"We were at the bottom of the barrel when I came over to this organization, it was in shambles," Tyler Clippard said. "A lot of great things have happened since then. We have worked our tails off to get to this point, and it is extra special because of that. "That is what has been great about this team. Guys have went down. Injuries have happened. Young guys have stepped up. Everyone has played a part. It has been a storybook kind of season for us so far. That is just motivation to keep...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Yankees won again last night, and the Orioles didn't seem to care in the least. The Red Sox rolled over again, like a puppy begging to have its belly rubbed. They're not exactly rallying around embattled manager Bobby Valentine. Instead, they're holding the door open and giving him a shove. He's the only guy they can get out these days. When the result of last night's Yankees game was relayed to center fielder Adam Jones, he replied, "We don't care." He...

There's a ton to digest and type up after the Nationals clinched the National League East, setting off a wild celebration in the clubhouse and on the field tonight, and I'll have plenty for you throughout the next couple hours and into tomorrow. For now, here are some quotes from the guys who got to do all the celebrating to hold you over, transcribed by a reporter who now reeks like beer: Drew Storen On clinching: "Speechless. It's something you really dream for and ever since I got...

"It has been a long three years, and everybody in here has had their ups and downs. We all pushed on and kept trying to get better and, you know what, now we are NL East champs," right-hander Stephen Strasburg said, speaking on how this team was built and on what the Nationals went through to get to this point. "I don't think this is going to be our only time," he added. "We are living in the now, and we got lot of work to do. But we are going to make the most of it, play in the moment,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Rays scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning tonight to break a 1-1 tie, and a Manny Machado error on Evan Lorgoria's bouncer to third base ignited the rally. "Should have caught it," Machado said. "Took a little side spin on me, ate me up. Should've taken a step forward, but I should have made the out." Machado didn't think he could throw out Longoria once the ball skipped off his glove. "I don't think so," he said. "I couldn't find the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he wasn't aware of the Yankees-Red Sox score tonight. He was too preoccupied with his own team, which lost to the Rays, 5-3, at Tropicana Field. The Yankees throttled the Red Sox, 10-2, leaving the Orioles one game back in the American League East. "They win?" Showalter asked. "That's a given. They're playing home the rest of their games, so you know that's a given. We'll do what we can do." The Orioles couldn't do much...

It was a stat that likely couldn't hold up too much longer. But after the Orioles held Tampa Bay to two runs or less for seven straight games, going 6-1 in that stretch, tonight the Rays scored three runs in the last of the seventh to go on to a 5-3 win over the Orioles in Game 1 of a three-game series. Coupled with New York's 10-2 win over Boston, the Orioles dropped to second place, one game back of the Yankees in the AL East with two games remaining. Also, should Oakland beat Texas later...

Ladies and gentlemen, the Washington Nationals are your 2012 National League East champions. It sure didn't come easily. The Nats had lost nine of their last 16 games coming into tonight and are currently trailing the Phillies 2-0 in the ninth inning here in Washington. The division clincher came 250 miles away from D.C., as the Braves lost to the Pirates 2-1, giving the NL East to the Nationals. The Nats should ship a fruit basket - or a few thousand of them - to their new friends in...

Through five innings, the Nationals have not managed a single run and have put up just three base hits - all singles - off Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick, who the Nats lit up on Wednesday, has let just four balls out of the infield. Of the 15 outs he's retired, 12 have been via the ground ball, and the Nationals' best threat so far only came after the Phillies starter chucked a pickoff throw down the right field line, allowing Kurt Suzuki to move from first to third. The play brought a large crowd...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen surrendered his 29th home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Ben Zobrist taking him deep to break a scoreless tie. Chen has surrendered six homers in his last four starts, and at least one in six of his last seven outings. Zobrist also singled in the first inning and is 7-for-14 lifetime against Chen. The Orioles' offense tends to fade when Chen pitches, and their bats must have been left behind in Jacksonville. They have one hit...