Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond slammed a home run on Monday for his first extra-base hit since May 2. Sometimes when a hitter finally puts a charge in the ball, it can start something bigger. Desmond continued his good feeling at the plate in the second inning Tuesday in Arizona. After Wilson Ramos singled off of Diamondbacks starter Bronson Arroyo, Desmond hit a RBI triple to deep right field to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was Desmond's first triple of the season. Right-hander Stephen...

Victory turned into defeat. Another rough outing for Tommy Hunter. A stirring victory denied. A gut punch loss for the Orioles. Trying to protect a 1-0 lead with two outs and two on in the ninth, Hunter gave up a three-run homer to Miguel Cabrera. Victor Martinez followed with a solo shot as Detroit stunned the Orioles 4-1 tonight at Camden Yards. The blown save ruined a very strong outing from Ubaldo Jimenez, who pitched seven scoreless innings. Darren O'Day kept Detroit off the board in the...

Right-hander Wander Suero was called up to high Single-A Potomac last week. And for good reason. All he has been is impressive. Suero went 3-0 with one save and a 1.98 ERA in six games for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns. In 27 1/3 innings, Suero allowed 24 hits, six earned runs, two walks and struck out 19 batters. Suero also went 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA for the Rookie-level champion Gulf Coast Nationals last season, striking out 46 batters in 49 innings over 13 games. The 2010 non-drafted...

Just when it appeared that Caleb Joseph's finest work tonight would come behind the plate, he did something memorable from the right side of it. The rookie catcher grounded a single into center field with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning for his first major league hit. Joseph had been 0-for-8 in three starts, including a ground ball to Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos tonight that led to a force play. He ended that streak and gained a souvenir with his single off left-hander...

Nationals manager Matt Williams received X-ray results on third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and his broken thumb. Zimmerman has been on the disabled list since April 13. Unfortunately, Zimmerman will not be able to begin strength exercises yet. "X-rays were good, but it is not fully healed yet," Williams said. "So the doctor is not comfortable with him starting any strengthening stuff yet. I imagine we will go back to that in about a week and see where he is at. It's only four weeks, doesn't...

A few more swings tonight like the one delivered by center fielder Adam Jones, and the Orioles may wipe that Drew Smyly off the mound. OK, I couldn't properly execute that joke. Let me try again later. Jones lined a home run to left field in the bottom of the first inning, a rope strong enough to hold wet laundry. The ball cleared the fence in approximately two seconds and gave the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead over the Tigers. (It takes Torii Hunter a little longer to stop holding a grudge, but he...

The Orioles are averaging just three runs per game at home this year and have scored three runs or fewer in 12 of their 17 home games. They are 9-8 in those games and will try to get their bats going at the Yard tonight. In the second game of this series between first-place teams, Ubaldo Jimenez (2-4, 4.73 ERA) faces lefty Drew Smyly (2-2, 2.96 ERA). Smyly, a reliever in 2013, has made four starts this season. In eight career innings against the Orioles, he has not given up a run and allowed...

PHOENIX - The Nationals face veteran right-hander Bronson Arroyo tonight here at Chase Field in the second game of this three-game set against the Diamondbacks. Manager Matt Williams is going with Kevin Frandsen in left field today, this after Frandsen slugged a game-winning homer in the top of the ninth last night. Stephen Strasburg makes his ninth start this season, looking to improve upon his 3-2 record and 3.42 ERA. Arroyo is also 3-2 this season, but sports a 4.89 ERA. He started the...

It's easier to understand now why the Orioles were slow to reveal Wednesday afternoon's starter against the Tigers at Camden Yards. The move was tied to Chris Tillman's groin and Bud Norris' status. Or something along those lines. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to give left-hander Wei-Yin Chen an extra day of rest. He didn't want to start Miguel Gonzalez on short rest. He may need Gonzalez to replace Tillman on Friday, though it's not expected to happen. Norris could appeal a suspension...

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