Before closing the book on today's 5-4 loss to the Pirates - and if an Orioles starter tried to do it, he'd probably pinch a finger and have his turn skipped - I wanted to revisit Blake Davis' major league debut. Davis went 0-for-4, though he made solid contact in his first two at-bats and advanced both runners with his drive to left-center field. But his day will be defined by his error that allowed two runs to score and gave the Pirates their final lead. I've seen Davis play second base...

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman updated the status of reliever Cole Kimball. Kimball is still feeling pain in his shoulder after throwing light sessions over the weekend. The medical staff has decided to shut him down for two weeks. Kimball has been on the disabled list since June 10 and had been making fairly good progress. "He is not feeling as good as he should be at this point," said Riggleman. Outfielder Rick Ankiel will not go with the team on their road trip to Chicago this...

Don't worry, Nationals fans. I wouldn't create such a tantalizing headline without actually meaning it. Thanks to Venga, the mobile application that gives subscribers the scoop on what's happening at bars, restaurants and nightlife venues around you, fans will have a chance to win tickets to the Nationals' doubleheader against Pittsburgh on July 2. Claiming the tickets couldn't be easier. Simply follow Venga on Twitter (@GoVenga) and tweet that you want to go to the game. It's that...

The Orioles fell to 10-15 in series finales with today's 5-4 loss to the Pirates. The road trip is finally over. They lost two games in Toronto, two in Washington and two in Pittsburgh. Not exactly how you'd draw it up. The Orioles are back to being a season-worst six games below .500. And now they've got the Reds and Cardinals coming to Camden Yards, followed by another three-city road trip, this one cutting through Atlanta, Arlington and Boston. Zach Britton turned in another quality...

For the Orioles today, the ball found a player making his major league debut at a key point in the game and the result was not good. Blake Davis, starting at second base, had a grounder go through his legs for an error in the last of the fifth, allowing two runs to score on the play. What should have been the third out instead cost the Orioles two runs as Pittsburgh moved ahead 5-4 on the play and won by that score. It should be pointed out that Davis played mostly right field and some...

This isn't how Blake Davis wants to remember his major league debut. Davis let a sharp two-out ground ball from Josh Harrison scoot through his legs in the fifth inning, allowing two runs to score and giving the Pirates a 5-4 lead. Zach Britton should have been out of the inning. Instead, he's trailing again and his pitch count continues to increase. It's up to 70 through the fifth. Britton isn't blameless here, of course, He surrendered back-to-back singles to open the fifth. He's...

Seeing Nick Markakis hit two doubles in today's game at Pittsburgh had to be a nice sight for Orioles fans. Markakis, formerly a doubles machine, had just seven doubles all year and this is his first game of the year with more than one double. Markakis, who had 43 or more doubles the last four years, was on a pace this year to produce just 16 doubles coming into today's game. Last season, he was tied for fourth in the American League with 45 doubles and he became just the third player in...

Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games today with a double in the first inning. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew about it. The Pirates lead, 2-0, as we head to the top of the second inning. Update: Markakis singled in the third to score Zach Britton, who collected his second major league hit and moved up on J.J. Hardy's single. That's two hits for Markakis in two at-bats. Adam Jones tied the game with a grounder. Orioles pitchers are 6-for-13 on this trip. Update...

The Nationals' young catcher Wilson Ramos made a coming-of-age play Tuesday with his dramatic three-run walk-off home run to stun the Seattle Mariners, 6-5. It is one of those hits that can make players and fans believe the Nationals can win any game at any time. The fact that it was the 23-year old Ramos who hit the homer shows that the Nationals' younger players are learning how to win games when given the opportunity. Last Thursday, 24-year old second baseman Danny Espinosa came to the...

Blake Davis is in the starting lineup today at second base. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Blake Davis 2B Zach Britton LHP Orioles pitchers are a combined 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate this year with two doubles and two RBIs. All other AL teams are a combined 9-for-120 (.075). Britton recorded his first major league hit Friday in Washington. The Orioles have collected 62 hits in the last five...