Steve Pearce delivered a two-run double off Red Sox reliever Franklin Morales with one out in the bottom of the eighth to give the Orioles a 6-5 lead. Pearce has doubled twice and driven in a season-high three runs tonight. It's his third multi-RBI game of the season and his first three-RBI game since Aug. 11, 2012. Matt Wieters and Danny Valencia singled to start the rally. Nick Markakis struck out after almost hitting an opposite-field three-run homer, and Pearce moved the Orioles...

PHOENIX - The slide into third might not have been textbook, but Denard Span's leadoff triple in the top of the sixth has allowed the Nationals to break a scoreless tie in the sixth inning here at Chase Field. It's also given Span the major league lead in triples this season. Span roped a first-pitch changeup from Diamondbacks righty Brandon McCarthy into the right field corner and turned on the jets. He slid into third awkwardly, ending up on his backside as his momentum took him past the...

Is Brian Roberts trying to make a statement here? If so, it may go something like, "You really should re-sign me." Roberts homered again tonight, leading off the bottom of the third with a shot to left field off Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester to increase the Orioles' lead to 2-0. Roberts has eight home runs on the season, and three in his last five games. In that span, he's 8-for-20 with five runs scored. Approached by reporters again today, Roberts repeated that his first choice is to...

PHOENIX - Reporters sat down with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo for more than 13 minutes a bit ago, discussing what went wrong this season that left the Nats on the outside of the playoffs looking in and where Rizzo will look to improve the club this offseason. I'll have bits of that interview coming throughout the next few days, but first, here is some of the important quick-hit stuff that was discussed: Rizzo declined to address the upcoming managerial search or what qualities...

The Orioles scored nine runs on Wednesday night against Toronto, ending a 21-game stretch where they scored five or fewer runs. But that did not exactly open the floodgates, as the Orioles have scored just three runs in each of the last two games. It has not been a September to remember for the O's offense. They are scoring just 3.8 runs per game this month, which ties their July output as the worst months of the season for the offense. A common theory is that the players just tired out and...

PHOENIX - After some initial indecision about who would start tomorrow in the Nationals' season finale, Gio Gonzalez has decided to take the ball for Davey Johnson's last game as Nats manager. Gonzalez had been initially under the impression that Tanner Roark would start the finale, but Johnson told Gonzalez that he'd like the left-hander to pitch tomorrow to help him ensure that he finishes his managerial career at least 300 games above .500. After thinking it over, Gonzalez agreed to...

The Orioles still need one more win to clinch the season series against the Red Sox for the second straight year, which hasn't happened since 1991-92. Adam Jones needs one more hit to tie his career high of 186 set last season. The Orioles have recorded 200-plus home runs and 200-plus doubles for the second consecutive year. Prior to 2012, they had done it only three times in franchise history (1999, 1998 and 1996). Earlier today, manager Buck Showalter talked about a few of his injured...

Brian Roberts could be down to his last two days in an Orioles uniform. But then again he may not. It is a unique situation with a season ending, but we don't know if Roberts, who has been in the organization since 1999, will return next season. Roberts said today, if it turns that the Orioles move on without him, he would understand that. "Oh sure. It's business," he said. "It is going to come at some point, whether it is now or later. I'm sure they would have good reasons for both,...

PHOENIX - Dan Haren will look to cap a disappointing season on a positive note tonight when he takes on the Diamondbacks in what will likely be his final start as a National. A free agent this offseason after his one-year, $13 million deal with the Nats comes to an end, Haren will be shopping around for a new team, but he knows he likely won't have many suitors after going 9-14 with a 4.87 ERA and 28 homers allowed in 162 2/3 innings to this point this season. He's 1-1 with a lifetime 5.00...

The Orioles' expanded roster is being stretched thin. Manager Buck Showalter has five players who are unavailable for health reasons, including Michael Morse, who's been shut down with lingering soreness in his left wrist. Morse didn't inform the club of his injury until three or four days ago, according to Showalter. Morse, who's still with the team, will to be examined by hand specialist Dr. Brian Schofield in Sarasota. He also will go to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion and decide...