So, how about those Orioles? They were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position today, but the hit was Danny Valencia's two-run double in the third inning that gave them a 2-1 lead over the Blue Jays. The Orioles were 7-for-30 with RISP in the series, and they're 37-for-171 (.216) in their last 22 games. Valencia is batting .472 (25-for-53) with eight doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs in his last 15 games. If the Orioles make the playoffs, Valencia will be quite the celebrity in Baltimore....

Danny Valencia came up with another big hit for the Orioles today and the Birds pitching made it stand up this afternoon in a 3-1 win at Toronto. The Orioles improve to 79-70 and picked up their first road series win against an AL East opponent since April 11. They also ended a four-series road losing streak. After the Orioles missed on scoring chances in the first two innings, Valencia came up with a two-out, two-run double to left in the third for a 2-1 lead. Adam Lind homered in the second...

The Nationals had struck a handful of pitches well off Tyler Cloyd through the first three innings, but had very little to show for it. That changed in the fourth. The Nats put together five hits in a six-batter span in the fourth inning, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. For the second time in two at-bats today, Bryce Harper started an inning with a leadoff double, and he again came around to score, this time on an Ian Desmond double off the left field wall. Two batters later, Wilson...

For me, baseball is so much more than a job or a sport that I enjoy. Of the many memories I have from watching baseball, some of the best include ones bonding with my dad or the conversations I had with friends while watching a game. About a month ago, Dan Kolko introduced us to a story of Richard and Kent Wilson, a father and son who bonded over Nationals games while Richard was battling cancer. After Richard lost his battle, Kent touched the D.C. community by giving away their season...

Adam Lind hit a Miguel Gonzalez changeup for a homer in the last of the second today as the Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead on the Orioles to the third inning. Lind, whose 17-game hitting streak against Baltimore ended Saturday, got a high offspeed offering that he crushed for his 21st homer. It was the 23rd homer allowed by Gonzalez. The Orioles stranded three runners in the first two innings. Singles by Nick Markakis and Adam Jones put two on with two out in the first against Mark Buehrle, but...

The Orioles were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position yesterday, and a lead that they nursed through the middle innings dissolved into a 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Can't blame customs or the exchange rate in Canada. The Orioles are prone to these lapses in the clutch on any side of the border. The Orioles are 6-for-22 with RISP in the first two games of the series after going 13-for-63 (.206) with on their most recent eight-game homestand. Before Friday, the Orioles...

Roger Bernadina will be leading off for the Phillies against his former team. Steve Lombardozzi will get the start for the Nationals at second base and bat eighth. Wilson Ramos will start his 23rd straight game behind the plate, the most for any catcher in the majors this season. For the Nationals: CF Denard Span 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper SS Ian Desmond 1B Adam LaRoche C Wilson Ramos 2B Steve Lombardozzi RHP Jordan Zimmermann For the Phillies: CF Roger...

Nick Markakis is leading off today for the final game between the Orioles and Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Danny Valencia is batting fifth as the designated hitter, and Michael Morse is batting eighth as the left fielder. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Danny Valencia DH J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Michael Morse LF Brian Roberts 2B Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Blue Jays Jose Reyes SS Brett Lawrie 3B Edwin Encarnacion DH Adam Lind 1B...

How big a hit did the Nationals' playoff hopes take yesterday with their loss to the Phillies coupled with the Reds and Pirates both winning? Their odds of reaching the postseason were cut from 5.5 percent entering yesterday's action to 1.5 percent as of this morning, per BaseballProspectus.com. It's too bad that the Nats are in this position in the first place, where one day in mid-September can be such a momentum-crusher. They've played so well over the last 4-5 weeks that it's weird...

Can the Orioles get on a roll? Seems the answer in this 2013 season to that question is going to be no. Get a big win scoring late runs on Friday. Give up late runs to lose Saturday. If you've eaten in the last several minutes you may want to come back later to read some of these one-run stats. The Orioles are last in the American League with a record of 16-28 in one-run decisions after Saturday's 4-3 loss, which followed Thursday's one-run loss, which followed Wednesday's and you get the...