Something about these Nationals, they know how to mount a comeback. A lot has not gone their way this season, from injuries to sloppy defense to inconsistent early innings for the pitchers. But Wednesday reminded baseball that this team never stops fighting. Down 4-1 heading into their last at-bat, the Nationals rallied for four runs and shocked the Angels 5-4. The inning got its start as catcher Jose Lobaton connected off of Angels reliever Ernesto Frieri on an 0-2 pitch, slamming a long drive...

Manager: Bud Black, eighth year Record: 10-12 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: RF Chris Denorfia (.328/.349/.492, 6 XBH, 7 RBIs); LF Seth Smith (.274/.374/.419, 2 HR, 6 RBIs); RHP Andrew Cashner (2-2, 2.10 ERA, 1.05 WHIP); RHP Ian Kennedy (1-3, 3.60 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 2-5, 38 runs scored, 41 runs against Pitching probables April 24: Eric Stults vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD April 25: Robbie Erlin vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD April 26: Andrew...

The wait for the Orioles to hit some homers ended tonight. That worked out well for Chris Tillman, who overcame one bad inning to get the victory. Tillman became just the seventh pitcher in O's history to give up seven or more earned runs in a game and get the win as the Orioles beat Toronto 10-8 at the Rogers Centre. The last time that happened, Koji Uehara was the winner on April 13, 2009. The Orioles, who have blown a few leads lately, turned the tables this time coming from five runs...

Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez got himself out of a pair of jams early and then contributed with his bat to get his team the early advantage. In the first inning with one away, the Angels got a double from Mike Trout and a single from Albert Pujols. Howie Kendrick walked to load the bases. Gonzalez then got Erick Aybar to ground into an inning-ending double play. Ian Desmond caught Aybar's short blooper and then threw back to second base to double up Pujols. In the second frame, the Angels...

Chris Davis is back in the homer column. After going seven games without one, Davis connected off Dustin McGowan in the top of the first tonight in Toronto as the Orioles took a 1-0 lead. Of course he hit one against the Blue Jays. Both of his homers this year have come against Blue Jays pitching. Davis has hit 18 homers in 40 games against Toronto since the start of the 2012 season. Davis had just one hit over his last 16 at-bats and four over his last 27 until he smashed a 2-2 slider out...

Something has got to change. If the Nationals have any aspirations of winning the National League East or making an appearance in the postseason, they must play better defense. That means cleaner innings. That means making the play you are supposed to make and not trying to do too much. Shortstop Ian Desmond has had too many errors to begin this season. He would be the first to admit that. But he has also said a few times after games when he had committed an on-field miscue that maybe next time...

The Orioles will attempt to even their series against the Blue Jays tonight at Rogers Centre, where they've gone 8-12 in their last 20 games. Limiting the number of three-run homers surrendered would be a smart strategy. Before last night, the Orioles hadn't allowed nine runs or more in a game with all of them scoring on homers since Aug. 29, 2005 against the Athletics, according to Elias. The Orioles lost 10-5 in 12 innings, with Mark Ellis and Dan Johnson hitting three-run homers, and Jay...

Adam LaRoche is back in the Nationals lineup for tonight's series finale against the Angels after sitting out Tuesday in part because of a sore quad. Jose Lobaton is also back behind the plate after getting yesterday off. Tonight's contest sets up to be the most notable pitching matchup of the series with Nats left-hander Gio Gonzalez taking on Angels right-hander Jered Weaver. Gonzalez is off to a tremendous start, going 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA over his first four starts. Weaver has struggled...

Shortstop J.J. Hardy's hamstring has healed and he's back in the Orioles' lineup for tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Matt Wieters is behind the plate tonight after missing last night's game with a sore right forearm. Jonathan Schoop is starting at second base and Ryan Flaherty is starting at third. Steve Lombardozzi goes to the bench. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan...

When fans in Frederick County see the Frederick Keys van motoring around the area, they can see a picture of Manny Machado on one side of the van from when he played with the Keys in 2011. Friday night in Frederick they'll get to see the real thing. Machado will play with the Keys on Friday night, and perhaps stay longer, as he begins a rehab assignment. Frederick general manager Dave Ziedelis said Manny Mania for the Keys started not long after yesterday's announcement that Machado was...