Following today's doubleheader, the Washington Nationals optioned right-handed pitcher Drew Storen to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Storen, 25, went 3-2 with two saves, 14 holds and a 5.95 ERA in 47 games this season with Washington.

Tyler Clippard had two questions asked of him after the game, and he spoke for more than four minutes. He spoke with tears in his eyes and his voice breaking a bit at times, and he delivered some forthright and critical comments about the Nationals' decision to option Drew Storen to Triple-A Syracuse and the way that they have managed Storen's role on this team dating back to the offseason. Clippard never once said Rafael Soriano's name, but it's clear that he thinks the Nationals made a...

In order to trim their roster from 26 to 25 following today's doubleheader, the Nationals optioned a guy who saved 43 games for them two years ago. Manager Davey Johnson announced after tonight's 2-1 walk-off win that the Nats have optioned Drew Storen to Triple-A Syracuse. "He needs to get right, mentally and mechanically," Johnson said. "It's that simple. ... This is what's best for him." Storen had a 2.75 ERA and 43 saves for the Nats in 2011 and a 2.37 ERA in 2012 after coming...

He hit two homers tonight, but when it was over, Adam Jones threw some strong praise Chris Tillman's way. "He's been throwing the hell out of the ball all year," Jones said. "This is the year he takes a turn for the better. This is the year he loses that prospect status and starts to put himself in top-of-the-rotation conversation. He's got the talent to do it." Tillman pitched seven shutout innings of two-hit ball to become the Orioles' first 13-game winner since Erik Bedard in 2007...

According to Elias, Chris Tillman is the first Orioles pitcher to be 10-plus games above .500 at any point since Mike Mussina in 1999. Tillman improved to 13-3 tonight by shutting out the Red Sox on two hits over seven innings in a 6-0 win. Tillman struck out eight batters, tying his season high, and retired 19 of the last 21. Manager Buck Showalter didn't know whether Tillman would deliver the Orioles' 11th quality start in 13 games after the right-hander loaded the bases with two outs in...

When an Oriole has a shaving cream pie smashed in his face after a game, he knows he had a great game. Usually, in his postgame interview, the star of the game is greeted by Adam Jones' shaving cream pie delivery to the face. Well, tonight the tables turned. After turning in two home runs and three RBIs in his 2-for-4 night at the dish, Jones got a taste of his own medicine with two pies to the face. However, these were not normal deliveries; first base coach Wayne Kirby pied Jones, and...

Chris Tillman and Adam Jones grabbed co-starring roles tonight as the Orioles beat Boston 6-0 in the opener of a big weekend three-game series in front of 39,063 at Camden Yards. Tillman pitched seven shutout innings and Jones homered twice as the the Orioles ended a three-game losing streak, won for ninth time in the last 13 games and improved to 58-46. The Orioles continued their recent mastery of the Red Sox. They are 6-2 this year against Boston and 19-7 since the start of last season....

Who would've thought back in February that the Nationals would be turning to Ross Ohlendorf in July to deliver a quality start to help save the bullpen and give them a much-needed win? Not this guy, that's for sure. Ohlendorf has been spectacular this season, and that didn't change today. He threw seven innings of one-run ball, keeping the Nationals in a game where their offense - again - has been nearly nonexistent and giving quality innings to a team that is dealing with a worn-down...

Once again, Adam Jones has directed a 92 mph fastball from Boston starter John Lackey over the out-of-town scoreboard in right field. Jones' second homer tonight increased the Orioles' lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Before tonight, Jones was 7-for-32 (.219) with no home runs against Lackey. Jones has 22 homers this season. Anyone remember the last one that went to right field before tonight? Speak up. This is Jones' third career multi-homer game and the first since May...

The Nationals have played 13 innings today. They've scored in none of them. It didn't bode well for the Nats that they were shut out in the opener of today's doubleheader by Jenrry Mejia, Scott Rice and Gonzalez Germen. Yeah, not exactly a star-studded group right there. A matchup with Matt Harvey awaited in the nightcap, and so far, that hasn't gone too well for the Nats either. Harvey has held the Nats scoreless over four innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. He's...