BOSTON - The Nationals have been punchless against Red Sox starter Jon Lester today, putting up just one run and three hits through six innings. Would things be different if Bryce Harper was in the lineup? We'll never know. We do know that without their top hitter (it's still a little unbelievable that a 19-year-old is the Nats' best position player right now) the Nats haven't been able to get anything going today. Their 2-5 hitters are a combined 0-for-11 with six strikeouts, three of...

A couple of notes as this game gets into the middle innings with Philadelphia leading the Orioles 4-1 in front of another huge crowd at Camden Yards: * The first two games of this series drew a total of 87,070 fans, and last night produced the second sellout of the year with 46,611 on hand. Today looks to be another crowd of 40,000 plus, and of course there is once again a lot of red here, but we saw a lot of orange also when the Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the last of the first. * Coming into...

Jason Hammel hasn't walked more than three batters in his first 11 starts. He matched that total today after 1 2/3 innings. Hammel has allowed three runs and five hits, walked three, struck out one and hit a batter in two innings. He's already thrown 51 pitches, including 27 for strikes. The Phillies loaded the bases in the first inning without scoring. They loaded the bases twice in the second and received a two-run single by Hunter Pence on a ground ball that scooted up the middle. Jim...

BOSTON - He might not be thrilled about it - or happy about it at all - but Bryce Harper will be on the bench for today's series finale against the Red Sox. Manager Davey Johnson has decided to give his 19-year-old outfielder a day off to ease some tightness in his back. Johnson had bench coach Randy Knorr and a trainer come to him and inform him that Harper has been receiving treatment on the back, and with Harper having played in all of the 37 games the Nationals have played since his...

The Orioles' brain trust will meet tomorrow during the off-day and decide whether to activate second baseman Brian Roberts from the 60-day disabled list before Tuesday night's game against the Pirates at Camden Yards. The club is expected to add Roberts to the 25- and 40-man rosters, but manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette, among others, want to make sure he doesn't experience any setbacks during today's game with Triple-A Norfolk. "I don't know,"...

Cliff Lee can relax. Josh Bell is not in the Orioles' lineup today. The last time Lee pitched against the Orioles, here with Texas on August 21, 2010, he got ripped for eight runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3. Bell hit two homers to right-center, driving in five runs off him. Ty Wigginton, his current teammate, and Luke Scott also homered off him that day. Today Lee can get his revenge when he faces Jason Hammel here in the series finale at Camden Yards. In his career against the Orioles, Lee is...

Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter today, with Ronny Paulino settling behind the plate. Paulino is batting fifth for the 18th time in his major league career. He's 2-for-5 lifetime against Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Ronny Paulino C Mark Reynolds 1B Steve Pearce LF Steve Tolleson 3B Endy Chavez RF Jason Hammel RHP For the Phillies: Jimmy Rollins SS Juan Pierre LF Hunter Pence RF Jim...

Today is the last game of the series between the Orioles and Phillies, but it is also possibly the last game the Orioles will have to play without Brian Roberts. His injury rehab assignment ends Monday, and it's possible Roberts could be in the Orioles' lineup here Tuesday for the first time since last May 16. If Roberts is back Tuesday, catcher Matt Wieters said it could provide a big lift to this team in several ways. "It's big," Wieters said. "One, to have a veteran guy in the...

BOSTON - Since getting called up to the majors on April 28, Bryce Harper had started all 37 games that the Nationals had played. That streak ends today. With the Nats looking to earn the sweep of the Red Sox, Harper will get the first day off of his major league career. Roger Bernadina will start in center, with Tyler Moore in left and Xavier Nady in right. Johnson said after Thursday's game that Harper had been dealing with some "tenderness" in his back, and there was a chance that the...

If you check the box score from yesterday, you'll find that shortstop J.J. Hardy walked in six plate appearances and scored a run in the Orioles' 6-4, 12-inning victory over the Phillies. Here's what you won't find: A defensive play that made it possible for the Orioles to even this series. I mentioned it yesterday, but I want to revisit it this morning while waiting for both teams to post their lineups and for manager Buck Showalter to meet with reporters in the home dugout, which should...