For a while, it looked like this afternoon's outing was going to be Stephen Strasburg's best of the season. Through his first 4 2/3 innings, he'd allowed just two Cubs baserunners and had struck out seven. He was mowing hitters down with a fastball that topped out at 98 mph and worked in dazzling off-speed pitches. By the time the fifth inning ended, Strasburg had allowed five hits, two walks and four runs, and the Nationals suddenly trailed 4-0. A Ryan Zimmerman error with two outs and...

The Nationals' 8-2 loss to the Cubs Saturday was difficult to take on a couple of levels. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg unraveled following a throwing error by Ryan Zimmerman with two outs in the fifth. It was Zimmerman's sixth error of the season. In the seventh, Zimmerman allowed a hard-hit grounder by Alfonso Soriano to get past him at third base into left field. That was Zimmerman's second error of the game and seventh of the season. But the first error is the one that will be...

BOWIE, Md. - Throwing a steady diet of upper 90s fastballs, Kevin Gausman has pitched two scoreless innings tonight here at Bowie, and the Baysox have a 1-0 lead after the second frame. The game was scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m., but began 55 minutes late due to a rain delay. After seeing several pitches register at 97 mph on the stadium radar gun, one pitch was clocked at 100 mph during the top of the second. Whether is a true reading or not, I'm not sure, but I am sure I saw triple...

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles have decided to double their pleasure again tonight. Manny Machado and Adam Jones doubled in the first inning, giving the Orioles nine in the first two games of this series. Nick Markakis and Chris Davis, who didn't get the memo, had RBI singles and Matt Wieters lifted a sacrifice fly. Orioles 3, Twins 0. Davis did Twins starter Vance Worley a favor by getting thrown out at second base on Wieters' fly ball to left field. Markakis is 24-for-44 vs. the Twins since...

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles scored nine unanswered runs last night to overcome a 6-0 deficit. According to STATS, it marked the first time that the Orioles won a game by three runs or more after being down by six or more in the sixth inning or later since June 15, 1983 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Orioles were behind 7-0 in the top of the seventh before rallying to win 11-8 in 10 innings. Steve Johnson held opponents hitless in 20 at-bats with runners in scoring position as a rookie last...

Boy, did things turn in a hurry. Stephen Strasburg was working on an absolute gem this afternoon, having held the Cubs to just one hit over his first four innings of work, striking out seven and needing just 53 pitches to get through those four dominant frames. Then in the fifth, after a Ryan Zimmerman throwing error prolonged the inning, it all fell apart for Strasburg. He had been nearly halfway to the dugout when Zimmerman's throw sailed wide of the first base bag, then needed to walk...

BOWIE, Md. - If you want to talk about a player with perseverance, you could start with pitcher Zach Clark. In his eighth season in the Orioles' organization, he finally made the big leagues recently. But just a few days later, he was designated for assignment and now he is back here with Double-A Bowie, learning to throw a knuckleball. It's been a wild few days for the 29-year-old Clark, but the player I spoke to this afternoon is embracing this chance to show the Orioles what he can do...

It's only been three innings, but this has already far and away been the most locked in Stephen Strasburg has looked all season. Strasburg is through three innings, having retired all nine Cubs hitters he's faced. He's struck out five (four of which have been swinging) and allowed just one ball to be hit out of the infield. After starting the game with three straight balls to Cubs leadoff hitter David DeJesus, 30 of Strasburg's 35 pitches have been for strikes. He's been pounding the...

Manager Davey Johnson believes the Nationals bullpen is starting to feel more comfortable with its roles and that has contributed to its success the past few weeks. The bullpen has been pretty consistent since April 15, going 2-1 with seven saves and a 1.93 ERA in 23 games, allowing just 12 earned runs in that span. Johnson said rearranging the responsibilities took some time to jell. But that wasn't because the pitchers had lost the belief they could get the job done to start the...

MINNEAPOLIS - The Orioles made today's roster move official by optioning reliever Alex Burnett to Triple-A Norfolk and recalling Steve Johnson, who will make tonight's start against the Minnesota Twins. Burnett appeared in one game in his second stint with the club, striking out one in a scoreless inning. Ryan Flaherty is back at second base tonight after Alexi Casilla started last night. Casilla will start Sunday afternoon. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis...