The Nationals last scored a run in the fifth inning Monday night. Since then, they've gone 16 scoreless frames. Yeah, for the bulk of those innings they've faced Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, two of the top arms in the majors. But there haven't been many quality at-bats during that 16-inning stretch, and the results have shown. The Nats trail 2-0 after three innings tonight, as the Dodgers have scored single runs in the first and second innings. The second run off Nats starter Ross...

Nate McLouth smoked a ball in the first inning yesterday that dissolved into another out, with Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera soaring to his right to make a sensational diving catch. Nick Markakis smoked a ball in the fifth inning that turned into an infield hit when the ball clanked off Cabrera's glove as he attempted to make another diving catch. McLouth sat in the dugout as Markakis reached first base and laughed at the fickle nature of baseball. McLouth really needed Cabrera to miss...

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Right fielder Jayson Werth completed the first game of his rehab from an injured hamstring Wednesday for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium. Werth made the most of the four innings he played, going 1-for-2, getting in a rundown on the base paths that enabled a run to score and throwing a runner out at home plate from right field. But the biggest concern on this night was a true-game situation test of his tight hamstring, which has kept him out of the...

Triple-A Norfolk infielder Jonathan Schoop, the Orioles' No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, has been out the last few days with a lower back strain, according to Orioles vice-president Dan Duquette. Duquette said via text tonight that Schoop "is resting a few days." Schoop last played on Sunday for Norfolk when he had three hits, including a homer and three RBIs. Schoop is 5-for-9 over his last two games. On the year, in 34 Norfolk games, he is batting .268 with six doubles,...

The Nationals will have to play another day without Bryce Harper. Harper, the Nats' leader in pretty much every major offensive statistical category, is out of the lineup for the second straight day after colliding with the right field wall Monday night. The collision left Harper with a bruised knee and shoulder, and he'll get another day to rest those - among other - ailments. Denard Span is back in Davey Johnson's lineup tonight after getting most of last night's game off. Steve...

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado registered his 18th multi-hit game today, tying Kansas City's Alex Gordon and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera for the major league lead. He's notched at least three hits in four of his last five games. Machado has 13 multi-hit games in his last 21 and is batting .419 (39-for-93) with 12 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBIs. He's hit safely in 19 of those 21 games. Machado improved his average to .368 against right-handed pitching. I'm pretty sure...

Miguel Gonzalez will pitch in a simulated game Friday, throwing about 25 pitches in the bullpen and 25-30 in the game. The Orioles want to control his environment - pitch count, pitch selection - and make sure he's available next week. Gonzalez is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday. He could start any of the next three nights after returning to the 25-man roster. As for today's 8-4 loss to the Padres, starter Freddy Garcia lasted only 3 2/3 innings and was charged with four...

Freddy Garcia got out of a jam in the first inning, but allowed two runs in the second, two runs in the fourth and took the loss this afternoon in the Orioles' 8-4 defeat against San Diego. He struggled with his control almost from the start as he falls to 0-2 with an ERA of 5.51 in three Orioles starts. "I was behind on the guys all day long," Garcia said. "Threw 75 pitches in 3 2/3, that's a lot. Second inning, got two outs and gave up that base hit for two runs right there. "I need...

Their starter struggled and failed to survive the fourth inning. They didn't have much success with runners in scoring position. They lost a pop-up in the sun that cost them a run and they got swept for the first time this year. It wasn't the best day for the Orioles, who lost 8-4 to San Diego in front of 32,418 fans at Camden Yards. Less than 24 hours after the Padres rallied in the ninth to win last night, they got O's starter Freddy Garcia, who was a Padre in spring training until they...

The Orioles are on the verge of being swept at home in a two-game series against the San Diego Padres. Marinate in that one for a while. Tommy Hunter served up a two-run homer to Alexi Amarista in the top of the seventh inning to leave the Orioles in a 7-2 hole. They got one run back in the bottom half on Adam Jones' RBI single. They still have six outs left. Let's see what they do with them. Hunter committed a throwing error with one out in the seventh, fielding Kyle Blanks bouncer to...