For Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Mike Wright, this year started slow but sure is finishing strong. That strong finish put him on the verge of history last night when he lost a no-hitter with two outs in the last of the ninth at Durham. Wright went a career-high 8 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and two unearned runs with three walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts as the Tides won 5-2. He threw 121 pitches, 78 for strikes. "Honestly, I had pretty much everything working tonight," Wright said by...

Another walk-off winner for the Nationals, this time 1-0 over the Diamondbacks, on a hot shot by third baseman Anthony Rendon off reliever Evan Marshall that turned into a two-base error that plated the winning run. Arizona third baseman Jordan Pacheco fielded the ball on the grass, but his throw to first got away from Mark Trumbo and went into the camera well adjacent to the Nationals dugout. The two-base error allowed Denard Span to score from second and the celebration was on again. "He...

The Nationals' winning streak hit double digits. And, of course, win No. 10 came on a walk-off. What else would you expect? The Nats notched their 10th straight win on their fifth walk-off in their last six games. They are the first team to have five walk-off wins in a six-game span since the 1986 Astros, according to Elias. This win means that at some point, Matt Williams will have to follow through on his promise to do his Babe Ruth impersonation. The Nats' skipper agreed to break out the...

CHICAGO - Anyone else find it ironic or interesting or coincidental that the Cubs-Giants suspended game yesterday was delayed by rain? Anyone? Apparently, it can rain simultaneously on the north and south sides. This is coming from a guy who didn't bring an umbrella to Chicago. The Orioles swept the White Sox and now they're playing the Cubs in their second-ever visit to Wrigley Field. They won two of three in 2008, taking the decisive game 11-4 behind a 4-for-5 day from Aubrey Huff and...

The Nationals seek their first 10-game win streak since June 12, 2005, as they wrap up their four-game set against the Diamondbacks today. A pair of lefties in Gio Gonzalez and Wade Miley tangle on Ian Desmond bobblehead day. Gonzalez is seeking his first win since July 5. He is 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two starts lifetime versus the D-Backs. Gonzalez was able to go three up and three down to start the game. Miley allowed a base hit to Denard Span to open the bottom of the first. One out later,...

Manager Matt Williams gave shortstop Ian Desmond off from the starting lineup Thursday in the final game of the series against the Diamondbacks. Danny Espinosa will play shortstop today for the Nationals, while Asdrubal Cabrera remains at second base. So on Desmond's bobblehead day at Nationals Park, the shortstop gets a well-deserved game off. "I figured it would be good to give him today," Williams said. "Definitely didn't want him to miss the Giants series, give him today through the...

The Nationals try to complete a four-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks this afternoon, and are seeking their 10th straight victory. But they'll have to accomplish those feats without shortstop Ian Desmond in the starting lineup. Desmond, who has played in 123 of the team's 125 games this season, is getting a day off. He'll be replaced at shorstop by Danny Espinosa. Washington's Gio Gonzalez will face Arizona's Wade Miley in a battle of left-handers. For the DiamondbacksCF Ender...

CHICAGO - Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has been included among a group of major league players who will travel to Japan in November to participate in a five-game series. The MLB All-Stars will play Samurai Japan, the country's national team. The Rangers' Ron Washington will serve as manager. Jones will be joined by the Mariners' Robinson Cano, the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig and the Angels' Albert Pujols. I'm assuming that other names will be released later. Otherwise, it doesn't seem...

Bryce Harper scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth last night, coming in from third on Anthony Rendon's single down the left field line. He touched the plate with the Nationals' third run of the night, giving them their ninth straight win, fourth walk-off in five games and sixth one-run victory during this winning streak. All good stuff. But what Matt Williams liked most about what Harper did last night wasn't the leadoff single in the ninth to set up the game-winning run....

With their 3-2 defeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks last evening, the Nationals became the second Nationals team to win nine games in a row. The 2009, 2011 and 2012 Nationals all won eight in a row, but only the 2005 team won as many as nine in a row when they won 10 in a row from June 2 to June 12. That Nationals team sat 2 1/2 games out of first place on June 2 and by the end of the streak had a 1 1/2-game lead in the division. The 2005 Nationals would hold onto first place all the way until...