CHICAGO - The Orioles are making their second visit to Wrigley Field, and their fans are expected to pack the place. They already were lined up outside the ballpark more than four hours before the first pitch, and large groups were inside taking the tour. Orange jerseys as far as the eye can see. With the Orioles facing Jake Arrieta for the first time, Steve Pearce is at first and Chris Davis is at third. Nelson Cruz is in left and Delmon Young is on the bench with no designated hitter...

After last night's win, the Nationals' 10th straight, Denard Span was asked how it felt to notch his 28th stolen base on the season, given how close he is to reaching his personal goal of 30 bags in a single year. "Twenty-seven," Span responded, cracking a smile. "Twenty-seven. I know. I know these things." He's on top of it, all right. Span's 27th stolen base of the season was a big one. And according to him, it might've just been the most meaningful bag of his career. With the game...

Manager: Rick Renteria, first year Record: 55-72 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Anthony Rizzo (.278/.377/.512, 21 doubles, 29 HR, 69 RBIs, 80 R); LF Chris Coghlan (.273/.345/.446, 29 extra-base hits, 23 RBIs); RHP Jake Arrieta (6-4, 2.61 ERA, 1.02 WHIP); RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-1, 1.48 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) Season series vs. O's (2013): Did not play Pitching probables Aug. 22: Jake Arrieta vs. Kevin Gausman, 2 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 23: Kyle Hendricks vs. Bud Norris, 2 p.m., MASN HD Aug. 24:...

I'm jealous of Orioles fans who are visiting Wrigley Field this weekend. I love Wrigley and wish that I had been able to make the trip out there. If the Baltimore chatter amounts to anything, there will be a lot of orange in them thar stands as fans take advantage of a golden opportunity to experience one of baseball's historic gems. The draw of Wrigley Field is obvious; you can understand why fans would make a weekend of it. Perhaps it's not only about the ballpark, though. O's fans seem...

For Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Mike Wright, this year started slow but sure is finishing strong. That strong finish put him on the verge of history last night when he lost a no-hitter with two outs in the last of the ninth at Durham. Wright went a career-high 8 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and two unearned runs with three walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts as the Tides won 5-2. He threw 121 pitches, 78 for strikes. "Honestly, I had pretty much everything working tonight," Wright said by...

Another walk-off winner for the Nationals, this time 1-0 over the Diamondbacks, on a hot shot by third baseman Anthony Rendon off reliever Evan Marshall that turned into a two-base error that plated the winning run. Arizona third baseman Jordan Pacheco fielded the ball on the grass, but his throw to first got away from Mark Trumbo and went into the camera well adjacent to the Nationals dugout. The two-base error allowed Denard Span to score from second and the celebration was on again. "He...

The Nationals' winning streak hit double digits. And, of course, win No. 10 came on a walk-off. What else would you expect? The Nats notched their 10th straight win on their fifth walk-off in their last six games. They are the first team to have five walk-off wins in a six-game span since the 1986 Astros, according to Elias. This win means that at some point, Matt Williams will have to follow through on his promise to do his Babe Ruth impersonation. The Nats' skipper agreed to break out the...

CHICAGO - Anyone else find it ironic or interesting or coincidental that the Cubs-Giants suspended game yesterday was delayed by rain? Anyone? Apparently, it can rain simultaneously on the north and south sides. This is coming from a guy who didn't bring an umbrella to Chicago. The Orioles swept the White Sox and now they're playing the Cubs in their second-ever visit to Wrigley Field. They won two of three in 2008, taking the decisive game 11-4 behind a 4-for-5 day from Aubrey Huff and...

The Nationals seek their first 10-game win streak since June 12, 2005, as they wrap up their four-game set against the Diamondbacks today. A pair of lefties in Gio Gonzalez and Wade Miley tangle on Ian Desmond bobblehead day. Gonzalez is seeking his first win since July 5. He is 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two starts lifetime versus the D-Backs. Gonzalez was able to go three up and three down to start the game. Miley allowed a base hit to Denard Span to open the bottom of the first. One out later,...

Manager Matt Williams gave shortstop Ian Desmond off from the starting lineup Thursday in the final game of the series against the Diamondbacks. Danny Espinosa will play shortstop today for the Nationals, while Asdrubal Cabrera remains at second base. So on Desmond's bobblehead day at Nationals Park, the shortstop gets a well-deserved game off. "I figured it would be good to give him today," Williams said. "Definitely didn't want him to miss the Giants series, give him today through the...