It ended with a broken-bat, pinch-hit bloop single. That is how the Red Sox ended today's game, beating the Orioles 3-2 with a walk-off victory in the last of the ninth. After Miguel Gonzalez pitched a strong eight innings, Boston broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth. T.J. McFarland came on and Jonny Gomes reached on a pinch-hit infield single to deep short. He moved to second on a bunt. Then Jonathan Herrera batted for Jackie Bradley Jr. and looped one just past the infield into short center field as...

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with four international free agents: right-handed pitcher Tomas Alastre, right-handed pitcher Pedro Avila, left-handed pitcher Gilberto Chu and right-handed pitcher Christian Flores. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of International Scouting Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. Alastre, 16, is a 6-foot-4, 170-pound native of Venezuela. He began his career at shortstop, but recently...

The Nationals looked to shake things up a bit against (former) Chicago Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel Friday by batting Bryce Harper near the top of the order at No. 2. It didn't work out that day. Harper went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The Nationals lost the opener 7-2. But really that might have more been because of what Hammel was doing and how well he was pitching. (So good in fact he was shipped to the Oakland A's in a megadeal after the game.) But either way, manager Matt Williams...

BOSTON - The city of Boston celebrated the Fourth of July on Thursday night because of the pending storm. The Red Sox celebrated it today before Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Orioles, draping a huge American flag over the Green Monster. Maybe that's why both teams appear so disoriented. The Orioles and Red Sox have combined for four errors in three innings, including three from the gracious hosts. Third baseman Xander Bogaerts allowed two runs to score with two outs in the third when...

Bryce Harper's stay in the second spot in the lineup lasted one day. Nationals manager Matt Williams returned Harper to sixth in the order for the fourth time in five games since the outfielder was activated from the disabled list. Batting second Friday, Harper went 0-for-4. Anthony Rendon moves back up to second after hitting sixth. Rendon is riding an eight-game hitting streak. The Nats won't be facing Jeff Samardzija after the Cubs traded the right-hander (along with right-hander Jason...

BOSTON - Bud Norris remains scheduled to throw a simulated game between games of today's doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Orioles traded batting practice for use of the field for Norris. "The only thing that would keep it from happening is a long extra-inning game," said manager Buck Showalter. The Orioles need a starter for Wednesday and Norris is a candidate if his simulated game produces the desired results. Norris is eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday. Miguel Gonzalez was...

The Orioles will face Jon Lester (9-7, 2.92 ERA) and John Lackey (9-5, 3.62 ERA) in a day-night doubleheader today against the Boston Red Sox. For many years, it seemed that Lester could fall out of bed and beat the Orioles. But as of the 2012 season, the Orioles are no longer Lester's lackeys. Through the 2011 season, Lester had a 14-0 career record against the Orioles. Since then, he is 1-4 with an ERA of 4.22 and Boston is 1-7 in Lester's eight starts since 2012 versus the Orioles. That is...

BOSTON - Chris Davis is starting at third base in Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Red Sox. Delmon Young is in left field and Steve Pearce is at first base. Reliever Preston Guilmet arrived this morning as the 26th player for Game 2. The season series is tied 5-5, with the Orioles going 3-3 in Baltimore and 2-2 in Boston. In 2013, the Orioles won the season series 11-8 by going 6-4 at home and 5-4 at Fenway Park. They were the only team in the American League East to post a winning...

Pitching on a team that has relievers like Darren O'Day (1.23 ERA) and Zach Britton (1.42 ERA), Ryan Webb can sometimes be overlooked. But the 28-year-old right-hander has put together a very strong season for the Orioles in his first year with the team. Webb's signing didn't get nearly the publicity of other players over the winter but he's proven to a be a very solid addition after signing a two-year, $4.5 million deal in December. Webb gave up four runs over his first two appearances...

BOSTON - Let's play two - without the rain. The Orioles and Red Sox have a doubleheader scheduled today following yesterday's postponement caused by Tropical Storm Arthur, which apparently did not get caught between the moon and New York City. I know it's crazy, but it's true. The postponement was the right call. Rain began to fall around 1 p.m. and didn't stop. If there was a window, it had streams of water running down it. Today's forecast is 79 degrees and sunny. Much better. The...