Leading 9-2 after six innings of work, it would take a complete collapse by the Nationals for Gio Gonzalez to not become the first 20-game winner in the majors this season. Assuming it happens, that will be quite an accomplishment. But that won't be the only numerical milestone Gonzalez will reach today. He also has notched his 200th strikeout of the season, making him the first Washington pitcher to get to 200 strikeouts since Walter Johnson did it in 1916. How's that for some decent...

Prior to this afternoon's game, Nationals manager Davey Johnson talked about how Bryce Harper has started to glide when chasing down balls in the outfield, instead of taking short, choppy steps like he did when he first moved to the outfield. We've seen a whole lot of that gliding from Harper through three innings today. Harper tracked down a deep fly ball off the bat of Rickie Weeks to end the top of the third, a fly which sailed straight over his head. He used his impressive speed to...

BOSTON - Third baseman Manny Machado let Cody Ross' ground ball scoot through his legs for an error with one out in the bottom of the third inning. The miscue ended the Orioles' errorless streak at 11 games and 114 innings. Machado committed the last one, too, with an errant throw after fielding Derek Jeter's slow roller on Sept. 9. The last non-Machado error was committed by center fielder Adam Jones on Sept. 5 in Toronto. The Orioles have made four errors this month and 100 for the...

Outfielder Destin Hood fought through injuries and sickness this season in the minors. Battling through an injured wrist, Hood managed to come back and get on track by the end of the season. The Alabama native is now playing in the instructional league. Hood, a second-round selection in 2008, hit .242 in the minors for Double-A Harrisburg and a few rehab games at short-season Single-A Auburn, with 21 doubles, three triples, three homers, six stolen bases and 21 RBIs. He struck out 89 times in...

You don't have to worry about Tyler Clippard taking his recent struggles too lightly. When manager Davey Johnson saw Clippard last night after the reliever blew a save in the Nationals' 4-2 loss, Clippard was watching film of his outing. When Johnson saw Clippard this morning, Clippard was - you guessed it - watching film of his outing. "Talk about a glutton for punishment," Johnson said. "I wouldn't be going there." Johnson also said that Clippard "trashed" a room in the tunnel...

BOSTON - Robert Andino is undergoing another concussion test today, and manager Buck Showalter is optimistic that the second baseman will be back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale. Andino's CT scan came back negative. "They were checking for any bleeding," Showalter said. "It got him in the ear flap and in the neck some. He had a pretty good welt there. He's not happy today about not playing, but as soon as he passes the concussion test ... I'm hoping we get good results from...

The fact is that the Orioles' minor league teams combined to play just .459 ball in 2012 when you add up all the records, going 353-416. That ranks 28th in baseball, ahead of only Milwaukee and San Diego. You certainly can't tell much about the club's farm system from that stat. It is a very debatable topic, but I have always felt that winning in the minor leagues is not that important. Of course, you play to win, you want to win and who doesn't get encouraged when an O's farm club does...

The Nationals will have their regular starters on the field behind Gio Gonzalez this afternoon as the left-hander again tries for his 20th win of the season. Gonzalez got stuck with the loss his last time out, allowing two runs over five innings against the Braves on Sunday night. His record sits at 19-8 entering today, and he still could become the first guy in the majors to hit the 20-win mark. The Nats will face Brewers righty Wily Peralta, who is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in four appearances...

BOSTON - Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base today. Robert Andino is on the bench after being hit on the batting helmet by a 94 mph fastball last night. Jim Thome returns to the lineup as the designated hitter, with Chris Davis moving to right field. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Jim Thome DH Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis RF Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty 2B Randy Wolf LHP For the Red Sox: Pedro Ciriaco DH Dustin Pedroia 2B Cody Ross RF Ryan...

BOSTON - If the Orioles handed out an Unsung Hero award, reliever Darren O'Day would need to start preparing his speech. O'Day might get overlooked in a bullpen that includes Jim Johnson, who set the franchise's single-season record for saves last night with his 46th, but as manager Buck Showalter said, "It depends on who's doing the looking. We certainly don't." O'Day stranded another runner last night - only six of 41 inherited have scored off him - and he retired all five batters...