How big is tonight's game?
How big is tonight's game?
Dan Kolko
Nationals
ATLANTA - The Nationals' final trip to Atlanta this season hasn't gone as planned though the series' first two games. They've had close calls go against them. They've struck out a whopping 29 times. They've seen the Braves manufacture runs with groundball singles, walks and errors. Two games, two losses. The Nats' division lead over the Braves, which was 8 1/2 entering the series, is now down to 6 1/2. Nats fans might be a little antsy today, fearing a three-game sweep by the Braves...
The mysterious disappearance of Omar Quintanilla
The mysterious disappearance of Omar Quintanilla
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Is there a pecking order developing as the final month of the regular season plays out? Are the Orioles better than the Rays, and are the Athletics better than the Orioles? Only if you put a lot of stock in their most recent games against each other. The Orioles swept Tampa Bay at Camden Yards, flew to Oakland and promptly dropped the first two games of their series. Now they need Randy Wolf, who won one of his last 20 starts with the Brewers, to play the role of stopper. Wolf has made two...
Second wild card team makes rush for playoffs intriguing for Nationals
Second wild card team makes rush for playoffs intriguing for Nationals
Byron Kerr
Nationals
Based on last year's playoff format, the Atlanta Braves would be the only wild card team and the Nationals would know what to expect once October rolls around. Of course, the Nationals still need to maintain first place for that scenario to play out. The Nats will have 10 of their remaining 16 games at home after Sunday. Sunday is a big game, even if it doesn't mean the Nationals' lead will be relinquished, and they could use a win after two hard fought, one-run losses at Turner...
O's fall out of first-place tie with 5-2 loss at Oakland
O's fall out of first-place tie with 5-2 loss at Oakland
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It's been a rough two nights for the Orioles in Oakland. A loss there Friday cost them a chance to move into sole possession of first place, while tonight's loss dropped the Orioles out of a first-place tie in the AL East. The Birds fell one game back of the Yankees, who won this afternoon, with a 5-2 loss at Oakland. The Orioles continue to hold the second wild card spot in the AL, leading the Angels by 2 1/2 games. The Orioles fall to 81-64 and have now lost back-to-back games for the...
The Britton mystery continues (O's lose 5-2)
The Britton mystery continues (O's lose 5-2)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
For four starts, Zach Britton was a dominant left-hander with a fresh arm and the ability to anchor the Orioles' rotation. So what happened in his last two starts? Britton has surrendered 10 runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings in those two outings, with nine walks and six strikeouts. The Athletics jumped Britton in the third inning tonight, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs to take a 5-2 lead. He was gone after the fourth with his pitch count at 86. Britton had won...
Mattheus takes blame while LaRoche, Jackson discuss blown call
Mattheus takes blame while LaRoche, Jackson discuss blown call
Dan Kolko
Nationals
ATLANTA - A despondent Ryan Mattheus sat at his locker after today's 5-4 loss to the Braves, quietly staring straight ahead at nothing in particular. Mattheus allowed the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning tonight, loading the bases on two walks and a single. He then grazed the jersey of Andrelton Simmons with a sinker, plating Jeff Baker to give the Braves the lead. Only nine of Mattheus' 23 pitches were strikes, so it's obvious what the issue was. "I just couldn't...
Britton looks for bounceback outing vs. Oakland (A's take 5-2 lead)
Britton looks for bounceback outing vs. Oakland (A's take 5-2 lead)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After going through a four-start stretch where he gave up just three runs, Zach Britton gave up five runs in his last start Sunday against the Yankees. He looks to bounce back from that outing tonight at Oakland. In his four starts before that one, Britton won a career-high four straight games, going 4-0 with an ERA of 0.95. Over 28 2/3 innings, he gave up 21 hits with seven walks and 29 strikeouts. But he lasted just 3 1/3 innings versus New York, allowing five hits, five walks and five runs...
Johnson discusses blown call in Nats' 5-4 loss
Johnson discusses blown call in Nats' 5-4 loss
Dan Kolko
Nationals
ATLANTA - Davey Johnson was already dressed in his street clothes when he met with reporters after today's game. He'd had a good bit of time to get showered and changed after getting ejected for the first time this season during the sixth inning of today's 5-4 Nationals loss. Johnson got tossed by first base umpire Marvin Hudson for arguing a play at first base in which Hudson ruled that Adam LaRoche was off the bag when he caught a throw from pitcher Edwin Jackson. Replays showed...
Johnson ejected for first time this season (Nats lose 5-4)
Johnson ejected for first time this season (Nats lose 5-4)
Dan Kolko
Nationals
ATLANTA - Davey Johnson has joked in recent weeks that he was going to pick his spot for his first ejection of the season. He wanted to save it for when it was really needed. That spot came in the bottom of the sixth inning this evening. Leading off the sixth, Martin Prado grounded a ball back to Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, who fired to first in time to get Prado by a step. First base umpire Marvin Hudson ruled that Adam LaRoche's foot had gotten pulled off the bag, however, and called...
Orioles and Athletics lineups
Orioles and Athletics lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Endy Chavez will start in right field tonight for the Orioles, with Chris Davis serving as the designated hitter. Matt Wieters is batting third, and Adam Jones is hitting cleanup. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 1B Manny Machado 3B Endy Chavez RF Robert Andino 2B Zach Britton LHP For the Athletics: Coco Crisp CF Jonny Gomes DH Josh Reddick RF Yoenis Cespedes LF Chris Carter 1B Jason Donaldson 3B Derek Norris...