When the Orioles signed Vladimir Guerrero, they probably envisioned he would have some big hits like he had today. After the Orioles were shut out on one hit through six innings this afternoon by Washington's Jordan Zimmerman, Guerrero provided the win with one key swing. His homer to left, a line shot on an 0-2 pitch, gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead in the seventh and they won by that score. "I was looking for a good pitch to hit. Just to make contact, not for a home run, and I hit it out,"...

Twice today, a Nationals batter struck out and Orioles catcher Matt Wieters threw out a runner attempting to steal second base to complete a double play. When will they learn? The game ended with Roger Bernadina taking Kevin Gregg's 3-2 breaking ball for strike three and Wieters cutting down pinch-runner Brian Bixler at second. Wieters made a perfect throw. And it's not like he caught a blazing fastball and gained additional time. We're talking an 82 mph pitch. Showalter has been telling...

You don't see many games end that way. With the Orioles nursing a 2-1 lead in the ninth and pinch runner Brian Bixler on first with one out, Kevin Gregg threw a 3-2 pitch to the Nats' Roger Bernadina, who had two hits in the game already. Bernadina took a called third strike, then Matt Wieters threw a quick strike. Bixler was caught stealing at second on a double play to end the Orioles' series-clinching win. Matt Wieters talks about his game-ending play following the Birds' 2-1 win "I...

This time, the Orioles' bullpen did not give up the lead. And, after giving up 17 runs in Friday's loss, the Orioles beat the Nationals today 2-1 at Camden Yards in front of 33,626 to come back and win this series, two games to one. The game ended on a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out double play as Matt Wieters caught pinch runner Brian Bixler trying to steal. After Chris Tillman gave up just one run and six hits over five innings, the 'pen combined to pitch four shutout innings and...

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann had retired 13 straight batters before Nick Markakis led off the seventh inning with a single into right field. Vladimir Guerrero followed with a two-run homer on an 0-2 pitch, his fifth of the season. Orioles 2, Nationals 1. Guerrero pumped his fist as he approached first base, and he pointed to the sky before crossing home plate. Guerrero had lined out and flied out before batting in the seventh, giving the Orioles the lead and improving his average to...

It's happening again. Chris Tillman has held the Nationals to one run over four innings, but he's thrown 86 pitches and manager Buck Showalter had Jeremy Accardo warming in the bullpen. Tillman hasn't posted a clean inning among the four. He's given up five hits, walked two and hit a batter. The Nationals loaded the bases with one out in the fourth on a double, walk and HBP. Ivan Rodriguez flied to right for the second out, with Jayson Werth holding at third base after Nick Markakis'...

Somewhat lost in the two pitching debacles of Thursday and Friday, where the Orioles allowed 30 runs over two games, is that the offense continues to make a slow, but steady resurgence. In the first two games of the series versus the Nats, the Orioles had 26 hits, batted .351, scored 13 runs and went 8-for-21 with runners in scoring position. Over the Orioles last 11 games, the team batting average is .298, raising the mark on the season from .233 to its current .251. Here is how some...

Chris Tillman's pitch count jumped to 34 after two innings, including 11 to Danny Espinosa to end the second. Espinosa fouled off five straight pitches before taking a third strike. Catcher Matt Wieters threw out Michael Morse attempting to steal second base to complete the double play. Tillman fell behind, 3-0, to Espinosa, so it was an impressive battle. Second baseman Brian Roberts will be examined by another concussion specialist Tuesday in Pittsburgh, in case there were any lingering...

The Nationals could be leading, 1-0, after the top of the first inning, but plate umpire Todd Tichenor ruled that Roger Bernadina was out of the batter's box while laying down a bunt on the second pitch of the game. Bernadina reached on an apparent single before being ruled out. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman earned an ejection from Tichenor, and I'm sure his mood didn't improve when Ian Desmond followed with a double to center field. Bernadina most likely would have scored on the...

Now that he is on his third day in the big leagues, Ryan Adams is getting more and more comfortable being in a big league clubhouse. He made his major league debut Friday night, batting ninth at second base and got his first hit, going 1-for-4 against Washington. He has been hearing from a lot of family and friends since his call-up from Triple-A Norfolk, but he said today it took a while for some of those messages to get to him. "When I was in Lehigh Valley, before we went to Syracuse, my...