The recent slew of one-run victories in Washington is enough to get the adrenaline of the players and fans to gush. After last night's 5-4 win versus the Chicago Cubs, Nationals organist Matt Van Hoose and I got to talking about the electricity that erupts in the park's seating bowl and creates an aura of energy from within in the confines of Nationals Park. When fans make noise in favor of the team and feel like they're a part of the motivating factor to win it, it really makes that much of...

We don't yet know whether Andy MacPhail will return after this season as the Orioles president of baseball operations. But if he does, MacPhail made it clear during an interview this week that he'd like director of scouting Joe Jordan to return on his staff. The contracts of both men are up after this season. Jordan took his current position in November of 2004 and has led the last seven O's drafts. "This thing is never going to work if Joe doesn't do his job well," MacPhail said....

I could keep beating the same drum about the Orioles' poor starting pitching, but it's starting to sound like a Neil Peart solo. And I'm not getting a Rush from it. See what I did there? Oriole starters have posted an 8.19 ERA in the last 12 games. You can find more distasteful stats if you go back further, but really, why do that to yourselves? "It needs to do better," president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said earlier this week. "I feel pretty good when (Jake) Arrieta,...

The Rangers completed their sweep of this three-game series tonight with a 13-5 victory over the Orioles. It wasn't that close. Orioles pitching allowed 18 hits to go with those 13 runs. Jim Hunter asks Buck Showalter his thoughts on the Birds' 13-5 loss to Texas Jeremy Guthrie surrendered six runs and eight hits in five innings. Michael Gonzalez gave up two runs and three hits in one inning. Brad Bergesen allowed four runs and four hits - including Mike Napoli's three-run shot - in one...

Jeremy Guthrie settled down after allowing four runs in the first inning, but the Rangers scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 6-2. Michael Gonzalez replaced Guthrie in the sixth. Guthrie allowed six runs and eight hits, increasing his ERA to 4.23. He threw 101 pitches, 60 for strikes. The Orioles had runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the sixth and failed to score. That won't help their runners in scoring position...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Senators left fielder Bryce Harper displayed some diversity and creativity in his offensive game Wednesday, as Double-A Harrisburg edged the Erie SeaWolves 4-3, before 3,052 at Metro Bank Park. Many fans have gotten used to the 32 extra base hits Harper produced at Single-A Hagerstown. But in his third game at the Double-A level, Harper showed how he is growing into a complete baseball player by adding facets to his hitting. Harper stroked three singles, the first one for an...

When a pitcher loads the bases with no outs, he figures to sit in the dugout after the inning and count all the runs he surrendered. Jeremy Guthrie was hoping to count his blessings, maybe hold the Rangers to one run. It didn't happen. The Rangers scored four runs in the bottom of the first to put the Orioles in a big, early hole. Guthrie gave up a leadoff double to Ian Kinsler and issued back-to-back walks to Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton. He lost Hamilton after getting ahead,...

The Orioles have come to terms with their 10th-round draft pick, University of Virginia right-handed pitcher Tyler Wilson. He went 10-0 with an ERA of 2.24 this year as a senior for a Cavalier team that made the College World Series. The Orioles have now signed six of their top 10 picks getting pitchers Mike Wright (round three), Kyle Simon (round four), Matt Taylor (round five), Trent Howard (round seven) and Devin Jones (round nine) along with Wilson. They have come to terms with 15 picks...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Double-A Senators lineup is in for tonight's game versus the Erie Seawolves. It is a beautiful night for baseball, the sun setting in a hazy sky, with little or no wind, and 91 degrees at Metro Bank Park. Here is Tony Beasley's lineup for Harrisburg tonight: Josh Johnson SS Adam Fox 2B Bill Rhinehart DH Tyler Moore 1B Chris Rahl CF Bryce Harper LF Archie Gilbert RF Devin Ivany C Stephen King 3B Right-hander Shairon Martis (5-3, 2.82 ERA) vs. RHP Brooks Brown (4-3,...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Nationals' No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper is well into his first week playing left field for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. In his first game, Harper had a pair of singles. In his second contest, he threw out two runners from left field trying to stretch singles into doubles. The transition for Harper from low Single-A to Double-A is in its infancy on the field, and his new teammates are smoothing that change out for the young star in the clubhouse. His teammates have...