The Nationals didn't waste any time in giving Stephen Strasburg room to work. After the newest National Asdrubal Cabrera drew a walk with one out in the first inning, Adam LaRoche blasted his 17th home of the season, a two-run shot that put the visiting team ahead 2-0. It's LaRoche's third first-inning home run of the season, tying him for the most in any single inning this year. In fact, the opening frame has been kind to LaRoche. In 53 at-bats, the righty has collected 14 RBIs and is...

It's been a whirlwind of changes for Nationals second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. Not only has the infielder had to get used to playing for a new team, but for the first time in his eight-year career, he's in a new league. Oh by the way, he's learning a new primary position, too. All in a day's work. "It's hard when you switch leagues and you don't know the pitching," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "It's especially difficult when you're switching positions and going to the...

Left-hander Joe Saunders tossed two scoreless innings today for Triple-A Norfolk, walking one Buffalo batter and striking out one. The Saunders relief experiment seems to be working so far. He's permitted one earned run over 5 1/3 innings since the Orioles signed him to a minor league contract. It hasn't been a totally clean experiment, with Saunders allowing five hits and walking two, but the Orioles understand that it's a transition for him. Saunders has never pitched in relief during...

Orioles top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy has been placed on the disabled list with Single-A Frederick due to a right latissimus strain. It happened while Bundy was running in the outfield following his most recent start. Bundy saw Orioles doctors today in Baltimore. "We did an MRI and it confirmed the muscle strain," Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said. With the minor league regular season set to end Sept. 1, this could make it hard for Bundy to pitch again during this...

NEW YORK - Denard Span is back in the starting lineup in his customary center field and leadoff roles as the Nationals go for a sweep of their three game series against the New York Mets at Citi Field. A night after hitting his first home run in a Washington uniform, second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera remains in the two-hole. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg will take the mound for the Nats, opposing the Mets' Dillon Gee. For the NationalsCF Denard Span2B Asdrubal Cabrera3B Anthony Rendon1B Adam...

If there was a 25-year-old pitcher making just under $4 million with an ERA of 3.68 compared to the major league average of 3.87 and who couldn't be a free agent until after the 2016 season, this would be a pitcher you'd want on your team. On the other hand, mention the name of Stephen Strasburg attached to those stats and you get a much different response. The expectations are higher. You'll hear how first overall picks are supposed to be better, and anything less than a Cy Young is a...

NEW YORK - One-run game, bottom of the seventh inning. Two Nationals errors have already been committed, allowing the Mets to load the bases with just one out. Game on the line. Momentum possibly starting to shift. Matt Williams comes out to get Jordan Zimmermann, who hadn't allowed an earned run through his 6 1/3 innings to that point. Drew Storen trots out of the Nats bullpen, handed a jam that couldn't be much tougher. Not that Storen seems to mind. "Those are the fun spots," Storen...

My fellow Orioles fans continuously remind me that Baltimore is a blue-collar town. At heart, we're a lunch pail-carrying, hard hat-wearing diehard fan base that loves our O's. Our admiration for the hometown Birds is so deep that our fan base often takes offense when it feels the team isn't receiving their due credit from the national media. Admittedly, I'm in the Charm City bubble, but it certainly feels to me that Orioles fans care an awful lot about meaningless power rankings or the...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Harrisburg Senators bounced back in nightcap of their Wednesday doubleheader to defeat Reading 9-6. Matt Skole got the Senators on the board in the first with a three-run homer. It was his 11th homer of the season and gave him 58 RBIs. The opposite-field shot cut Reading's lead from to 4-3. Reading held the lead into the bottom of the sixth when Harrisburg erupted for six runs to seal the win. Cutter Dykstra and pitch-hitter Drew Vettleson dropped in two-run doubles off...

Call it an Adam bomb. Whenever the 2014 season comes to an end and someone compiles a list of Adam Jones' greatest hits, last night's homer will be there. It's going to be a long list for Jones with key hits and this homer will rank right up there. He has had so many big first-inning homers this year, but this time he saved the best for last. Jones' three-run homer in the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie and sent the Orioles on their way to a stirring 5-3 win over the Yankees that sent 37,587...