WASHINGTON - The Orioles have lost four of five games on this road trip and are a season-high six games under .500, but at least they're not healthy. Let's review today's physical issues: Luke Scott left the game with back spasms and is day-to-day. Brian Matusz left the game with cramping in his left hamstring and is questionable to make his next start, though manager Buck Showalter seemed encouraged after today's 4-2 loss to the Nationals. Buck Showalter gives updates for several...

On a day when the Orioles had two players leave the game injured, they also scored just two runs in a 4-2 loss to the Nationals in front of 36,614 at Nats Park. Luke Scott left the game in the fourth with back spasms and starting pitcher Brian Matusz left during the Nats three-run sixth with left hamstring cramps. Both players are listed as day-to-day. The Nationals scored three times in the last of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie. Michael Morse hit a two-run homer off Matusz to right field to...

Nationals right-handed reliever Cole Kimball had two throwing sessions Saturday under the supervision of bullpen coach Jim Lett and head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz to test his injured shoulder. He said the sessions went very well and his throwing shoulder showed no pain during the workouts. Kimball has been on the disabled list since June 10 with shoulder inflammation. Kimball threw two sessions and 60 feet and felt "pretty good" afterward. "There was no pain," Kimball said. "I am...

WASHINGTON - A fairly promising start for Brian Matusz, at least statistically, has ended prematurely when he walked off the field with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells in the bottom of the sixth. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the inning. Ryan Zimmerman doubled with one out and Michael Morse hit an opposite-field two-run homer to give Washington a 3-1 lead. Danny Espinosa singled and stole second base as left-hander Clay Rapada began to warm up. With a 3-1 count on Jerry Hairston...

Brian Matusz is having a good start so far today in Washington. We'll see whether that continues deep into this game, but his outing so far is very encouraging. Some fans will say it's because he is throwing harder today and his velocity seems up a tick or two from earlier starts. But with Matusz it is almost never about the velocity. It's about his excellent four-pitch assortment, commanding those pitches and keeping the hitters off balance. When he can work ahead in the count and use all...

WASHINGTON - Derrek Lee is 2-for-2 today, making him 7-for-7 in this series. Felix Pie pinch-hit for Luke Scott in the fourth inning and singled to right field to move Lee to third base after a one-out double. No word yet on why Scott came out of the game. Update: Scott left the game with mid-back spasms. He's day-to-day. Maybe Jeremy Guthrie is contagious. Brian Matusz has allowed one run in three innings, on Ryan Zimmerman's shot into the last row of seats in left field, and it's a...

The Nationals and Orioles under way in their fifth meeting of the season. Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz is facing Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmerman. With a victory, the Nationals can guarantee at least a season split with the Birds. Washington has won both series hold on,openers by a combined score of 25-9. The Orioles got to Zimmermann early with a solo homer by Adam Jones in the top of the first. The blast to left field came with two men out. The Nationals countered with the...

WASHINGTON - The sun is out, the game has started and Adam Jones has launched his 10th home run deep into the left field seats, but I wanted to pass along a few comments from manager Buck Showalter. On Jeremy Accardo: "He was trying to make some adjustments to get a little more movement, get guys off him. I mean, he had a lot of balls squared up off him that were at people, too. His numbers were actually, going into last night, a little better than he actually pitched. We keep a thing about...

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond stole two bases Friday and now has a career-high 20 stolen bases in his first 64 games of the season. Last year, he had 17 stolen bases in 154 games. The Nationals are being more aggressive on the basepaths and taking advantage of Desmond's speed to put pressure on the opposition to not make mistakes. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said the team is running more this season, but they have to be careful with Desmond because he is still nursing a sore left...

WASHINGTON - Jeremy Guthrie tested his sore back by playing catch today, making 40 throws and expanding the distance to 90 feet. Guthrie was diagnosed yesterday with a mild strain. He hopes to throw a bullpen session tomorrow and make Tuesday night's start in Pittsburgh. "I'll see how my body feels, but tomorrow's my bullpen day," he said. "It's improved. It's improved every day. I won't say it's completely gone, but it's improving every day." Challenged to give reporters a...