So why did Jim Johnson save 94 percent of games last year (51-of-54) and is on pace for 83 percent this year (39-of-47)? Johnson began this year saving 14-of-14. He then suffered four blown saves in five chances before saving 12 in a row. He then suffered two blown saves in four chances before saving 10 in a row. Now he has suffered back-to-back blown saves. Yes, eight blown saves is a lot. Johnson's command and sink just do not seem to be at 2012 levels. Even in some of his saves he has...

The Orioles may need a bullpen arm for this afternoon's series finale against the Diamondbacks, which also concludes their three-city road trip. Miguel Gonzalez worked seven innings last night, but the game carried into the 11th before Paul Goldschmidt hit a walk-off home run off left-hander T.J. McFarland, who was making his first appearance since Aug. 3. Kevin Gausman is listed as tonight's starter for Triple-A Norfolk, but the Orioles could redirect him to Phoenix. The Tides are in...

Before we get into the 4-2 Nationals victory, let's hear from the guys involved in, and close to, the first-inning dugout confrontation between Jayson Werth and Gio Gonzalez that was seen on the MASN broadcast. Well, we'll hear from some of the guys involved in the incident. Werth declined to comment after the game, and Gonzalez was only willing to say that what happened "stays between me and Werth." Manager Davey Johnson, however, was close by when Werth spoke a few choice words to...

Jim Johnson suffered another blown save, and T.J. McFarland knows how he feels. Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt hit a game-tying homer off Johnson in the ninth and a game-winning homer off McFarland leading off the 11th as the Diamondbacks beat the Orioles 4-3 at Chase Field. The Orioles fell to 65-54 and missed a chance to move within a game of Tampa Bay for second place in the AL East and within a game of Tampa for the AL's second wild card berth. Goldschmidt hit Nos. 28 and 29. The O's...

The Nationals picked up their fourth straight win with tonight's 4-2 victory over the Giants, but they suffered a loss, as well. Catcher Wilson Ramos re-injured his left hamstring, which has already twice landed him on the disabled list this season, during tonight's game. The good news is that this time, the hamstring doesn't appear to be severely strained, but manager Davey Johnson said that Ramos will be sidelined for the time being. "He re-injured, not too bad, but it's the same time...

Today, let's talk about a team. A team with more than a couple of young, All-Star-capable players and an overall talent level that grades out better than average. One with a decorated, veteran manager. They were very bad for a long time but they made a playoff run last year and, in doing so, laid the foundation for a strong future. We're talking, of course, about the Washington Nationals. Maybe you're one of those Baltimore fans who harbors a weird hatred of D.C. I'm not. I loved watching...

The last two Orioles starters had worked five and 5 1/3 innings. The bullpen was taxed. Miguel Gonzalez needed to step up tonight and get deep into the game. He needed to provide his own relief. Gonzalez has completed seven innings, but he just allowed two runs to reduce the Orioles' lead to 3-2. He's surrendered five hits - including three in the seventh - walked none and struck out three. Gerardo Parra homered with two outs to bring the Diamondbacks within a run. Wil Nieves followed with...

That headline was terrible. I'm truly sorry. It's 10:30 p.m. and we're only in the sixth inning and I've had three cups of coffee. The rest of the night could be interesting. Adam LaRoche has given the Nationals a 3-1 lead after six innings thanks to his two-run homer that was demolished way out to right. The ball was hit with such force that it caromed off the facade above the Nats bullpen and nearly ricocheted back onto the field. That's the LaRoche that we saw pretty often last...

The Orioles had a runner on second base and two outs in the fourth inning tonight, and Diamondbacks starter Randall Delgado decided to challenge Chris Davis with a fastball. Delgado lost. Davis hit his 44th home run to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Nick Markakis walked with one out and moved up on a wild pitch. Adam Jones grounded out and Davis hit a big fly ball, allowing him to pass Rafael Palmeiro for the most single-season home runs in franchise history. Jim Gentile is next with 46,...

Gio Gonzalez and Jayson Werth were involved in a bit of a confrontation in the Nationals dugout after the top of the first inning tonight, presumably because of Gonzalez's failure to cover first base on a ground ball to the right side. The play in question came on a Buster Posey ground ball to first base with runners at first and second with one out. Gonzalez hesitated making a move off the mound toward first base, and didn't get to the bag in nearly enough time for Ian Desmond to deliver a...