BALTIMORE - Through the first five innings of last night's ballgame, the Nationals had put up six runs and smacked eight hits. They'd slugged four home runs - three of which came off the bat of Ryan Zimmerman - and had a nice 6-2 lead. Through the first five innings tonight, the Nats have yet to score and they've managed just two hits off Orioles starter Freddy Garcia. Garcia has struck out five Nats hitters - including Zimmerman once - and the Orioles have a 1-0 lead. Over their last...

The Orioles wasted a prime scoring opportunity in the first inning tonight after Nate McLouth's leadoff double and Manny Machado's sacrifice bunt. The next two batters lined out, including Nick Markakis, who was denied by Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa. Given another chance in the third inning, Markakis came through with a double off Nats starter Dan Haren that scored Ryan Flaherty and gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Markakis has 14 RBIs in his last 15 games, and 32 this season to tie...

As a team, the Orioles are leading the American League in runs scored (271), hits (515), doubles (118), home runs (75), slugging (.464), extra-base hits (197), stolen bases (41) and OPS (.796). The Birds are also second in average (.276) and stolen base percentage (83.7 percent). The Orioles are on pace to hit 230 homers, which would be second-most in franchise history behind the 1996 club that blasted 257 homers. They would score the fourth-most runs (828) in club history, behind the 949 in...

BALTIMORE - Tonight will mark the fourth straight game that the Nationals have been without Bryce Harper and the 24th straight game they've been without Jayson Werth. The Nats don't expect to be down two of their starting outfielders much longer, but there's still some uncertainty surrounding when both Harper and Werth will be able to return to action. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Harper has made a little progress as he rehabs the bursitis in his left knee, and Harper did some...

It is a small sample size for the Nationals hitters, and some of the Orioles starters have been struggling a bit, but 15 runs, 21 hits and eight home runs in two games is impressive. The Nationals offense has been desperate to get going all season. With four homers in each of the last two games, including three in one game by Ryan Zimmerman, it is possible to see a little glimmer of sunshine at the end of the tunnel. This has also arrived with the big bats of Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth....

Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers won a Triple Crown and an American League MVP award last season. But right now, in several key categories in the majors, he is a distant second to the Orioles Chris Davis. Davis leads MLB with 19 homers with Cabrera second with 15. He has the slugging percentage lead over the Tigers star by .766 to .656 and the OPS edge by 1.214 to 1.099. Pretty impressive stuff for the O's first sacker. You hear hitting coaches say batters are hitting well sometimes...

Steve Johnson is the only Orioles reliever who definitely isn't available tonight after working 2 1/3 innings last night and getting the win. Manager Buck Showalter may attempt to lay off Tommy Hunter, as well. Johnson became the 13th Orioles pitcher to record a win last night. In 2012, the Orioles had 17 pitchers record a win, though that total includes first baseman Chris Davis. According to STATS, the Orioles are tied with the Angels for the most pitchers recording wins in the majors....

The Orioles could be on the verge of changing backup catchers. Taylor Teagarden has left extended spring training in Sarasota and is headed to Triple-A Norfolk, where he's scheduled to catch nine innings on Friday and seven-to-nine on Saturday, and serve as the designated hitter on Sunday. "Hopefully all those things happen," said manager Buck Showalter. "That's the plan, Stan." Teagarden may rejoin the Orioles in Houston on Tuesday. Otherwise, his injury-rehab assignment will...

When Jim Johnson took the mound Sunday in Toronto, he was trying to protect a three-run lead, but he couldn't do it, giving up four runs as the Orioles lost 6-5. In his first game since that outing at Camden Yards last night, he got the Nationals out 1-2-3 in the ninth and he came in to protect another three-run lead. This time he got a line out and two strikeouts on 11 pitches, throwing nine strikes to get his 16th save. Even after going 1-for-5 in his previous five save chances and with an...

BALTIMORE - Davey Johnson will go with the same batting order as last night and make just one position change on the diamond, with the exception of the starting pitcher. Chad Tracy will play first base for the Nationals today, with Adam LaRoche getting a bit of a breather, serving as the designated hitter. The Nats will take their hacks against veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia, who has gone 1-2 with a 4.61 ERA in five starts since getting called up by the Orioles. Garcia hasn't allowed...