A 5-0 Nationals lead after three was trimmed to 5-3 in the fourth when the Pirates got to Tanner Roark. They then got to Rafael Soriano in the ninth, and nearly completed a big road comeback. Instead, Soriano walked the tightrope yet again and notched the save, his 29th of the season, giving the Nats a 5-4 win and their fourth straight victory. Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper each drove in two for the Nats, and Denard Span had three hits and two stolen bases. Soriano allowed three hits and a run...

For the Orioles, it was a tough start to a nine-game road trip. Mike Aviles led off the last of the 11th with a homer to left off Brian Matusz as Cleveland beat the Orioles 2-1 with the walk-off win. Aviles hit a 77 mph breaking ball for his fourth homer. The Orioles fall to 69-51 and their eight-game winning streak in series openers comes to an end. The Orioles tied the game 1-1 in the top of the eighth with a two-out rally. With none on, Nelson Cruz singled to end Corey Kluber's night....

How's this for a statistic: The Nationals have scored 29 first-inning runs when Tanner Roark is on the mound. Adam LaRoche got the party started tonight, his RBI single scoring Asdrubal Cabrera to stake the Nats to a 1-0 lead. Denard Span led off the frame with a single, Cabrera walked and Span was thrown out trying to steal third before Anthony Rendon's single to right put runners at first and second. LaRoche followed with a single to center off Pirates righty Charlie Morton. Ian Desmond...

First, the bad news. The Orioles tonight face Cleveland Indians right-hander Corey Kluber (13-6, 2.46 ERA). Kluber has given up just one earned run in 31 1/3 innings over his past four starts and he ranks third in the American League in ERA. Now the good news. The Orioles have played 13 games this year against a starter in the current top 10 of the AL in ERA and they are 9-4 in those games. Here are the league ERA leaders and how the Orioles have fared against them this year: 1.95 - Felix...

Outfielder Nate McLouth's inflamed right shoulder isn't responding as quickly to treatment as the Nationals had hoped, so he'll see another doctor to get a second opinion. McLouth, who signed a two-year, $10.75 million deal in December to be a fourth outfielder and defensive specialist for the Nats, has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 4. He's hitting .173 with a home run and seven RBIs in 79 games. "The fact that he's going to go have a second look is concerning, of course,"...

Despite being 19 games above .500, the Orioles are only 9-14 (.391) against the American League Central this season. In their other 96 games, they've gone 60-36 (.625) and are playing at a 101-win full-season pace. The Orioles have won eight consecutive series openers dating back to July 21 in Anaheim. They're 25-15 in series openers this season, going 13-7 at home and 12-8 on the road. The Orioles trail the Indians in the all-time series 394-430, going 213-204 in Baltimore and 181-226 in...

J.J. Hardy, who hasn't played since being scratched from Sunday's lineup with a sprained left thumb, is batting sixth tonight as the Orioles shortstop for the series opener in Cleveland. Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base. Chris Davis continues to bat second. The Orioles are a season-high 19 games above .500, their highest margin since ending the 2012 season with a 93-69 record. The Orioles lead the American League East by 7 1/2 games, their largest margin since Sept. 13,...

The Nationals will kick off their 10-game homestand tonight with a game against the Pirates. Right-hander Tanner Roark will face the Pirates' Charlie Morton. First baseman Adam LaRoche is 3-for-5 against Morton in his career with a home run and four RBIs. For the Pirates SS Josh Harrison RF Gregory Polanco C Russell Martin 2B Neil Walker CF Starling Marte LF Travis Snider 1B Ike Davis 3B Pedro Alvarez RHP Charlie Morton For the Nationals CF Denard Span 2B Asdrubal Cabrera 3B Anthony...

For the first time since May of 2013 when he was in the Cleveland organization, 27-year-old infielder Cord Phelps is back in the major leagues. When Manny Machado went on the disabled list Wednesday, Phelps was the choice of the Orioles to take his roster spot. "Anytime you get told you are going to the big leagues it is a pretty cool feeling, so I'm excited and happy to be here," Phelps said upon arriving at Camden Yards. The Orioles claimed him off waivers from Cleveland on Nov. 25. He...

Dylan Bundy, placed on Single-A Frederick's disabled list yesterday with a strained right latissimus dorsi, said his injury occurred Sunday as he ran in the outfield following a routine throwing session. Bundy underwent an MRI yesterday in Baltimore that revealed the strain, which may end his minor league season. "It's definitely a weird injury," Bundy said today during a phone interview. "I had just thrown some long toss and my flat ground and was going to do some condition drills. I...