As promised, Davey Johnson's lineup for Sunday night's game against the Phillies is exactly the same (minus a different starting pitcher) as the one he put up for yesterday afternoon's contest in which the Nationals pounded out 15 hits. If it ain't broke, don't ... Here's how things will look for the Nats tonight: SS Ian Desmond 3B Steve Lombardozzi LF Bryce Harper RF Jayson Werth 1B Chad Tracy 2B Danny Espinosa CF Rick Ankiel C Wilson Ramos P Jordan Zimmermann

BOSTON - The Orioles could have run themselves out of a big inning in the top of the fourth. A baserunning blunder could have bitten them, could have come back to haunt them, could have brought the same level of regret as a few 2 a.m. bar decisions. But not when you're going good. Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds walked in the fourth. With one out, Nick Johnson drove a ball over center fielder Marlon Byrd's head, but Wieters held at third base. Reynolds had to slam on the brakes at second,...

Here is a stat that gets your attention: Through today's fourth inning - with the Orioles leading 5-1 at Boston - the Orioles have outscored the Yankees and Red Sox on the road by a combined score of 31-8 since Tuesday. * Tuesday won 7-1 at New York * Wednesday won 5-0 at New York * Friday won 6-4 in 13 innings at Boston * Saturday won 8-2 at Boston * Today leading 5-1 after four innings at Boston The last four years, the Orioles went 10-26 at Fenway Park and 9-27 at Yankee Stadium. With a...

BOSTON - J.J. Hardy homered with one out in the top of the first inning to give the Orioles a quick 1-0 lead. Hardy has five homers this season. Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz has allowed eight in 30 innings. Ryan Flaherty estimated that he's got 30 friends and family members at today's game. The Rule 5 pick from Maine has been feeling right at home in Fenway Park. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters yesterday that he wanted to get Flaherty into a game this weekend, and sure enough,...

On Sept. 1, 2007 Boston right-hander Clay Buchholz pitched a no-hitter against the Orioles in just his second major league start. That seems pretty unlikely to happen today with the Orioles' offense starting to percolate and Buchholz pitching very poorly this year. The Orioles have scored 42 runs over their last seven games and Buchholz is 3-1 with an ERA of 8.69 over five starts. In 29 innings, he has allowed 40 hits and seven homers. He has given up five runs or more in every start this...

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters today that he expects outfielder Nolan Reimold to go on an injury rehab assignment in the minors before being activated from the disabled list. Reimold is eligible to return May 16 after being shut down with a herniated disk in his cervical spine. He still has some tingling in his fingers, though his condition is improving. Showalter believes that Reimold will need the at-bats, since he hasn't played since April 30 in New York, when his...

You know what's pretty remarkable? Even after the five-game losing streak the Nationals went through recently, they still are tied for the best record in the National League and are just a half-game back of the Rays, who have the best mark in baseball. That's how solid this team has been this season. The Nats now lead the Phillies by 5 1/2 games in the NL East, and have an opportunity to deliver an early-season blow in front of a nationally televised audience tonight when they go for the...

BOSTON - Ryan Flaherty has a lot of friends and family here who made the trip from Maine. They'll get to watch him play left field and bat first against Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz. For the Orioles: Ryan Flaherty LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis DH Mark Reynolds 3B Nick Johnson 1B Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP Pitching matchups for the Rangers series that starts tomorrow night at Camden Yards: Monday: Brian Matusz (1-3, 4.67 ERA) vs....

The Nationals are off to their best start since their arrival in D.C. in 2005. To put the start in perspective, look back at the first 27 games of each season. After 27 games in 2012, the Nationals are 18-9. And before that? * In 2011, they were 13-14. * In 2010, they were 14-13. * In 2009, they were 9-18. * In 2008, they were 10-17. * In 2007, they were 9-18. * In 2006, they were 9-18. * In 2005, they were 14-13. So in the eight seasons the Nationals have been in D.C., they have been above...

BOSTON - With a win today, the Orioles would move 10 games above .500 for the first time since June 25, 2005, when they were 42-32. Yes, it all keeps going back to 2005. How in the world did that team not win the World Series? A victory today also would give the Orioles their first three-game sweep in Boston since June 10-12, 1994. You can do the math. That's a long time ago. The Orioles have posted 10 wins in 15 games on the road this season, their fewest games to reach that milestone...