It's tough to win games when you score two runs and go 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Yet again, the Nationals' offense was unable to get the job done, failing to capitalize on their eight hits (four of which were for extra bases) in today's 6-2 loss to the Orioles. "That's been kinda our M.O.," manager Davey Johnson said. "But we're showing signs of coming out of it, hopefully." Those signs were evident yesterday, when the Nats put up 10 hits on the Phillies, scored six...

The Nationals were desperate to get something out of the fifth starter slot this week following the news left-hander Ross Detwiler has been placed on the disabled list with a right oblique strain. The franchise has decided to reach into their system and select Baseball America's No. 5 Nationals prospect to get a shot in the bigs. Manager Davey Johnson revealed after Monday's game that the 2012 Nationals minor league Pitcher of the Year, right-hander Nathan Karns, will be called up from...

Needing a guy to start tomorrow in place of the injured Ross Detwiler and without many attractive options at the Triple-A level, the Nationals have decided to call up right-hander Nathan Karns from Double-A Harrisburg. Karns will make his major league debut at Nationals Park against the Orioles tomorrow night. To make room for him on the active roster, left-hander Xavier Cedeno, who was called up today, will be sent back to Triple-A Syracuse. Karns, who is already on the Nats' 40-man roster,...

WASHINGTON - Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel has been searching for his fastball command. Today, he found it. "The fastball command that I've been searching for has been getting closer and closer and closer, and today it was finally there," he said after holding the Nationals to two runs over eight innings and striking out eight in the Orioles' 6-2 victory. "A small adjustment I made with my slider added a lot more depth and a lot of swings and misses with that one. Stayed aggressive...

WASHINGTON - The Orioles' bullpen needed a break today, and starter Jason Hammel provided one by going eight innings in a 6-2 victory over the Nationals. "It reminded me a little of the Atlanta outing last year," said manager Buck Showalter. "A lot of strikes. Throwing zeros up after you score some runs. He was good. He was the difference today. We all would have signed up in blood for that today. "What are those things where you hold the bats like they do at the wedding chapel? I'm...

After a four-game series where O's pitchers gave up 29 runs and O's starters failed to go six innings once, the Orioles needed Jason Hammel to go deep in today's game. Hammel did just that, pitching eight very solid innings as the Orioles beat the Nationals 6-2 in Game 1 of a four-game home-and-home series. The game attracted a sellout of 41,260 at Nats Park. Hammel allowed eight hits and two runs with no walks and eight strikeouts. He improves to 7-2 with an ERA of 4.98 and threw 107...

Both the Orioles and Nationals have blown plenty of chances with runners in scoring position today. The difference in the ballgame so far is that the Nats have done almost nothing with their opportunities, and while the O's have stranded their share of runners, they've been productive enough when scoring chances have presented themselves. Midway through the eighth, the Nats trail their neighbors to the north 6-2. For the afternoon, the Nats are 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position....

After a very brief stint with the Nationals and a couple of days on the waiver wire, Yunesky Maya will be heading back to Triple-A Syracuse. The Nationals have announced that Maya has cleared waivers and will be assigned to Triple-A. The 31-year-old right-hander will slot back into Syracuse's rotation. The Nats called Maya up May 21, and he allowed a two-run walk-off homer to the Giants' Pablo Sandoval that night. That was the only game Maya appeared in for the Nats before they designated...

WASHINGTON - Reliever Alex Burnett has been claimed off waivers. We will know later today where he's headed. The Orioles designated Burnett for assignment on May 23 to create room for Kevin Gausman on the 40-man roster. Gausman is starting against the Nationals Tuesday night. Burnett, 25, made two appearances with the Orioles, allowing three earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. He was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in nine appearances with Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles signed him off waivers from the Blue...

WASHINGTON - One day after stranding 12 runners in a 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays, the Orioles have left four on base in the first three innings against the Nationals. The Orioles were 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position yesterday at Rogers Centre. They're 0-for-1 today, with Adam Jones grounding out with runners on second and third and two outs in the second inning. Manny Machado singled with two outs, his 46th road hit to lead the majors. It's also his 73rd hit this season. He began...