HOUSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't pleased with the called third strike on Chris Davis that completed tonight's 2-1 loss to the Astros. He wasn't thrilled that another quality start went to waste. He wasn't bragging about an offense that's produced five runs in the last three games. Not much to smile about during a four-game losing streak that drops your team below .500. Miguel Gonzalez took a shutout into the seventh inning, but Astros left-hander Brett Oberholtzer took the...

Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg notched his fourth win of the season with a nine-strikeout six-inning performance against the Rangers on Friday night in a 9-2 victory. It did not start off well for Strasburg, however. In the second, the Rangers scored two runs with two outs. Strasburg allowed three hits in the inning and committed a fielding error, leading to two unearned runs. "It was a good win for us," Strasburg said. "I ... had the little hiccup there in the second inning, but...

So the Orioles finally get some quality starting pitching back-to-back nights in Houston and they lose both games. The runs stopped coming just as the starters began throwing better. Miguel Gonzalez took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and a 1-0 lead into the seventh tonight, but Houston scored twice with two outs in that inning to beat the Orioles 2-1. Gonzalez deserved a better fate tonight. The Orioles have lost four in a row, nine of 13 games and 13 of their last 19 to fall to 26-27....

After a seven-day stretch where not much went right for the Nationals, a lot went their way tonight. The Nats pounded out 15 hits and scored nine runs. Stephen Strasburg put an early fielding error and two unearned runs behind him and delivered six strong innings. Drew Storen and Blake Treinen combined to throw three scoreless frames. Tyler Moore had his first pinch-hit of the season. Wilson Ramos showed signs that he's continuing to heat up, as did Nate McLouth. The end result was a badly...

HOUSTON - A hot starter and cold bats remain a toxic mix for the Orioles. It's their starter and their bats. Miguel Gonzalez didn't allow a hit until one out in the sixth. He carried a shutout into the seventh. Now, he stands to be the loser. Once again, the Orioles aren't on the same page. They aren't firing on all cylinders. Pick your favorite metaphor. Gonzalez gave up three doubles in the seventh, including back-to-back two-baggers from Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar that...

HOUSTON - Sometimes, all it takes is a foul ball to the groin to wake up an offense. The Orioles have scored one run or fewer in eight games this season, including last night. They took a 1-0 lead in the second inning tonight after Adam Jones found himself in a world of hurt. Jones took a hard cut at a pitch from Astros starter Brett Oberholtzer and nailed himself in an extremely sensitive area, causing a stoppage in play as assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel came out of the dugout and...

HOUSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter was satisfied with catcher Matt Wieters' brief throwing session earlier today. For the first day, the Orioles just wanted to make sure that Wieters could complete all 25 throws without experiencing pain in his right elbow. "Trying to decide what is discomfort like he was feeling or just some crankiness from inactivity," Showalter said. "First time out, everybody who throws after that much time off, it's not going to be perfect. I know the area...

Friday marked the first visit to Nationals Park for the Texas Rangers since June 2008, when they won two out of three games against the Nationals. The last time the Nationals played in Arlington, Texas, was 2005. The three games in D.C. this season will be their only regular season meeting. Texas has won three of four in consecutive series against the Tigers and the Twins. The Nationals have lost six of their last seven games. The Rangers are 0-2 in interleague play on the road. The Rangers got...

Nationals manager Matt Williams today offered some intriguing insight about how he puts together a lineup and how he decides who goes into pitch in the late innings. He said a lot of lineup decisions can be made by how the team is playing, especially when they are struggling. If they were on a winning streak, for instance, players like Ian Desmond or Jayson Werth might have already taken a day off or more. "It's communication with those guys and talking with them and saying, 'Hey, I am...

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, on the 15-day disabled list with a right thumb fracture, went to high Single-A Potomac on Friday night for a rehab game. Manager Matt Williams said Zimmerman will be the designated hitter. "He has got to get some at-bats," Williams said. "He hasn't hit live. The field BP was great the other day. Did it again yesterday. Took some grounders at third yesterday. He took grounders at first the day before. Certainly been doing all the stuff in the outfield....