So much for the notion that yesterday's baserunning follies were a one-game aberration. The Nationals ran themselves out of a possible rally in the first inning of today's game against the Reds, after Anthony Rendon had walked and stolen second. Jayson Werth shot a ground ball deep into the hole at short and Rendon, perhaps thinking it would sneak through, took off for third. Shortstop Ramon Santiago gloved the ball and easily caught Rendon at third base. Yesterday, a couple of baserunning...

The Orioles conclude their West Coast trip today in Seattle, and they've got Manny Machado at third base for the second consecutive game. Steve Pearce is in the lineup for only the second time in the last five games. The Orioles are 5-4 on the trip despite batting .196 and averaging 3.7 runs per game. The starters have posted a 3.07 ERA. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Adam Jones CF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Manny Machado 3B Caleb Joseph C Jonathan Schoop...

CINCINNATI - Danny Espinosa is back at second base today for the finale of the Nats' three-game series at Great American Ball Park against the Reds. Jose Lobaton is behind the plate, catching Nationals right-hander Doug Fister. In the seven games Lobaton has been his batterymate, Fister has worked to a 2.09 ERA and opposing batters have hit only .214. Fister will be opposed by righty Mat Latos. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond...

Will Steve Pearce make it back into the Orioles lineup today in the final game of their three-city West Coast trip? Pearce hasn't started three of the last four games. He went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Friday night and is 1-for-16 with eight strikeouts in his last four games and 5-for-30 with 10 strikeouts in his last nine games. Pearce doesn't have a history with Mariners starter Roenis Elias. No one does with the Orioles. Elias is making his 21st start in his rookie season. He's 8-8...

With more indications that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will be out for most of the rest of the summer, the Nationals have a few days until the trade deadline to make a decision. Should they go out and add a bat or stand pat? Should it be an infielder with experience or another solid bench bat? Could they possibly, as Ray Knight told us on "Nats Xtra" the other night, consider a blockbuster deal to acquire Chase Utley from the Phillies? Did you see all the scouts at the Phillies game Saturday...

In the big picture, the Orioles began this road trip with a four-game lead atop the American League East. At worst, they will come home two games ahead. At worst, they will have a .500 road trip against two teams that seem almost certain to make the AL playoffs and a third that is contending. This current road trip could have gone a lot worse and the Orioles have had some 2-8 and 3-7 or worse West Coast trips over the years. But what to make of the offense right now? Should there be any...

CINCINNATI - The Nationals had some early chances, putting two on in the first and getting the leadoff hitter aboard in four of the first five innings today. They were unable to score in those spots, however, and the missed opportunities combined with a few baserunning errors led to a 1-0 loss to the Reds. The Nats ran into three outs on the bases, two by Bryce Harper, who was doubled off first base on a deep fly ball in the second and then thrown out trying to advance to third base on an...

The Orioles were able to beat Seattle when Hisashi Iwakuma and Felix Hernandez got the start but lost today when Chris Young took the mound, although they did rally late in the game. The 35-year-old right-hander held the Orioles to two hits - both by Delmon Young - over seven scoreless innings this afternoon as Seattle beat the Orioles 4-3 at Safeco Field. Down 4-0, the O's scored three runs in the eighth. With two outs, Adam Jones was hit, Nelson Cruz walked and they both moved up on a wild...

Lots of zeroes on the scoreboard so far, as the Reds' gloves have done a nice job of blunting a couple of potential scoring opportunities for the Nationals. In the first, the Nats had runners on first and second with one out when Adam LaRoche struck a ball that appeared destined to sail over the head of center fielder Billy Hamilton. But Hamilton caught up to the drive and hauled it in for an out. An inning later, after Bryce Harper drew a leadoff walk, Wilson Ramos crushed a ball to...

Each open date on the Orioles' schedule leaves room for manager Buck Showalter to tweak his rotation. The Orioles are off Monday after returning from the West Coast, and Showalter told reporters today in Seattle that he may adjust the order of his starters. Right now, Miguel Gonzalez is slated to pitch Sunday afternoon in the series finale at Safeco Field. All three starters for the Angels series that begins Tuesday at Camden Yards are listed as TBA. Could Showalter bump Gonzalez to...