Earlier this week, Drew Storen noted that to win a pennant, you need to not only win the games where things go smoothly, you need to win the ugly games, too. This one would certainly qualify in the latter category. But it sure was fun to watch nonetheless. The Nationals made two errors in the sixth inning, allowing two Pirates runs to score. Rafael Soriano blew a save in the top of the ninth, surrendering three runs to turn a 4-2 lead into a 5-4 Pittsburgh advantage. The ugly aspects could be...

During a season where the Orioles have had several position player prospects - like Christian Walker, Mike Yastrzemski and Dariel Alvarez - garner attention and earn promotions, two young kids at Single-A Delmarva have just continued to crank out the hits and put up big seasons of their own. Shorebirds catcher Chance Sisco and third baseman Drew Dosch rank among the top hitters this season in the South Atlantic League. Sisco has proven his strong first impression last year wasn't a fluke....

The Nationals are going for their second straight three-game series sweep Sunday against the Pirates, after taking three in New York against the Mets earlier this week. If the Nationals win the game, it would be their first season series win over the Bucs. The Nationals lost the first three games against the Pirates this season in late May and have bounced back to win three in a row. Doug Fister did not allow a baserunner until the third after walking Ike Davis. Davis went to second on a wild...

The Orioles are preparing to spend a week in Chicago, with Thursday's off-day separating series against the White Sox and Cubs. My Southwest flight this morning must be packed because I'm in the B group and I used early bird check-in. The struggle is real. The Orioles lost two of three at U.S. Cellular Field last season. They haven't swept the White Sox in a three-game series in Chicago since 1989. Why not? The White Sox haven't swept the Orioles in a three-game series in Chicago since...

For one inning at least, the Orioles broke out of their offensive doldrums in Cleveland, as the longball returned to their offense. They used those runs and a strong outing from Kevin Gausman to beat Cleveland 4-1 today at Progressive Field. The Orioles avoided a three-game sweep as they improved to 70-52. They had not lost three in a row since dropping four straight from May 27-30. A Jason Kipnis bloop RBI single in the fourth had given Cleveland a 1-0 lead, but the O's came to bat down by...

Steve Pearce started today at first base despite dragging a 5-for-44 slump into the game. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to get Pearce more at-bats, especially with Chris Davis mired in a lengthy slump. He also knew that right-handers were hitting .317 against Indians starter Danny Salazar. And with the Orioles struggling to score runs and their offense stuck in neutral, it was worth a shot. Former Oriole Chris Dickerson robbed Pearce of an extra-base hit last night. Pearce lined to center...

Jayson Werth is out of the lineup for the sixth straight game as the Nationals look to sweep the Pirates. Werth hasn't played since last Sunday because of an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. Michael A. Taylor starts in right field with Bryce Harper in left. Asdrubal Cabrera is also back in the lineup, batting second and playing second base after sitting on Saturday. Nats right-hander Doug Fister faces Pirates right-hander Edinson Volquez in perhaps the best pitching match-up of the...

Ubaldo Jimenez walked two batters in the first inning last night and fell behind 3-0 on Carlos Santana's long home run to center field. Kevin Gausman walked two Indians in the first inning today and escaped the jam, getting a popup and ground ball with two runners in scoring position. Bad things usually happen when you walk batters. Steve Pearce lined to center field in the first inning, leaving him in a 5-for-45 slump, but he's hit the ball hard in his last two at-bats. Maybe that's a...

The Orioles went to Cleveland having won eight of their last 10 games and eight consecutive series. But they need to win this afternoon to avoid being swept by the Indians. The Orioles have been swept in a three-game series once this year, May 12-14 at home against the Tigers. The last time they got swept in Cleveland was April 15-17, 2011. They are looking for some offense today after going 11-for-71 (.155) with just one run scored over the first two games in Cleveland. The Orioles have two...

The Orioles are 8-11 on Sundays this season, but 5-4 on the road. So, I'm saying there's a chance. The Orioles are 23-17 in series finales this year, including 13-7 on the road. They're 10-4 in their last 14 series finales and have won four of the last five. The Orioles have been held to one run in the last two games, their lowest output in a two-game span since also totaling one run June 7-8, 2013 against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. Boog Powell is celebrating his 73rd birthday...