The Nationals were resilient Friday night against the Phillies, clawing out an 11-inning, 4-3 win against a key divisional foe. Their reward for such a victory? How about a 1 p.m. start time for Saturday. That's just what we have here today as the Nats and Phillies will partake in a little day baseball with Gio Gonzalez getting the start for the home team. Vance Worley will pitch for the Phillies. SS Desmond 3B Lombardozzi LF Harper RF Werth 1B Tracy 2B Espinosa CF Ankiel C Ramos P ...

BOSTON - I hope everyone slept fast, as manager Buck Showalter always suggests after a quick turnaround. In case you forgot, we've got a 1:10 p.m. start today, with Jason Hammel opposing Aaron Cook, who's subbing for Josh Beckett. Hammel switched places with Tommy Hunter, who starts tomorrow. I asked Hunter yesterday how his foot was feeling, and he got a puzzled look on his face. I explained that we were told he had an ingrown toenail removed, and he replied, "That was weeks ago. I'm...

The Orioles got their weekend series in Boston off to a great start with Friday's hard-earned, 13-inning win. There were a lot of heroes but this morning I'll cite two pitchers who impressed me again on Friday. First, Wei-Yin Chen. It was far from his best outing, as he gave up four runs in five innings, and it was just the second time in the last 11 games where the Orioles did not have a quality start. But Chen showed poise once again. After Robert Andino and Mark Reynolds made two-out...

Davey Johnson likes to say that he doesn't view any one game as more important than the rest. It's a long season, and a game in May means just as much in the standings as a win in September. But the Nationals skipper also acknowledges that games against the Phillies have a little bit of a different vibe to them. The crowd is more animated, the game feels tighter and a win, like tonight's 4-3 walk-off victory, tastes maybe just a little bit sweeter. "They kind of have a bigger feeling...

BOSTON - Reliver Luis Ayala gets the award tonight for biggest understatement by an Oriole. "The team in tonight's game had really good relief pitching," he said. To say the least. "We have a good 'pen, and that's one of the reasons why," he added, after the Orioles' relievers combined for eight scoreless innings. "We have a pretty good bullpen this year. We make great outs at key times. It's good for the team that we stay consistent. "I've spent a lot of time with different...

BOSTON - The Orioles committed three errors in the first two innings and added a passed ball to the toxic mix. But in the end, they celebrated a 6-4 win in 13 innings that made the miscues seem a little less important. Not that manager Buck Showalter overlooked or excused them. They were just easier to accept. "We played solid," he said. "I'm just disappointed we threw the ball around a little bit tonight, but other than that, I'll take it. You don't usually lead that column over there...

If the other 17 games between the Phillies and Nationals this season have anywhere close to as much excitement as the first, we should be in for quite a year. Tonight's game featured just three umpires, a manager (Charlie Manuel) ejected in the first inning, the potential game-winning run (Rick Ankiel) thrown out at the plate, 11 innings, four errors, 14 Nats runners left on base, and, by the end, very empty benches. In the end, the Nationals escaped with a 4-3 walk-off win, thanks to Wilson...

The Orioles finally pulled out the win in Fenway Park, thanks to another great performance by the bullpen and another big hit from Chris Davis. The 6-4 win in 13 innings gives the Orioles a record of 17-9 and they are eight games over the .500 mark for the first time since July 18, 2005. The Orioles continue to show some character and that they are resilient. They overcame a shaky outing by starter Wei-Yin Chen, some shaky early defense and got key outs when Boston put the winning run in...

BOSTON - The Orioles scored twice in the top of the 13th inning tonight and defeated the Red Sox 6-4. The Orioles have won five of six games and six of eight against the Red Sox. They've won four of five at Fenway Park after losing six in a row. The bullpen was masterful again, registering eight scoreless innings after starter Wei-Yin Chen left the game. That's 19 scoreless innings in a row since Troy Patton gave up a run last Friday. The bullpen lowered its ERA to 1.56. Jim Johnson...

Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang allowed two runs - one earned - on three hits in six innings tonight on an injury rehabilitation start for Single-A Hagerstown against Rome, a Braves affiliate. Wang, who is on the disabled list and rehabbing a hamstring injury sustained in spring training, was scheduled to start Thursday night for Double-A Harrisburg. But he was scratched from the assignment after a lengthy rain delay, and started tonight for Hagerstown instead. He struck out seven and walked...