Two wins in three games against a Mariners team fighting for a spot in the postseason is nothing to sneeze at. Though the Nationals have largely had their way with the Mariners over the years, a series win in Seattle this season is significant. Losing pitcher Tanner Roark lamented one bad pitch to Dustin Ackley on Sunday afternoon: a meaty fastball that Ackley turned on for a three-run homer that helped the Mariners to a 5-3 victory and prevented a Nationals sweep at Safeco Field. The Nationals...

Well, he did miss his first flight and didn't arrive until the fourth inning, but new O's outfielder Alejandro De Aza is now settling into the Orioles clubhouse. He talked briefly with reporters after today's game. "I did miss my first flight, but I'm happy to be here. Glad to be here," he said. "It's great, at the same time I get to know a lot of people there. This is part of the business. One day you're here, another day you can be somewhere else." De Aza was asked about jumping...

The Orioles hold a nine-game lead in the American League East, tying their season high, following today's 12-8 win over the Twins before 40,905 at Camden Yards. A season-high 23 games above .500 is nose-bleed territory. The Orioles are 37-17 since June 30, the best record in the majors. They're 21-6 at home since June 30 and have outscored opponents 139-82. Is that good? Manager Buck Showalter talked yesterday about how different players have stepped up, how it can't always be the same...

The Orioles have not lost this year when they have hit three or more homers in a game. Today, they produced eight runs on three swings in a 12-8 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The Orioles have taken the first three games of this series that ends here tomorrow. Now at 79-56, they are a season-high 23 games over .500 and have opened a nine-game lead over the Yankees atop the American League East. The game featured a grand slam by J.J. Hardy, a three-run shot by Ryan Flaherty and a solo blast...

You can't say Bryce Harper doesn't take instruction well. At Safeco Field, there's an eatery on the second deck in right field called the Hit It Here Cafe. Guess where Harper deposited his ninth home run of the season in the second inning? The mammoth blast, measured at 418 feet by the Mariners, staked Tanner Roark and the Nationals to a 1-0 lead. It was a no-doubter off the bat; the only question was how far it was going to carry. It glanced off a Plexiglass window of the cafe, bouncing...

Now, it's a party. The Orioles scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, their largest output of the season, to build an 11-2 lead. They sent 11 batters to the plate, including J.J. Hardy, who hit his fourth career grand slam and first since May 15, 2011 at Tropicana Field. Oh yeah, and the Blue Jays beat the Yankees 4-3. The Orioles can extend their lead to nine games in the American League East. Highlights were shown on the video board before the bottom of the sixth and fans...

Nelson Cruz wasn't satisfied with a career-high 34 home runs this season. No. 35 came today with one out in the bottom of the third. He crushed a slider from Ricky Nolasco to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen has thrown 23 of his 30 pitches for strikes in three innings today against the Twins. Chen has allowed two hits, including Eduardo Nunez's double leading off the third, but no runs. He struck out the first two batters he faced. For the second time in this...

Apparently, the Orioles found a flight for outfielder Alejandro De Aza that will get him into Baltimore later today. The club announced that De Aza will report this afternoon, which necessitated a corresponding roster move. Left-hander T.J. McFarland was optioned to short-season Single-A Aberden, where he can join catcher Steve Clevenger. They can share a ride back to Baltimore on Tuesday. De Aza missed his flight early this morning, but he should be available during the game. Orioles...

The Orioles today announced that outfielder Alejandro De Aza, acquired Saturday night, will report to the team today. To make room on the 25-man roster, left-hander T.J. McFarland has been optioned to Short-Season Class-A Aberdeen. De Aza, 30, batted .243/.309/.354 (96-395) with five home runs, 31 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 122 games for the White Sox in 2014. He will wear uniform #12. McFarland, 25, was 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA (52.1IP, 18ER) in 30 games (one start) for the Orioles.

SEATTLE - Right-hander Tanner Roark goes for his team-high 13th victory this afternoon as the Nationals try to sweep the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series. The last time the Nats swept the Mariners was in June 2011. After sealing their 12th win in 13 games, manager Jim Riggleman shockingly resigned, upset that general manager Mike Rizzo wouldn't discuss an extension of his one-year contract. No chance of that happening today. Matt Williams will get on the plane to Los Angeles. At 20...