Frustrated most of the afternoon by their inability to get a key hit with runners in scoring position, Mark Reynolds ended nearly eight innings of frustration for the Orioles this afternoon. His two-run single to center put the Orioles ahead and they beat the Twins 4-3 to split this four-game series by winning the last two. Down 3-2 entering the eighth, Matt Wieters and Wilson Betemit drew one-out walks and moved up a base on a groundout. With Ryan Flaherty on deck, the Twins elected to pitch...

Tommy Hunter held the Twins to one run over 7 1/3 innings last night. Wei-Yin Chen allowed three runs in seven innings today. In case you don't recognize it, those are back-to-back quality starts from the Orioles' rotation. Chen hasn't won since June 17 in Atlanta, a game I listened to on WBAL Radio on my drive back home from Ocean Pines. I listened to most of today's start on my return trip, arriving at my destination seconds before Mark Reynolds blooped a two-run single into center...

You could tell Davey Johnson was throwing in the towel on today's ballgame when he let reliever Craig Stammen hit for himself in the fifth inning. Johnson really waved the white flag when he had Mark DeRosa take over for Ryan Zimmerman at third base in the top of the sixth. This one hasn't been pretty from the Nationals' perspective, as they trail 9-2 through six innings. And Johnson's decided to rest a couple of his starters, including Jesus Flores, with the game seemingly out of...

It wasn't exactly a homer drought, but when Chris Davis hit a long homer to right today in the second inning off Cole De Vries, it ended a stretch of nine homerless games for him. It was Davis' 15th homer of the year. Davis entered today 0-for-11 over his past three games and 3-for-26 over his last seven contests. That brought the Orioles to within 2-1, as Minnesota took the lead scoring twice in the last of the first off Wei-Yin Chen, who today is looking for his first win since June 17 at...

The Nationals have used five different catchers at the major league level this season. Currently, with Jhonatan Solano landing on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, their duo consists of Jesus Flores, who came into today hitting .230 on the season, and backup Sandy Leon, who has just four innings of major league experience. That's led some to wonder if the Nats would consider adding an experienced, offensive-minded catcher before the trade deadline. But general manager Mike Rizzo...

After noticing last night that the Orioles are a surprising 9-5 this year in games started by Tommy Hunter, I wondered what the team's record was in games started by others. Here is a ranking of the starters by the team's winning percentage when they start: .643 - Hunter (9-5) .611 - Jason Hammel (11-7), Wei-Yin Chen (11-7) .500 - Miguel Gonzalez (1-1), Dana Eveland (1-1, Chris Tillman (1-1) .389 - Jake Arrieta (7-11) .375 - Brian Matusz (6-10) .000 - Zach Britton (0-1) Yes, that is rather...

Talk about rough timing for Rick Ankiel to find out that he'd been designated for assignment by the Nationals. Today is his birthday. Ankiel turns 33 today, but he now finds himself in a state of flux after being let go in order for the Nationals to activate reliever Drew Storen from the disabled list. General manager Mike Rizzo said the decision to let Ankiel go wasn't an easy one, but that the veteran outfielder took the news like a pro. "It was very difficult, just because of the guy...

The Washington Nationals today returned from rehab and reinstated right-handed pitcher Drew Storen from the 15-Day Disabled List, recalled catcher Sandy Leon from Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League, placed catcher Jhonatan Solano on the 15-Day DL (retroactive to July 18) with a left oblique strain and designated outfielder Rick Ankiel for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Storen began the season on...

Orioles manager Buck Showalter worked in a few more left-handed hitters for today's series finale against the Twins. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Jim Thome DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis LF Mark Reynolds 1B Ryan Flaherty 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP For the Twins: Denard Span CF Ben Revere RF Joe Mauer C Josh Willingham DH Justin Morneau 1B Trevor Plouffe 3B Ryan Doumit LF Brian Dozier SS Alexi Casilla 2B Cole DeVries RHP

The lineup card has been posted in the Nationals clubhouse for today's 12:35 p.m. game against the Mets, and right-hander Drew Storen is listed among the available pitchers. That's a signal Storen has been activated from the disabled list following recovery from surgery to remove a bone chip from his right elbow. Outfielder Rick Ankiel is not listed among the bench players. His locker has been cleaned out and his nameplate has been removed. It appears the veteran outfielder has been...