PITTSBURGH - Hello from the Steel City, where the Nationals will spend their next four days before heading right back to D.C. again for a lengthy homestand. Pittsburgh doesn't necessarily have a great reputation as a travel city, but I kind of like it here. The downtown area by the bridges is gorgeous when the weather is nice (it makes for a solid area to go for a jog, if I can force myself to do so) and I really enjoy PNC Park. The press box is pretty high up, but the sight lines are...

There is some solace in the fact that a team that has had its opening day lineup on the field for all of three innings and has relied largely on backups is only 1 1/2 games back of the division lead, but how much longer can backups be expected to tread water? The injury to Wilson Ramos was one the Nationals were built to withstand. They acquired Jose Lobaton expressly for that purpose. The loss of Ryan Zimmerman was a blow that was not going to be easily recovered from. Zimmerman was off to a...

Through his first 30 games of the season, Chris Davis had hit just three home runs. After hitting a major league-leading 53 home runs in 2013, Davis was on pace to hit less than half of that total this season. Steve Pearce was matching Davis's power production in half the amount of games played, while Matt Wieters had two more homers in four less games. The questions were beginning to roll in from Baltimore fans. What's wrong with Davis? Did he rush back from his oblique injury? Is he being...

PITTSBURGH - The Orioles split six games on their road trip, found their offense and lost at least one reliever. Sounds about right. Brad Brach figures to be optioned after working four innings last night. The Orioles need another long man. And someone could be headed to the disabled list. Manager Buck Showalter wouldn't reveal the name, only that the Orioles were short one reliever. Could it be Tommy Hunter? He pitched Tuesday night, but something may have cropped up yesterday. As I wrote...

Orioles fans had been hoping their team's offense would break out and it did. The Orioles scored 23 runs in the last three games. But they lost two of the three games. Just when it looked like they could sweep the two-game set in Pittsburgh with Chris Tillman on the mound, and the offense starting to hit, the sweep didn't happen. This season has been one stop and start after another. Can the O's get on a roll? It has looked like they would several times and it doesn't happen. They are...

PITTSBURGH - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the team was down a reliever tonight and suggested that the disabled list could come into play. Brad Brach, Brian Matusz and Ryan Webb pitched tonight and Troy Patton warmed up in the eighth. Darren O'Day appeared to be fine in the clubhouse. Zach Britton had his right ankle wrapped after the game, but it could be routine maintenance. Tommy Hunter wasn't in the clubhouse while reporters were conducting interviews. Stay tuned. Preston...

For the Orioles tonight, eight runs on 12 hits with a homer and four doubles was not enough. Chris Tillman lasted just one inning plus four batters in the second-shortest start of his career as Pittsburgh scored eight early runs and one late to beat the Orioles 9-8 at PNC Park. Down 8-6, the O's scored twice in the seventh on RBI singles by J.J. Hardy and pinch-hitter Steve Pearce to tie the game before the Pirates scored once in the bottom half to regain the lead. Starling Marte started...

PITTSBURGH - The Pirates gambled and lost tonight in the seventh inning. Their lead also was lost. Pirates reliever Bryan Morris issued an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Steve Clevenger after falling behind in the count, loading the bases with one out for pinch-hitter Steve Pearce. The Orioles trailed 8-7. Pearce was 10-for-24 with three doubles, a home run and eight RBIs lifetime against the Pirates. Hence, the gamble. Pearce fouled off two straight 97 mph sinkers, leaving the count...

Manager: Clint Hurdle, fourth year Record: 19-26 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Andrew McCutchen (.317/.436/.488, 18 XBH, 21 RBIs); 2B Neil Walker (.257/.333/.446, 9 HR, 25 RBIs); RHP Gerrit Cole (4-3, 3.84 ERA); RHP Charlie Morton (0-6, 3.45 ERA) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 4-3, 31 runs scored, 29 runs against Pitching probables May 22: Edinson Volquez vs. Blake Treinen, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD May 23: Charlie Morton vs. Jordan Zimmermann, 7 p.m., MASN2 HD May 24: Gerrit Cole vs. Stephen...

PITTSBURGH - Brad Brach hadn't gone more than two innings in a major league appearance before tonight. He hadn't gone more than three as a professional. The Orioles needed length from him tonight after starter Chris Tillman's hasty exit, and he responded with four scoreless innings. The Pirates continue to lead the Orioles 8-6 as Brian Matusz works the bottom of the sixth. Brach allowed two hits after replacing Tillman with no outs in the second, including Ike Davis' RBI single. He...