CHICAGO - The Nationals couldn't manage much offense against Cubs starter Jason Hammel, and Chicago put up 12 hits on Tanner Roark and Jerry Blevins, scoring seven runs and taking a 7-2 win in the second game of this four-game series. The Cubs have now taken the first two games, and the Nats will need to sweep the doubleheader tomorrow in order to head home with a split in this series and a winning road trip. Pitching near his hometown of Wilmington, Ill., Roark allowed four runs on 10 hits...

The Orioles didn't make a roster move before Game 2 of today's doubleheader. Executive vice president Dan Duquette met with manager Buck Showalter and the club decided to stand pat. Chris Tillman retired the Rays in order in the top of the first, throwing seven of 11 pitches for strikes. He's allowed 15 runs in the first inning this season, but none in his last two starts. Adam Jones doubled with two outs in the bottom of the first, but Nelson Cruz bounced to short. Third baseman Manny...

The excuse would be so convenient. Kevin Gausman was on a roll and the Orioles slowed it by optioning him to the minors and disrupting his routine. Manager Buck Showalter knows it's out there, but he's not reaching for it. "He did it last time, pitched an inning and came back and pitched well," Showalter said after Gausman was charged with five runs in five-plus innings in a 5-2 loss to the Rays in Game 1 of today's doubleheader at Camden Yards. "I think we all search for why. A lot of it...

Kevin Gausman walked a season-high four batters today, and gave up five runs and seven hits over five innings in a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay. He had pitched to an ERA of 0.95 over his three previous starts. But he didn't blame his struggles today on his recent schedule, one where he was sent back to the minors since his last start. "It was definitely weird, but I would never make an excuse for anything like that," Gausman said. "I felt good physically on the mound, so that's really all you can...

The Nationals didn't need long to take their first lead of the series in Chicago. After going three up, three down in the first, Adam LaRoche led off the second with a single and Ryan Zimmerman doubled to left off Jason Hammel to give the Nats a 1-0 advantage over the Cubs. Zimmerman reached third on the throw and Wilson Ramos walked to put runners on the corners. But Zimmerman was thrown out at home when aggressively trying to score on Ian Desmond's fielder's choice grounder. Desmond and...

Since he last started for the Orioles, Kevin Gausman was optioned to the minor leagues, pitched an inning at Triple-A Norfolk and threw a bullpen session with Double-A Bowie. Did all of that throw Gausman off his recent form? It's a question worth asking after he gave up five runs and seven hits and was not sharp today as Tampa Bay beat the Orioles 5-2 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. Gausman pitched a scoreless first, but gave up two runs in the second, one in the fourth and two in...

In some regards, Ian Desmond is having his best season to date. With 14 homers and 46 RBIs in 77 games, the Nationals shortstop is on pace to break career highs of 25 homers (2011) and 80 RBIs (2013). But Desmond is also having perhaps his worst year in some regards. His .237 batting average and .292 on-base percentage are career lows. He also has struck out 94 times in 300 at-bats and is on pace to shatter his previous high of 145 (2013). So why is the average down? Manager Matt Williams...

The Taylor Hooton Foundation announced today that Anthony Rendon of the Washington Nationals has joined its new Advisory Board made up exclusively of active players from throughout Major League Baseball. The Hooton Foundation is widely acknowledged as the leader in the advocacy against appearance and performance enhancing drug use by the youth of America. The Nationals second baseman joins 12 other charter members of the "Advisory Board," which also includes Jay Bruce (Cincinnati Reds), John...

Steve Pearce walked in the first inning in Game 1 of today's doubleheader between the Orioles and Rays. Naturally, he reached base. The Lakeland, Fla., native is now 8-for-18 with three doubles, three home runs, six RBIs, six walks and five runs scored against the Rays this season. His 1.676 OPS versus the Rays leads the majors. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first after Nick Markakis led off with a single, moved to second on Alex Colome's wild pitch, took third on Adam Jones'...

CHICAGO - Tanner Roark, a native of Wilmington, Ill., will have a huge cheering section at Wrigley Field this afternoon when he makes his first career start close to home. He made one relief appearance in Chicago last season, earning the decision in the Nats' 11-6 win there on Aug. 21, 2013. But now he gets to the be the Nationals' featured pitcher in front of his friends and family. And Roark does so as one of the team's hottest starters. The right-hander has allowed three runs or...