A few Nationals players said after Wednesday's Game 3 loss that if they could just force a Game 5, they felt like they had the advantage. Gio Gonzalez, a 21-game winner this season who posted a 1.35 ERA in his final six regular season starts, would take the mound for the Nats in that Game 5 with a chance to pitch them to the National League Championship Series. Well, here it is. The Nats did what they needed to do last night to force a game today to decide the National League Division...

NEW YORK - Lew Ford will serve as the Orioles' designated hitter today for Game 5 of the American League Division Series. Jim Thome is on the bench. Robert Andino gets the start at second base, as manager Buck Showalter continues to platoon him with Ryan Flaherty. Alex Rodriguez has been benched by Yankees manager Joe Girardi. He's 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the Division Series and has been lifted for a pinch-hitter the past two nights. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy...

Wouldn't it be fitting that during a season where the Orioles were scrutinized (some would say overly so) for their run differential, that they win this series with fewer runs scored than the Yankees. That is quite possible as the series score right now is New York 13, Baltimore 9. Yes, the O's are in the negative again. Ask them if they care. Here is the stat that some don't know or care to look at. The Orioles played their best baseball late in the year. They went 38-20 from Aug. 1 to...

The Orioles and Yankees are headed to a decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series on the heels of a 13-inning 2-1 win by the Birds on Thursday night in the Bronx. Here's a round-up of what local, national and out-of-town media are saying about Game 4 and what lies ahead tonight. * Albert Chen of SI.com says what fans in Baltimore have known for weeks and months: Orioles magic is still alive. * Newsday's David Lennon writes about how Yankees skipper Joe Girardi coped privately...

Before yesterday's must-win Game 4, reliever Michael Gonzalez, one of the Nationals' veteran leaders, walked past Jayson Werth and asked him how he was feeling. "I said, 'I feel like I want to play tomorrow,' " Werth said. "And we get that chance." They sure do. The Nationals will play a Game 5 tonight in prime time, a decisive game that will send either them or the Cardinals home for the winter. The Nats wouldn't be in this spot today if not for one of their best-played games of...

NEW YORK - Whether 42-year-old future Hall of Famer Jim Thome is in today's Game 5 lineup for the Orioles or sitting on their bench - well, he'd be doing it either way, since he's the designated hitter - he will continue to appreciate the contributions of 20-year-old rookie third baseman Manny Machado. Machado is 2-for-14 in the American League Division Series, but he's homered, doubled and scored the decisive run in last night's 2-1 13-inning thriller over the Yankees. He also made...

Jim Johnson's 51 saves in 2012 were the most in baseball and established a new Orioles record in the category. Despite all that success, Johnson's most memorable regular season moment for me was his first blown save, which demonstrated his resilience as well Buck Showalter's faith in his new closer. Little did I know at the time that it would also serve as foreshadowing for the American League Division Series. Johnson's blown save occurred June 5 at Fenway Park. He allowed a game-tying,...

After Chad Tracy grounded out to end the eighth inning and leave the score tied at 1-1 in Thursday's National League Division Series Game 4, a friend turned to me and asked, "Deep down, in your heart of hearts, you really wanted a walkoff, didn't you?" Who would want anything else? Didn't every one of the 44,392 screaming, red-clad Nationals fans packed into Nationals Park want one? How could everyone watching on TV, listening on the radio or rooting for the Nats in any way, shape or...

NEW YORK - So it comes down to this. Jason Hammel gets the ball this afternoon knowing the Orioles' bullpen is running on fumes, knowing the entire team is attempting to move forward while having its backs against the proverbial wall. Do or die, just like the wild card and Game 4 of the American League Division Series. Win and advance. Lose and go home. "You know, it's obviously an honor to be the one toeing the slab, but it's been a team effort to get here," Hammel said. "It's been a...

It has been interesting to see the national media somewhat surprised at how low-key the Orioles are. They are getting a lot of questions about being subdued as a team and not getting too high or too low. They simply have been that way all year. If fans could have joined Baltimore reporters in that clubhouse after games at times this year, you truly wouldn't know whether they'd won or lost. I think it has become a team trait and a team strength. It helps them shake off tough losses like the...