Nationals right-hander Dan Haren struggled from the start Friday night, allowing the first four batters to reach base. Rookie Jose Fernandez allowed just one hit in seven innings for the Marlins. The result was a 7-0 Miami win at a time of year when the Nationals are desperate for wins in every game they play. Manager Davey Johnson was impressed by the Marlins' young rookie starter. "He really used all his pitches," Johnson said on MASN's "Nats Xtra." "He was really attacking our...

Scott Feldman took the mound in the ninth inning tonight with Jim Johnson and Brian Matusz warming in the Orioles bullpen. He hadn't allowed a run. His pitch count was up to 101. But he was staying in the game. Manager Buck Showalter was going to let Feldman try for a complete-game shutout, but he also had two relievers ready to match up if the right-hander ran into trouble. It wasn't necessary. Feldman retired the White Sox in order to cap a 4-0 victory at Camden Yards. Feldman turned in...

Danny Valencia is in the Orioles lineup again tonight because the Chicago White Sox sent another left-hander to the mound. Just as they did last night. Just as they will do on Saturday. John Danks retired the first eight Orioles before Valencia stepped to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the third. Danks tried to blow a fastball past Valencia on a 2-2 count, and it landed in the left field seats for a 1-0 lead. Valencia was batting .333 against left-handers before tonight, .172...

ABERDEEN, Md. - The Aberdeen IronBirds and Tri-City ValleyCats are locked in an early pitchers' duel in Game 1 of their New York-Penn League playoff series tonight at Ripken Stadium. Two pitchers that have had good seasons with strong finishes have carried that over so far in this game. Aberdeen and Tri-City are scoreless through three innings. Aberdeen starter Sebastian Vader went 7-3 with an ERA of 2.43 in 14 games, 13 as a starter this year. He allowed an average against of just .222 over...

Davey Johnson's playful "World Series of bust" boast from back in spring training seems eons ago. As the Nationals try to pull off an impossible comeback and work their way back into contention for a National League wild card berth, there are already rumblings about possible successors for their lame-duck manager. Johnson announced before the season that 2013 would be his last at the helm of the Nationals. Johnson clearly didn't envision a departure so full of disappointment and...

The Nationals looking to make some noise this weekend in Miami. To do that, it's important for a good start at Marlins Park. So far, it hasn't been a good start for Dan Haren. The Marlins scored three in the first inning and lead 3-0. Giancarlo Stanton started the scoring with a two-run single and Placido Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Christian Yelich. Haren has thrown 22 pitches, 13 for strikes. But he's behind early. The right-hander has shown a...

The Orioles today announced that they have selected the contract of outfielder Chris Dickerson from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, infielder Alex Liddi has been designated for assignment. Dickerson, 31, batted .245/.274/.412 in 46 games with the Orioles earlier this season. Liddi, 25, batted .222/.269/.378 in 49 games for the Tides after being acquired from Seattle on July 6.

How good is the Orioles' defense this year? You may already know that their 40 errors in 139 games puts them on pace to commit 47, shattering the 2003 Mariners' record of 65 over a 162-game season. But there's more. According to STATS, the Orioles are the first team in major league history to post 100 errorless games by the end of August. They had 101. The Orioles set a new club record with 106 errorless games this season. The previous mark was 104 in 1998, when the defense included Cal...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter had lunch today with pitching coach Rick Adair. Adair took a personal leave of absence from the team on Aug. 16. He returned to Baltimore this morning and packed up a few belongings before heading to to Birmingham, Ala., to be with his father, who's ill. Showalter didn't know whether Adair would rejoin the Orioles later this month or return in 2014. "I think everything else kind of becomes academic until that situation is taken care of in his mind and in...

ABERDEEN, Md. - It is a big night at Ripken Stadium. The short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds play in the first playoff game in the team's 12-year history. The IronBirds host the Tri-City ValleyCats, a Houston Astros affiliate, in the best-of-three league semifinals. Tri-City, which finished with the better record, is the higher seed and will host Game 2 Saturday at 7 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, on Sunday at 5 p.m. Aberdeen finished 40-32 to win the McNamara Division title. The...