With the Nationals' 6-5 victory over the Giants, the win streak reached five games. It is the Nationals' second five-game win streak of the season, matching an identical streak from May 4-9 against Pittsburgh and Detroit. It was Nationals outfielder Denard Span who made a spectacular catch in center field off the bat of Hunter Pence with two men on to end the game and preserve the win. Span said the team learned from the Braves' sweep last week and concentrated on getting back to...

On a night when the Nationals needed a lengthy start from Jordan Zimmermann, having used four relievers after a rain delay last night, Zimmermann delivered. It wasn't the right-hander's finest outing, as he threw 82 pitches in his first four frames and needed to finagle out of a couple of jams. But Zimmermann has found a way to get through seven innings, needing just 30 pitches in his final three frames and retiring eight of the last nine Giants hitters he faced. He leaves with the Nats...

Glancing down at the batter-pitcher matchups before tonight's game, it wasn't hard to spot Ian Desmond's career batting line against Giants starter Tim Lincecum. Desmond was 9-for-11 off Lincecum entering tonight, with one homer, two doubles and five RBIs. We can now boost those numbers up a bit. Leading off the bottom of the second, Desmond demolished a 2-2 Lincecum changeup way out to left-center for his 17th homer of the season. The ball cleared the Giants' bullpen and came down about...

For the Orioles, it was a blown save, a blown game and a frustrating end to their road trip. Aaron Hill's RBI single in the last of the 14th gave Arizona a 5-4 win over the Orioles as the Diamondbacks sweep the series, winning three in a row by one run each. Arizona won each game in its last at-bat. Down to one pitcher left in the bullpen in T.J. McFarland, Buck Showalter brought starter Bud Norris on for the 14th. Norris walked the first two batters on four pitches each before he fanned...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter is going to his bullpen again. He's also going to his rotation. At the same time. Bud Norris will replace Tommy Hunter in the bottom of the 14th inning with the score tied 4-4. Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland is next in line. Then bullpen coach Billy Castro, who will have to come out of retirement. Norris has appeared in 122 major league games, including 121 as a starter. His lone relief appearance came in his debut on July 29, 2009 in Chicago while pitching for the...

Darren O'Day pitched the seventh inning today, allowing an inherited runner to score. Francisco Rodriguez pitched the eighth, stranding the potential tying run in scoring position. The Orioles are clinging to a one-run lead and Jim Johnson is warming in the bullpen. It figured to be Johnson in a save situation. Manager Buck Showalter isn't ready to make a change. He's standing firmly in Johnson's corner. Johnson, of course, has blown two straight save chances after converting 10 in a...

Wilson Ramos was wearing a smile this afternoon, something you don't often see on a player's face the day after he needed to leave a game due to the aggravation of a previous injury. Turns out, Ramos' left hamstring is not seriously injured, and will likely only knock him from the Nationals' lineup for a couple of days. "(I'm) a little bit happy because it's not too hurt," Ramos said. "I felt a little bit yesterday sore in my hamstring, but it's not in the big part of the...

Before today, Orioles backup catcher Taylor Teagarden was 6-for-48 this season. Plenty of fans questioned why Matt Wieters needed a day off following last night's game, with an open date on the schedule Thursday. Manager Buck Showalter wants to give players back-to-back days off to freshen their legs. He also consulted with a psychic late last night who told him that Teagarden would collect three hits today. I made up the last part. Actually, Showalter is the psychic - except when it's time...

Nationals manager Davey Johnson had more thoughts on the Gio Gonzalez versus Jayson Werth verbal spat in the first inning of Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Giants. Johnson said he has seen disagreements occur with other clubs and believes it demonstrates the passion that Gonzalez and Werth come to the field with every day. "That was a little strange," Johnson said. "But it has happened. I have had other clubs when you are frustrated and you see a little something you don't like. Another...

The Orioles fell behind 1-0 in the first inning today on a two-out infield hit by Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Davidson that scored Martin Prado, who had doubled off Orioles starter Chris Tillman. Tillman had allowed only four runs in the first inning before today. Manny Machado made a spectacular diving stop along the line and threw from his knees to almost retire Davidson. It was more highlight reel material. Real good. Not that anyone is dwelling on it besides myself after Machado...