What was looking like a quiet 5-2 victory suddenly turned a bit more interesting in the bottom of the ninth, when Rafael Soriano issued two two-out walks and Daniel Murphy sent a fly ball high to right field. Jayson Werth leaped at the wall, made a catch that may or may not have saved the game from being tied, and then dropped a "Mean Girls" reference at me immediately after the dramatic win was complete. Quite a finish. Your browser does not support iframes. The Nationals escaped with the...

The Orioles made their agreement with Heath Bell official tonight, saying via Twitter that the veteran reliever will report to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, pending a physical. Hold the Grant Balfour jokes, please. Most of these guys actually pass the physical. "Bell is a proven veteran pitcher with experience who has agreed to a Triple-A deal," executive vice president Dan Duquette tweeted tonight. "We believe he can help our major league club later this season." According to...

Chris Tillman began this night with a career ERA of 9.00 against Kansas City and with an ERA of 6.49 over his last five starts. But if there were any concerns about Tillman, they were silenced tonight. Tillman pitched a complete-game five-hitter on 117 pitches as the Orioles blanked Kansas City 4-0 at Kauffman Stadium. Tillman walked one and fanned three batters. He is now 4-2 with an ERA of 3.34. This was the Orioles first complete-game shutout since Scott Feldman threw one against the...

Seeking to improve their bullpen depth and provide options at closer down the road, the Orioles have agreed to terms with veteran right-hander Heath Bell on a minor league contract and will assign him to Triple-A Norfolk. Bell is expected to sign his contract later tonight. Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed the agreement in a text message, referring to Bell as "an interesting sign for 3A." The Orioles didn't have much interest in Bell, 36, over the winter after the Rays...

It didn't take long for the Nationals to break through against Mets lefty Jonathon Neise. An RBI single by Jayson Werth, a Wilson Ramos sac fly and a run-scoring ground ball off the bat of Tyler Moore have staked right-hander Tanner Roark to a 3-0 lead after one inning. Right from the start, Neise struggled. He allowed a leadoff single to Denard Span, watched as third baseman David Wright booted Anthony Rendon's grounder and served up a run-scoring single to left to Werth. Both Werth and...

This feels like I'm writing a nightly update on the Orioles and their runs scored - or maybe we should call it a lack of runs scored. Over the last five games, the Orioles have scored two, one, one, five and two runs. They've scored 11 runs total in those five games and 35 runs the last 12 games. Yep, less than three per game. The 2013 Orioles averaged 4.6 runs per game and the 2014 version is at 4.02 right now. The O's have scored 157 runs on the year, ahead of only Houston (145) in the...

The outcome of tonight's game between the Orioles and Royals may be determined in the first few innings. Chris Tillman takes the mound tonight at Kauffman Stadium. In the first two innings of his eight starts in 2014, Tillman has posted a 7.31 ERA by allowing 13 earned runs in 16 innings. From the third inning on, he's posted a 2.27 ERA by allowing eight earned runs over 31 2/3 innings. Pitcher Steve Johnson underwent an MRI on his right shoulder yesterday in Baltimore that didn't reveal...

Two injured Nationals are due for doctor's visits next week to have their progress assessed. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right thumb, is due for an X-ray on Monday, roughly the five-week mark since sustaining the injury. "Once the doctor clears him, he can start all of his strengthening exercises," manager Matt Williams said Friday afternoon. Zimmerman can run and catch throws now, but can't yet put any stress on the joint, which has been...

The Nationals needed a veteran left-handed hitter off the bench, and Greg Dobbs was out of work and looking for a job. Four days after signing a minor league deal with the Nats, and after a few days of working to regain his timing in extended spring training at Viera, Fla., Dobbs is back in the majors. The Nationals selected his contract from Triple-A Syracuse earlier today and he's in uniform for the opener of a three-game series against the Mets tonight. "It's been a whirlwind," Dobbs...

The Orioles made another adjustment to their bullpen today, recalling Brad Brach from Triple-A Norfolk and designating Evan Meek for assignment off the 25-man roster. Meek remains in the organization and will be assigned to Norfolk on Saturday after clearing option waivers. It's a confusing procedural move. Brach, 28, is 3-1 with a 3.26 ERA, five walks and 38 strikeouts in 15 appearances for the Tides covering 19 1/3 innings. He appeared in two games for the Orioles earlier this season and...