CHICAGO - It's easy to chuckle about the fact that the Nationals put 21 runners on base and scored just four runs now that tonight's 4-2 win is in the books. Had the end result been different, Davey Johnson and the guys in the Nats clubhouse wouldn't have been laughing. The Nats had 14 hits and drew seven walks off Cubs pitching tonight. But somehow, entering the ninth inning, they still had put just two runs up on the scoreboard. They got two big insurance runs in the ninth on RBI...

Well, this morning, there is not too much to be cheerful about or encouraged about for the Orioles. It's been a disappointing series against Tampa Bay, one where they had a chance to gain ground on a key rival and make progress toward a playoff berth, but they have not. Check out these numbers: * The Orioles are now 5-9 against Tampa Bay, including a 2-6 mark at home. They have lost seven of the last eight meetings this year between the teams and should they lose tonight, they would be swept...

Three days ago, Jim Johnson began to warm in the Orioles' bullpen in a possible save situation. Chris Davis hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, Johnson sat down and Josh Stinson worked the ninth. The following night, Johnson began to warm as the Orioles attempted to overcome a one-run deficit in the eighth. They couldn't do it, and Johnson sat down again. It would seem that Johnson remains the Orioles closer despite appearing in a non-save situation last night. He needed the...

CHICAGO - Needing to clear a roster spot for right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, who will come off the disabled list and start tomorrow, the Nationals have optioned left-handed reliever Ian Krol to Triple-A Syracuse. Krol got off to a tremendous start with the Nats after his promotion from Double-A Harrisburg in early June, throwing 9 2/3 scoreless innings to start his big league career, with 12 strikeouts and one walk in that span. The 22-year-old has had a much tougher time of late, however,...

Anyone who has read even a handful of my work here or over at The Loss Column (where I'm not posting as much as I want to), knows that I'm bullish on the Orioles. Not optimistic per se, but certainly inclined to point out when the sky is not falling. I also do my best to be honest. Just because the sky's not falling doesn't mean all is well. Right now, all is not well. There comes a point toward the end of every season - usually around now - when you get a feeling about things. The...

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez failed to complete six innings tonight for the third time in his last five outings. He's mixed in two quality starts. Tonight, Gonzalez allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks and four strikeouts, in a 7-4 loss to the Rays. He threw 112 pitches before coming out of the game, including eight in the first inning. "That was a tough one," he said. "First inning was great, and then I just had to battle the other...

The Orioles have now lost six of their last eight games and trail the Rays by five in the wild card race. Manager Buck Showalter offered the following comments tonight after his team's 7-4 loss to the Rays at Camden Yards. On Miguel Gonzalez: "He was up. Really elevated a lot of pitches. Had a lot of counts in his favor. He just couldn't make a pitch to put anybody away. A little tip of the hat to them, but Miggy wasn't as crisp as he can be. Kept trying to get the ball down. A lot of...

ABERDEEN, Md - To say the least, Aberdeen manager Matt Merullo was impressed tonight when the Orioles 2013 first round draft pick, Hunter Harvey made his debut for the short-season, Single-A IronBirds. Harvey went 4 1/3 innings, throwing 77 pitches and gave up four hits (two infield hits) and one unearned run. He walked one and fanned five and now has an ERA of 1.02 over six pro outings. "Very impressive," Merullo said. "Not only his stuff, but his poise, his presence. He looked like he'd...

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters hit his third home run in the last four games tonight to add a little drama to the bottom of the ninth inning. Just not enough of it. Wieters accounted for the last of the scoring in the Orioles' 7-4 loss to the Rays at Camden Yards. Wieters has homered in four of his last seven games, giving him 19 this season. It's the seventh time in his career that he's homered in consecutive games. Rays veteran reliever Jamey Wright walked Nick Markakis to begin the...

CHICAGO - Call this the game of missed opportunities. And not just for the Nationals, for once. For both teams. The Nats and Cubs have combined to go 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position through the first four innings tonight. Seven of those missed chances have fallen at the feet of the Cubs, who have put runners on early in innings but haven't been able to do much of anything with them. Ryan Zimmerman's RBI double in the first inning and Brian Bogusevic's solo homer in the fourth...