WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Maybe it was Brian Peacock's bat. Maybe it was the slight breeze at Pfitzner Stadium. Maybe it was the early start time. Or maybe Destin Hood has found something in his swing. Nationals director of player development Doug Harris spoke about it last week, that Hood is close to getting that leverage that would make him an every day power hitter. "I think that the work (I have put in) has a lot to do with it," Hood said. "I am just trying to trust myself. I am not trying to...

Nick Markakis was in the middle of two crucial moments in tonight's game. If you've been following along, you know that he broke back toward second base on Vladimir Guerrero's one-out single into center field in the fourth inning. He also was incorrectly called out attempting to steal third base in the fifth inning. He'll first address his reaction to Guerrero's single: "That's a line drive right at you and your first natural reaction is to freeze, but I've got to do a better job of...

Manager Buck Showalter was ejected by third base umpire Phil Cuzzi in the fifth inning tonight, but he still handled the postgame session with the media. He didn't shower, dress and leave the ballpark. Cuzzi missed the call on Nick Markakis, who clearly beat Brent Morel's tag. "It's one of those things. It's unfortunate," Showalter said. "You can usually go back to three or four things that would have made it not matter, but it's tough. Obviously, he's safe, but it's tough. Things...

This was the night that Chien-Ming Wang dreamed about during those long hours rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder. Wang (1-2) notched his first major league win since June 28, 2009, and his first as a Washington National, going six innings, allowing just one hit and no runs. The Nationals scored all their runs in the sixth frame and defeated the Chicago Cubs, 3-1 at Wrigley Field. Davey Johnson's postgame comments after the Nationals beat the Cubs 3-1 at Wrigley on Tuesday Wang...

The Orioles entered this series with Chicago with a record of 10-2 in home games on the year decided by just one run. Now that record is 10-4. After last night's 7-6 loss, tonight the Orioles fell behind 4-0, before losing 4-3 to the White Sox. The Orioles have lost six of their last seven games, fall to 8-17 in the second half and they are 8-24 over the last 32 games. In his first start as an Oriole Jo-Jo Reyes, claimed a week ago on waivers from Toronto, gave up four runs in four innings...

Nationals right-hander Chien-Ming Wang has pitched very well so far against the Chicago Cubs. Wang has not allowed a hit through five innings and has induced 10 ground ball outs. He has walked two and hit one batter, but otherwise has looked much improved from his early struggles in his first two starts. Matt Garza has been equal to the task, striking out eight Nationals' through five innings. Garza has struck out every hitter in the Nationals lineup at least once, except for Ryan...

Need a reason to feel optimistic about tonight's game? Tommy Hunter has made one career start against the White Sox, back on July 3, 2010, and he held them to one run over seven innings. Adam Jones collected his 70th RBI last night in the Orioles' 113th game, putting him on pace for 100 RBIs this season. He would become the third center fielder in club history to reach the century mark. Name the other two. (Answer below. No fair looking it up.) Felix Pie had two more hits off Gavin Floyd,...

I pointed out this morning that Felix Pie was 7-for-12 lifetime against White Sox starter Gavin Floyd. Make it 8-for-13. Pie has walked and singled tonight, and he helped to fuel a three-run fifth inning that reduced Chicago's lead to 4-3. Matt Wieters, Pie and Robert Andino strung together hits to load the bases with no outs. Station-to-station worked in this case. Wieters scored on J.J. Hardy's fielders choice grounder, Nick Markakis followed with an RBI single and another run scored on...

Jo-Jo was a man that gave up two runs in the top of the second inning. Feel free to sing the rest on your own. After a 1-2-3 first inning on 16 pitches, Reyes gave up two runs in the second in his first Orioles start. Carlos Quentin hit a 390-foot homer and later Brent Morel, batting ninth, added an RBI single. In 20 starts for Toronto, Reyes allowed three runs or less in nine of his outings. The Blue Jays scored three or fewer runs for him in 10 of those games. Reyes has had two seasons end...

If you want to be one of the guys here, you've got to give up runs with two outs. That's especially true if you're part of the rotation. Jo-Jo Reyes, making his first start with the Orioles, retired the side in order in the top of the first inning. Paul Konerko worked Reyes for nine of the left-hander's 16 pitches before lining to left field. Carlos Quentin led off the second with a 390-foot home run, ending Reyes' bid for a perfect game. Reyes retired the next two batters, but he...