446, 14 doubles, 14 HR, 42 RBIs); 3B Trevor Plouffe (.249/.315/.413, 38 doubles, 10 HR, 65 RBIs); RHP Phil Hughes (14-9, 3.70 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) Season series vs. O's: 2-1, 11 runs scored, 6 runs against Pitching probables Aug. 29: Trevor May vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 30: Kyle Gibson vs. Chris...

After the latest Orioles' win last night over Tampa Bay, Adam Jones said the players do indeed check out the standings sometimes. Right now, it shows them leading the American League East by seven games over the New York Yankees. "We'd be lying if we said we aren't looking," Jones said. "That is just human nature. But we also know that we have to take care of our business. It doesn't matter what the Yankees or Toronto do if we don't take of ours, it all goes for nothing." The series...

SEATTLE - Hello from the great Northwest, where the weather is lovely, the seafood is tremendous and there is practically a Starbucks on every single corner. I had heard that coming in - that coffee shops were all over the place here. But you seriously cannot walk half a block in Seattle without seeing coffee sold somewhere, and Starbucks logos can be spotted pretty much everywhere you go. After a much-needed day off yesterday, the Nationals get back at it tonight, hoping to snap their mini...

The Orioles are taking all the drama and excitement out of the September call-ups. I may as well shut down until the playoffs. (Yes, I said that word.) The Orioles always add an extra catcher when rosters expand, but they already recalled Steve Clevenger from Triple-A Norfolk. They figured to bring up at least one utility infielder, allowing Ryan Flaherty to actually get in the lineup, but they already recalled Jimmy Paredes. Actually, these were sharp moves by the Orioles. Take advantage...

In the first inning tonight the Orioles got two runs - one with power and one with speed. We don't always see the Orioles get a run on the bases, but after a Steve Pearce homer, the O's had Nelson Cruz on first and Adam Jones on third and one out. The Orioles then pulled off a double steal. It led to Jones stealing home, the O's first steal of home since Robert Andino against Atlanta on June 14, 2009. "Just a play we don't use often but we know it's in our little bag of tricks. No...

The Orioles now lead the American League East by seven games following tonight's 5-4 win over the Rays at Camden Yards. Do you credit Bud Norris for gutting out six innings after a 34-pitch, two-run first? Or the bullpen, which didn't allow a run in the four-game series? Or J.J. Hardy, who made a fine play at shortstop to end the top of the seventh and broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom half of the inning? Maybe you fancy the double-steal in the first inning. Let's start with Hardy, who...

Sometimes you need a bloop and a blast and sometimes a bloop alone will do. J.J. Hardy's bloop RBI single in the seventh inning drove in the tiebreaking run as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 5-4. The Orioles win the series, three games to one, and are 76-56 for the season. They gained a game on New York after the Yankees lost this afternoon and now lead the AL East by seven games. Tied 4-4 in the seventh, Nelson Cruz doubled to left with two outs off Kirby Yates. Then Tampa Bay elected to...

The Orioles pulled off their first steal of home in five years tonight to score the tying run in the bottom of the first inning. So, it's going to be one of those nights? Down 2-0 after the top half, the Orioles battled back on Steve Pearce's 16th home run of the season, singles by Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz, and the double steal. Cruz broke for second, slammed on the brakes and started to retreat. Jones broke for home and slid in safely as Yunel Escobar's high throw eluded catcher Jose...

The Orioles need a win tonight against Tampa Bay to extend a four-series winning streak in American League East games. The O's lead this series two wins to one. In fact, the Orioles have lost just one of their last 13 AL East series, winning 10 and tying two others. They are 11-3-2 in division series for the season. The Orioles have gone 32-20 (.615) against the East this season, posting the best in-division winning percentage in the AL and the second-best in the majors. Per STATS, the O's...