Nine innings aren't enough tonight. The Orioles and Tigers are headed for extras. Jim Johnson really is the closer. He's not as effective in non-save situations. Johnson recorded saves in seven of his last eight appearances before tonight. The exception came on Saturday, when he allowed a run in a 6-2 victory over the Angels. That was the only run off Johnson in his last eight outings. He ran into trouble tonight with the score tied, 3-3, in the ninth. Miguel Cabera singled with one out...

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Vladimir Guerrero's RBI double, quickly fell behind, 2-1, and reclaimed the lead, 3-2, in the third. The second rally started with an infield hit by Robert Andino, the spark plug atop the order. Andino eventually scored on Nick Markakis' sacrifice fly, and J.J. Hardy crossed the plate as the go-ahead run on a single by Matt Wieters. Wieters is a monster with runners in scoring position. If Luke Scott lost MVO votes last year...

The Orioles began play tonight ranked eighth in the American League in runs scored. They have been even better than that, going 19-13 over the last 32 games. They are averaging 4.9 runs per game during that 32-game stretch. If you scored that many over the entire season, they would rank fourth in the AL in runs scored. Scoring 4.9 per game is an upgrade for the Orioles but still not as good as the big boys. Boston, leading the league in runs, averages 5.45 runs per game and New York is second...

Well, Nationals fans. It's almost over. We're just three games away from the end of the 2011 season at Nationals Park. While the season doesn't officially end for the Nationals until next week, this weekend's three-game series with the Braves is the final homestand for our boys in the nation's capital. If you're heading to the park to take in one final game, there are plenty of perks to get you out there to root on the Nationals, who are aiming for that coveted .500 mark. Tonight in the...

Cincinnati's Drew Stubbs joined the 200-strikeout club last night. It's a very exclusive club. Total membership is two players. The meetings are really short. The "minutes" are actually seconds. Stubbs and Mark Reynolds are the only players in major league history to strike out 200 times in a single season. Reynolds has done it three straight years. Reynolds would have to strike out 15 times over the last six games to keep his streak alive. He'd rather avoid it if at all...

For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Vladimir Guerrero DH Matt Wieters C Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis 3B Nolan Reimold LF Alfredo Simon RHP For the Tigers: Jackson CF Kelly 3B Young LF Cabrera 1B Martinez DH Avila C Peralta SS Dirks RF Santiago 2B Porcello RHP

The Nationals' instructional league roster is chocked full of several prized teenage prospects from the team's Dominican academy, including 19-year old right-handed pitcher Ivan Pineyro. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris is pleased with what he has seen from these young players so far in camp, and credits the coaches and scouting department for working so hard to get them ready to play at this level. Harris singled out Nationals international scouting director Johnny...

Here we are at the last homestand of the season. For me, it's bittersweet. On the one hand, today's game begins a sort-of-sad countdown: three games left, two games left and before you know it, the last home game will be over. It's an end of sorts because every baseball season is a little different. The players change, the coaches change and the fan experience changes. Sure, these things are changing all the time, but transitions are bigger during the offseason. The end of the season will...

Ross Perot, Teddy Roosevelt, Ralph Nader - all spoilers. Now the Orioles have the opportunity to ruin another team's hard-fought season and crush the spirits of one of their hated rivals. I have stated in private company that I like this prospect. I have been known to say, "The tears of Red Sox fans sustain me" Or something along the same lines. I have been seen in public, reveling in the crowd shots of dejected Bostonians, clutching their pre-worn faux-vintage Red Sox hats in their...

What would you ask Jeremy Guthrie or Adam Jones if you had a chance to shoot the breeze with them? Maybe you want to know why Guthrie is so ga-ga over Justin Bieber. Or how Jones manages to blow a bubble as he slams into the outfield wall while making a catch. Perhaps you're interested in the pitcher's take on the O's offense or the center fielder's opinion on the Birds' pitching staff. Well, wonder no more. This afternoon, you can ask the pair of Orioles, well, just about...