PITTSBURGH - The Nationals have now dropped three in a row and four of their last five. It's not for a lack of scoring opportunities, that's for sure. The Nats had eight hits and drew six walks tonight. They had chances. They just couldn't come through enough times and dropped a 4-3 ballgame to the Pirates. The makings of another late-game comeback were there, as the Nats scored once in the sixth and twice in the eighth to cut a 4-0 deficit to 4-3. But Ian Desmond's drive to the wall in...

We have an early game today. Don't become confused and think it's Sunday. Ubaldo Jimenez has never faced the Indians or Rockies, his two former teams. He's 0-3 with a 4.81 ERA in four home starts this season. The Indians are starting right-hander Corey Kluber, which could return Ryan Flaherty to second base unless Manny Machado sits out another game with his strained right groin. Otherwise, Jonathan Schoop remains at second base and Flaherty starts at third. Schoop went 0-for-5 last night...

Here are some clubhouse quotes after the Orioles beat Cleveland 8-4 tonight. The Orioles have scored 38 runs on 63 hits with 13 doubles and 10 homers over the last five games. Chris Davis on the offense and his hot bat lately: "I think it was just a matter of time. We've been doing a good job of stringing good at-bats together lately and scoring some runs. I'm proud of the guys and the way they battled. "I think I'm just putting together better at-bats. Early in the year, I felt like I...

The Orioles won tonight for only the second time in their last six games, again relying on an offense that's doing some major damage. Six runs or more in the last five games. Twelve hits or more in the last five games. Nick Markakis registered his first four-hit game of the season to raise his average to .306. He ranks eighth on the club's all-time hits list with 1,429. Brian Roberts is seventh with 1,452. "Nick's one of those guys that you only really miss him when he's gone, when...

Chris Davis continued his four-game run of torrid hitting tonight with a two-run double and two-run homer as the Orioles beat Cleveland 8-4 to even this series at a win each. The Orioles finished with 14 hits and now have recorded five straight games of 12 or more for the first time since they had a club-record seven in a row from May 26-June 1, 2004. The Orioles have scored 38 runs their last five games. A crowd of 39,602 looked on as the Orioles moved to 24-22 and avoided falling back to...

Anyone still worried about Chris Davis? The Orioles first baseman has two hits tonight - a two-run double in the third inning and a two-run homer in the fifth that gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead. Indians rookie T.J. House could use some insurance against the type of damage inflicted by Davis. He's not alone. Davis is 8-for-16 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in his last four games. He hit three homers off three different Pirates pitchers on Tuesday. Beast mode. The Indians took a 4-3 lead in...

So much for the notion that facing a pitcher who hadn't won in 14 starts would somehow be the cure for the Nationals' offensive woes. Charlie Morton, who came into the game 0-7 in his last 14 starts, has a 2-0 lead after two innings. The Pirates got to Nats righty Jordan Zimmermann in the second, when Ike Davis singled and Russell Martin doubled to put runners on second and third with none out. Pedro Alvarez struck out and Starling Marte grounded out to score a run before Zimmermann plated...

The sound of a cash register should play each time Nelson Cruz hits a home run. Cruz, such a bargain at $8 million this season, hit his 15th home run tonight leading off the bottom of the second inning. Nelson Cruz, meet T.J. House. T.J. House, this is Nelson Cruz. Cruz drove the first pitch from House, a 92 mph fastball, over the fence in right-center field to stake Orioles starter Bud Norris to a 1-0 lead. Cruz has homered in three of the last four games and five of nine. He's now tied...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled left-hander T.J. McFarland from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned right-hander Preston Guilmet to the Tides. McFarland, 24, is making his third stint with the Orioles this season. He has appeared in three games with the Orioles, going 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA (7.0IP, 3ER). McFarland went 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA (24.0IP, 10ER) in five starts this season with the Tides. Guilmet, 26, appeared in three games in relief for the Orioles this season, working...

Reliever Preston Guilmet retired all five batters he faced in his first stint with the Orioles and was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. He retired all seven batters he faced last night and got a return trip to the Tides. The Orioles optioned Guilmet after batting practice and recalled left-hander T.J. McFarland. Guilmet threw the last two nights, including 13 pitches Wednesday with Norfolk. The Orioles needed a fresh arm following last night's 8-7, 13-inning loss to the Indians. The Orioles...