After facing the minimum in his first inning of work tonight, Taylor Jordan nearly didn't get out of the second. Jordan allowed four runs on five hits in the second inning, allowing nine Phillies hitters to come to the plate and forcing the Nationals bullpen into action early. Darin Ruf delivered the big blow for the Phillies, crushing the first pitch he saw from Jordan out to left for a two-run homer. It was Ruf's sixth longball of the season, and marked just the third homer Jordan has...

The Orioles' unbeaten run on their road trip ended today with a one-run loss to San Francisco. The Giants scored three times in the sixth off Wei-Yin Chen to beat the Orioles 3-2. The O's fall to 3-1 on this trip and 64-52 overall. With a win, the O's would have moved to within a half-game of the second AL wild card spot. The Giants were down 1-0 when they came to bat in the sixth and Chen had retired 13 batters in a row, but they scored three times to get the lead. After a leadoff...

Two years ago, in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery, Jordan Zimmermann was shut down at 161 1/3 innings. Last season, Stephen Strasburg was shut down after 159 1/3 innings. This year, it's Taylor Jordan that the Nationals are putting on an innings limit as he comes back from 2011 Tommy John surgery. Jordan, the 24-year-old right-hander who gets the ball for the Nats tonight, is already at 131 innings between two minor league affiliates and the Nats this season, meaning he...

In Wei-Yin Chen's last 21 starts including today, the Orioles have scored 52 runs while he has been in the game, and 45 more after he's been removed. In his last 38 starts, the Orioles have scored three runs or fewer while he's in the game 25 times. Chen is so good, he stops both teams from hitting. The Orioles have scored just 31 runs (2.07 per game) in the 15 games that Chen has been charged with the loss, and 92 runs (5.11 per game) in the 18 games when he recorded a win. Before...

Manager Davey Johnson went back to Denard Span as his leadoff hitter on Aug. 6 against the Braves. With Span starting to hit again and get on base, Johnson felt it was the best time to go back to the way the lineup should have been aligned. Span has led off and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has batted second for three straight games. They will be in the same spots again Saturday against the Phillies. "Scoring nine runs, man, I am staying right there," Johnson said. Johnson admitted that...

The Orioles loaded the bases with one out in the second inning today against Giants right-hander Chad Gaudin. Taylor Teagarden struck out, which brought Wei-Yin Chen to the plate. Yeah, pitcher Wei-Yin Chen. The Orioles are playing under National League rules on this interleague road trip, so Chen had a chance to help his own cause. He actually got ahead 3-0 in the count before taking two strikes and tapping back to the mound. Chen is now 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his major league...

Taylor Jordan gets a tough test tonight, matching up against Phillies starter Cliff Lee and his 3.13 ERA in game two of this three-game set between the Nationals and Phils. Lee has fared well against the Nats over the course of his career, but the Nats got to him for four homers (all solo shots) the last time they faced the left-hander, in Philly back on July 10. The Nats won that game 5-1. Jordan's team-imposed innings limit is quickly approaching; he said after his last outing he thought...

Sometimes it seems the Orioles really struggle to get the clutch hit and struggle with runners in scoring position. It was just last Sunday they went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the game's first six innings against Seattle's Joe Saunders. But then you look at a night like last night when the O's went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position and all three hits were pretty big. Adam Jones delivered a two-out RBI single in the first to put the O's in the lead. Then in the...

Ryan Flaherty replaced Brian Roberts at second base in the ninth inning night, and he's starting at second this afternoon against the Giants. Interesting. Flaherty is batting seventh, followed by catcher Taylor Teagarden. Nick Markakis drops to fifth in the order for the first time this season. He's batted fifth in six career games, going 5-for-9 with a home run. Markakis is 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs lifetime against Giants right-hander Chad Gaudin. For the Orioles Nate...

One of the most wonderful times of the year starts Friday: Social Media Weekend. Thanks to our friends at Hair Cuttery, Social Media Weekend will begin Friday, Aug. 16. Fans will have the opportunity to win exclusive Orioles prizes and experiences. We have seen the loyalty that fans have shown us by tweeting us, interacting with us on Facebook and sharing pictures on Instagram. And we'd like to reward you for your loyalty. Starting Friday, we'll be set up inside the gates of Oriole Park...