If you go back over the Orioles' last five games, their offense has produced just 12 runs in that stretch. But is that because they are struggling at the plate now at such a critical time or just because they've faced some very good pitching? In those five games - starting with the Tampa Bay series - the Orioles are batting just .170 as a team with four doubles and three homers. In September, the Orioles hit .270 as a team with an OPS of .806. They averaged 5.46 runs per game and hit 47...

ST. LOUIS - Just a couple days ago, there was talk that going on the road to start the postseason was a disadvantage for the Nationals. Instead of starting at home, the top-seeded Nats have their first two National League Division Series games here in St. Louis because of MLB's scheduling quirks, and that was thought to be a negative. Some fans worried that if the Nats dropped both games in St. Louis, they'd suddenly return home with their backs against the wall, with a sweep staring them...

You probably didn't recognize Jim Johnson last night, since he wasn't pitching in a save situation and he wasn't churning out another drama-free inning. (OK, the same thing happened Friday night in the wild card game, though with much better results. Just work with me here.) It was like an imposter stole Johnson's No. 43 jersey and his entrance music. But that was Darren O'Day in the seventh. I'd know his delivery anywhere, and his knack for escaping jams that have been dumped at his...

To no one's surprise, the Orioles came to the defense of their closer tonight. They've seen Jim Johnson do too many special things for them this year to do anything else. He is one of the team leaders and they were standing behind him tonight after he gave up five runs in the ninth in Game 1 of the ALDS. "It's not deflating," catcher Matt Wieters said. "We have to do a better job getting him the lead. Jim's been great for us all year and everyone in this clubhouse wants to give him the...

The Yankees are quite aware of how well Orioles closer Jim Johnson has pitched this season. Three of his club-record 51 saves during the regular season came against New York as he pitched to a 1.29 ERA over seven appearances versus the Yankees. So his losing effort in Sunday's Game 1 loss - five runs allowed (four earned) in just one-third of an inning - was more a blip than the norm when it comes to Johnson facing the AL East champs. "It was a really good game, a...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has spoken in the past about how closer Jim Johnson can spoil a team with his lengthy string of successful outings. A glitch comes out of nowhere. It's never anticipated. Johnson entered Game 1 of the American League Division Series with the score tied in the top of the ninth. He walked off the mound having retired only one batter, four runs already charged to him and an unearned run coming as he sat in the dugout. "It's tough. It's just tough going,...

Jim Johnson said he made mistakes with his location tonight, costing him and the Orioles as the New York Yankees scored five in the ninth off the O's closer to post a 7-2 win tonight in Game 1 of the American League Division Series. "I made a mistake, obviously to (Russell) Martin and a couple of other mistakes over the middle of the plate, and we paid for it," Johnson said. "It's unfortunate after the effort we got out of everybody else. I didn't hold my end of the bargain. I feel...

Jim Johnson has been so great for the Orioles this year. He entered this game in the top of the ninth of a 2-2 tie tonight having allowed just one run over his last 26 innings and three homers all year and none since June 5. But Russell Martin homered to left on a 2-0 pitch leading off the ninth and the Yankees went on to a 7-2 win in Game 1 of the American League Division Series in front of 47,841 at Camden Yards. The Orioles will need to win tomorrow night behind Wei-Yin Chen or they will...

Left-hander Troy Patton replaced starter Jason Hammel with two outs in the sixth and a runner on first, gave up a single and retired Curtis Granderson on a fly ball to keep the game tied. Clutch. Darren O'Day only let six of 43 inherited runners score during the regular season. He inherited two in the seventh inning tonight and stranded them to keep the game tied. Clutch. Brian Matusz retired the first two batters in the eighth, walked Mark Teixeira and struck out Granderson on three...

ST. LOUIS - Just to recap today's ballgame for all those who were stuck in a cave somewhere all afternoon: National League Cy Young Award candidate Gio Gonzalez walked seven hitters, the Nationals struck out 13 times, left the bases loaded twice and made two errors in the final three innings. Oh, yeah, and they won 3-2. "I don't really know how we won that game, to be honest," reliever Craig Stammen said with a smile creeping onto his face. "But we pulled it out somehow. That's kind of...