PHOENIX - As Doug Fister's Nationals debut approached last week, manager Matt Williams cautioned that fans shouldn't expect too much in the big right-hander's first start of the season. After all, not only was it the first time Fister was taking the mound in a regular season game this season, but he was coming off six weeks on the disabled list with a strained right lat. Add in that Fister was likely going to be a little fired up for his first start in a Nationals uniform, and we all knew...

When the top of the ninth began last night, Tommy Hunter had a chance, with a 1-2-3 inning, to avoid facing Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera or Victor Martinez. But he gave up another leadoff hit and later walked Hunter, and that brought up Cabrera with runners on first and second. I really thought this could have been that very rare instance where a team pitches around a hitter even without a base open. Instead Cabrera was pitched to and produced a game-winning three-run homer. For the immediate...

Steve Clevenger registered three-hit games on Saturday and Monday. Caleb Joseph collected his first major league hit last night, threw out two runners attempting to steal and cut down another runner trying to advance to third base on a ball in the dirt. If not for the umpires reversing an out call in the ninth inning, he would have finished with three caught stealings and probably been elected mayor. Maybe the Orioles' catching situation is in good hands after all. I've heard that the Orioles...

PHOENIX - Stephen Strasburg pitched pretty well tonight, allowing three runs over seven innings with no walks and six strikeouts. Bronson Arroyo was better, however, throwing his 16th career complete game, allowing just one run, walking one and striking out seven. The Nationals had a few chances against Arroyo, but outside of Ian Desmond's RBI triple in the second inning, they weren't able to push anything across. The D-backs tied it up in the fourth on Miguel Montero's RBI single and...

The Orioles optioned reliever Preston Guilmet to Triple-A Norfolk tonight to make room for Kevin Gausman, who starts Wednesday afternoon against the Tigers at Camden Yards. Guilmet struck out the only batter he faced tonight after replacing closer Tommy Hunter with two outs in the ninth. He retired all five batters he faced the past two nights, fanning three of them. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to talk about catcher Caleb Joseph tonight, but he knew the topic would shift to Hunter, who gave...

The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned right-hander Preston Guilmet to Triple-A Norfolk. Guilmet, 26, made two scoreless appearances totaling 1.2 innings after being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before yesterday's game.

In the quiet of the Orioles clubhouse, Tommy Hunter talked about the ninth inning, the win that got away and his third blown save. "It sucks, man. It's not fun to lose. That's my take on it. I don't like getting beat," he said. Hunter walked Torii Hunter to put two on with two outs for Miguel Cabrera and Cabrera's three-run shot gave Detroit the 3-1 lead in the ninth. A solo shot from Victor Martinez followed as the Tigers stunned the O's in the ninth. "You can't let the best hitter in...

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond slammed a home run on Monday for his first extra-base hit since May 2. Sometimes when a hitter finally puts a charge in the ball, it can start something bigger. Desmond continued his good feeling at the plate in the second inning Tuesday in Arizona. After Wilson Ramos singled off of Diamondbacks starter Bronson Arroyo, Desmond hit a RBI triple to deep right field to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was Desmond's first triple of the season. Right-hander Stephen...

Victory turned into defeat. Another rough outing for Tommy Hunter. A stirring victory denied. A gut punch loss for the Orioles. Trying to protect a 1-0 lead with two outs and two on in the ninth, Hunter gave up a three-run homer to Miguel Cabrera. Victor Martinez followed with a solo shot as Detroit stunned the Orioles 4-1 tonight at Camden Yards. The blown save ruined a very strong outing from Ubaldo Jimenez, who pitched seven scoreless innings. Darren O'Day kept Detroit off the board in the...

Right-hander Wander Suero was called up to high Single-A Potomac last week. And for good reason. All he has been is impressive. Suero went 3-0 with one save and a 1.98 ERA in six games for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. In 27 1/3 innings, Suero allowed 24 hits, six earned runs, two walks and struck out 19 batters. Suero also went 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA for the Rookie-level champion Gulf Coast Nationals last season, striking out 46 batters in 49 innings over 13 games. The 2010 non-drafted...