Say this about Adam Jones: He doesn't milk the moment when it comes to hitting home runs. Get it over with and get back out to center field. Jones launched No. 21 tonight, a two-run shot that gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead over the Angels at Camden Yards. Eleven of those home runs have come in the first inning. Yes, it's the most in the majors this season, two more than Toronto's Jose Bautista and the White Sox's Jose Abreu. Jones' 11 homers in the first are the most by an Oriole since Brady...

First baseman Chris Davis remains out of the Orioles lineup tonight due to an illness that includes a fever. Team physician Dr. William Goldiner was expected to make a house call this afternoon. "Better," said manager Buck Showalter. "I haven't written him off as possibly playing tonight, but the doctor was going to take a look at him and see if he's still (contagious) and if he could play tonight. Obviously, I need to put a lineup up without him, but he's better. "Just a flu or...

Nationals manager Matt Williams had these thoughts on Drew Storen working out of a jam in the ninth inning to record his first save of the season in a 4-3 win at Miami: "Certainly, the (Giancarlo) Stanton homer, and then the ball kind of inside the line at first. But Drew made a pitch when he had to make a pitch. That is all that matters for us." Why didn't Williams use closer Rafael Soriano in that situation? "Well, we decided to give him a couple of days," Williams explained. "Not just...

Tanner Roark might've walked the first batter of Wednesday's sweep-avoiding 4-3 win over the Marlins, but he was exceptional from there. Roark allowed just one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven in seven innings. The Nationals right-hander has held opponents to exactly one run in seven innings in each of his last four starts for a sparkling 1.29 ERA and a personal four-game winning streak. It also marked the Nats' sixth straight start of at least seven innings with...

Hunter Harvey, one of the Orioles' prized young pitching prospects, is done for the season after an MRI on his right elbow revealed a strained flexor mass. Harvey, the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Bandys (N.C.) High School, has been shut down and continues to receive treatment to reduce the inflammation. Harvey, 19, was 7-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts with Single-A Delmarva. He allowed 66 hits, walked 33 and struck out 106 in 87 2/3 innings. Teams have inquired...

We don't know yet when Ubaldo Jimenez will return to the Orioles, but we do know his sprained right ankle passed a test in Aberdeen last night. Pitching for the short-season Single-A IronBirds, Jimenez went 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and one unearned run with three walks and strikeouts against Tri-City. Jimenez, who went on the disabled list July 13 (retroactive to July 8), was back in the Orioles clubhouse this afternoon. "Feel good," he said. "I was able to get on the mound without...

Less than 24 hours until the non-waiver trade deadline and rumors are swirling like hot dog wrappers in a wind storm. The Orioles have definite interest in switch-hitting utility player Emilio Bonifacio, who's batting .279/.318/.373 with 14 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 18 RBIs in 69 games with the Cubs. He's been an intriguing target for the Orioles over the past few years and I'm told the two sides are engaged in talks. Bonifacio, 29, can play second base, third base and...

Chris Davis is out of the lineup for the second straight night after sitting out last night with an illness. Steve Pearce is at first base in Davis' place. The Orioles will attempt tonight to move 14 games above .500 for the first time since July 22, 2013 (57-43). The Orioles have won four of their last five games in Baltimore and eight of their last 10. In those 10 home games, Orioles pitchers have registered a 2.70 ERA by allowing 27 earned runs in 90 innings. Ryan Flaherty is 3-for-4 with a...

Fresh off two rough setbacks in Miami, the Nationals wanted nothing more than to get off to a good start in the final game of the three-game set against the Marlins in Miami. They had lost the first two games - a heartbreaking 7-6 comeback loss Monday and a 3-0 shutout Tuesday. The Marlins sent out left-hander Brad Hand, who was 0-3 with an 8.71 ERA in seven games (five starts) against the Nationals. The Nationals got to him early thanks to a Denard Span walk. Anthony Rendon followed with...

One day remains until baseball's non-waiver trade deadline and whether the Nationals will be active or stand pat remains to be determined. The pitching staff is just fine, and entered play today leading the majors in ERA. Maybe the only obvious area for improvement is second or third base with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (hamstring) now out for the foreseeable future. But there's no guarantee that a move will make sense. Manager Matt Williams answered a series of questions regarding the...