SAN FRANCISCO - Yesterday afternoon, Jayson Werth received a text message from a longtime friend of his, someone who played baseball in college and knows the game well. The friend had been watching the Nationals lately, had seen them rattle off a bunch of wins, and had noticed the Nats go into San Francisco and dominate the Giants - the team with the best record in baseball - on Monday night. "He said we looked like the 2012 Nats," Werth said last night, after the Nationals won their ninth...

SAN FRANCISCO - Not only did the Nationals come away with a 2-1 win in a tremendous ballgame tonight at AT&T Park, they also got the best news possible on catcher Wilson Ramos, who left tonight's game in the ninth inning with right hamstring tightness. Ramos said after the game that he doesn't think the injury is anything serious, this after twice landing on the disabled list last season with left hamstring strains. "It's not bad," an upbeat Ramos said. "Just felt something in my...

Johan Santana won't throw a pitch in a game for the Orioles this year, but that doesn't mean he has not had a positive impact on the organization. Santana tore his left Achilles tendon Friday during his final extended spring training start in Sarasota. It could end the career of the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Santana was hit on the left gluteus by a line drive, and his Achilles tore as he stumbled while chasing the ball. He was about to join an O's minor league affiliate and probably...

Chris Davis didn't attempt to lay down a bunt last night. He's not undergoing a complete makeover of his hitting philosophy. Davis is still in the business of driving in runs. His first career bunt single Monday night wasn't a sign that he's going to receive the bunt sign from third base coach Bobby Dickerson each time he steps to the plate. Davis took a few questions yesterday about Manny Machado's suspension before a reporter brought up his bunt. Davis smiled and responded as if it...

After not making it through the second inning in two of his last four starts, Chris Tillman took a step forward tonight. The O's right-hander struggled at times early, but gave up just one run and seven hits over six innings, and took the loss as Boston beat the Orioles 1-0 at Camden Yards. "Little better," Tillman said. "I was able to get into a rhythm there later. Early struggles, still better, but it got better late in the game. Made some bad pitches early, but worked my way out of...

The Orioles have allowed one run in the last 18 innings. They've split the two games. They defeated the Red Sox last night after Bud Norris tossed eight scoreless innings, but were shut out 1-0 tonight at Camden Yards. "To give up one run in 18 innings," said manager Buck Showalter, "I'm real pleased with the way our guys have pitched the last couple nights." Chris Tillman endured two rain delays lasting 15 minutes and 1 hour, 18 minutes to work through the sixth inning. The only run...

There were moments tonight when it looked like Chris Tillman would get rocked. There were moments when it looked like the Orioles would get no-hit. Neither happened, but the Birds did fail to score and lost a 1-0 game to Boston in front of 24,184 fans. Those that made it to the end had to wait out two rain delays. The game was halted twice in the second inning, the first delay was just 15 minutes, but the second was one hour and 18 minutes. Boston starter Brandon Workman took a no-hitter...

One would probably expect a matchup between Doug Fister and Madison Bumgarner, with the way they are pitching the last few starts, to be a good old fashioned pitchers' duel. So far, that is exactly the case. The Nationals got their first base hit from third baseman Anthony Rendon, a single in the first. It is Rendon's first appearance in three games since hurting his hand against the Padres on Friday night. Wilson Ramos had a double in the second inning. That was the ninth extra-base hit of...

The Orioles won't be no-hit tonight. Whether they win the game is another matter. Ryan Flaherty singled to center field with two outs in the sixth to break up Brandon Workman's no-hit bid. The Orioles' only baserunner had been Nelson Cruz, who walked with one out in the fifth and was doubled off first base on J.J. Hardy's pop up to second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Did he forget the number of outs? Overestimate his speed in getting back to first base? Flaherty committed an error with two...

Remember that groan-inducing split right-hander Doug Fister pulled out of his hip pocket in his last start against Philadelphia, the play that reminded people that Fister was a nimble first baseman in junior college? If Nationals manager Matt Williams has his way, you won't be seeing it any more. While discussing Fister's impact on the Nats rotation since his return from a lat injury this afternoon in San Francisco, talk turned toward the pitcher's all-out aggressiveness - on the mound and...