As rocky as things have been at times lately, the Nationals have now tied their longest winning streak of the season. Tonight's 7-2 win over the Royals gives the Nats their fifth straight win, matching streaks put together from May 4-10 and Aug. 9-14. Jordan Zimmermann went 7 2/3 strong innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. He gets back on track after a rough outing in Chicago. Ian Desmond had his 18th homer of the season and drove in two, Chad Tracy...

In the Nationals' four-run fourth inning, they did a lot of little things right, things that they haven't done much of this season. They had examples of nice situational hitting, like Wilson Ramos staying on a 1-2 cutter from Wade Davis and lifting a fly ball to right that went as a sacrifice fly to plate Ryan Zimmerman. Driving in runners from third with less than two outs has not been the Nats' forte this season. They had some smart, aggressive baserunning, like Bryce Harper tagging up...

Darren O'Day said he threw the right pitch, but it was located in the wrong spot. His 3-1 slider to Coco Crisp in the top of the ninth was hit for a homer to right to break the 1-1 tie as Oakland beat the Orioles 2-1 this afternoon. "He might have been looking for it, but if I put it where it is supposed to be he might get a hit, but he's not going to hit it out," O'Day said. "I'd like to have all of them back (pitches in the ninth). I got behind in the count and he's looking for his...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he wasn't tempted to bring back Chris Tillman for the top of the ninth inning in a 1-1 tie. "I thought it was a little tougher bringing him out for the eighth, but that's where we are," Showalter said. Darren O'Day replaced Tillman and served up Coco Crisp's leadoff home run in a 2-1 loss to the Athletics. Tillman held the A's to one run and three hits, with two walks and nine strikeouts. He was gone after 115 pitches, two short of his season...

Coco Crisp led off the top of the ninth with a homer off Darren O'Day over the right field scoreboard and that lifted Oakland to a 2-1 win over the Orioles this afternoon in front of 33,834 at Camden Yards. The blast, which came on a 3-1 pitch, snapped a 1-1 tie and was the seventh allowed by O'Day this season. It was the 12th hit by Crisp as Oakland improved to 72-56. This was Chris Tillman's fourth shot at becoming the 29th 15-game winner in O's history and he left with a no-decision...

Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman remains stuck on 14 wins. Tillman was superb today, holding the Athletics to one run and three hits over eight innings, with two walks and nine strikeouts. He retired the last seven batters he faced, striking out four. Unfortunately for Tillman and the Orioles, the game remains tied 1-1 as Darren O'Day enters in the top of the ninth. Jim Johnson was warming in case of a save situation. Tillman struck out the first two batters he faced in the eighth and...

The Orioles haven't abandoned hope of adding a hitter this month, according to a club official. They continue to check the waiver wire and remain hopeful that a deal gets done before the Aug. 31 deadline to set playoff rosters. Nothing appears to be hot at the moment, and the Orioles are presently focused on choosing their call-ups for their expanded roster. In the meantime, Ryan Flaherty would like to remain the left-handed designated hitter and occasional starter at second base. He's the...

Ian Desmond is in the Nationals lineup despite a stiff back and what manager Davey Johnson said after yesterday's game was a tight hamstring. Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon, however, are not in the lineup for tonight's game against the Royals. Werth served as the designated hitter yesterday, but Ryan Zimmerman will fill that role tonight. Bryce Harper will play right field for a second straight day, Tyler Moore will again play left and Steve Lombardozzi will play second with Rendon...

The Oakland A's have one of the better pitching staffs in the American League with a team ERA of 3.62, which is third-best in the AL, and a batting average against of .242, which ranks second. But in five games this season, the Orioles are batting .298 with 37 runs and 54 hits off Oakland pitchers. The O's have gone 20-for-57 (.351) with runners in scoring position against the Athletics and went 5-for-14 with RISP in a 9-7 win last night. That was against an Oakland staff that came into...

Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel is scheduled to make his first injury-rehab start on Thursday at Double-A Bowie. The club also discussed Wednesday as a possibility, but Hammel is expected to take the mound Thursday against Binghamton. The Orioles want Hammel to pitch in two minor league games before activating him from the disabled list and placing him on the expanded roster. He could be used as a reliever in the second game and remain in that role with the Orioles. Hammel, on the DL since...