So the Washington Nationals lose two in a row and folks are ready to run Davey Johnson out on a rail? A quick look this morning at different social media indicates just how fickle this fan base is. Comments such as "the old man doesn't know how to manage a pitching staff" and "I stayed up to watch that?" are prevalent. All of a sudden, the Nats have lost three of four and the walls are crumbling down. People, Rome wasn't built in a day. The Nats' remarkable winning streak over the last...

It hasn't become as rare as, say, seeing a pitcher throw a complete game anymore, but it still seems pretty rare in baseball these days. That is, seeing a relief pitcher pitch not one, but two innings, in an outing. It doesn't seem like that would be asking too much, but managers are always thinking ahead and know that a two-inning outing for a top reliever today could mean he can't be used tomorrow. In the last week or so, we have seen Buck Showalter use both Jim Johnson and Koji Uehara,...

J.J. Hardy has now homered in nine consecutive series and reached base in 31 of 34 games since May 21. Does missing a month with an oblique injury deny him an All-Star berth? He sure looks like a deserving candidate. Not much information came out of yesterday's pregame session with manager Buck Showalter. It wasn't his fault. It was just a slow day. I did find it interesting that Showalter admitted to having some concerns about the lack of production from the cleanup spot. And those...

Luke Scott is hoping that he'll remain in the lineup tomorrow night after slamming his right knee against the left field fence, but he can't be certain until he wakes up in the morning. Luke Scott talks about his knee injury following the O's 6-2 loss to the Cardinals "We'll see how it is," he said. "Contusions, or when you get hit by something, it varies on the swelling. The knee is a tough place. You've got to have your knees underneath you to do anything. It all depends on tonight...

Manager Buck Showalter reminded reporters tonight that we're not looking "at the finished body" when Zach Britton takes the mound. Britton is a rookie with limited experience above the Double-A level. He's also 6-6 with a 3.38 ERA after allowing four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings in tonight's 6-2 loss to the Cardinals. Britton has one victory in his last 10 starts. Buck Showalter meets with the media after the O's 6-2 loss to the Cardinals "This is a 23-year-old young man...

Luke Scott left tonight's game with a bruised right knee. He'll be reevaluated tomorrow. Scott slammed against the fence while robbing Matt Holliday of a home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. He limped back to the dugout and wasn't able to put a lot of weight on the knee. Showalter told reporters after the Orioles' 6-2 loss to the Cardinals that Scott didn't sustain any structural damage. Scott wanted to bat in the bottom of the ninth, but Showalter sent Blake Davis to...

The St. Louis Cardinals had lost five of six games and 12 of their last 15 before tonight's series opener at Camden Yards. Plus, they had the highest ERA in the majors during the month of June. Despite that, the Cardinals beat the Orioles 6-2 in tonight's series opener. Kyle Lohse, who entered with a career interleague ERA of 5.93, pitched five shutout innings before a rain delay. Lohse, who gave up four hits with one walk and two strikeouts, improved to 8-4 with an ERA of 2.78. The...

J.J. Hardy belted his 11th home run to finally put the Orioles on the scoreboard in the eighth inning. Hardy connected off Cardinals reliever Ryan Franklin, sending the ball an estimated 406 feet to left-center field. And you thought the night was going to be a total loss. You can't judge a trade this early, but giving up minor league relievers Jim Hoey and Brett Jacobson for Hardy during the winter meetings seems like a good one for the Orioles. Dare I say "steal?" Too soon? Adam...

Double-A Harrisburg right-hander Brad Peacock makes his 13th start of the season tonight at Richmond as he continues to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the Eastern League. Peacock's eight wins and 114 strikeouts in 12 starts this season are tops in the league, while his 2.28 ERA is second overall. Peacock was honored last week with the announcement that he will be pitching in the All-Star Futures Game on July 10 in Phoenix. "I am very excited," Peacock said. "I didn't even know...

The tarp is off the field and Clay Rapada is on the mound after a 28-minute rain delay. Rapada last pitched on Sunday, when he walked the only batter he faced. This is Rapada's second appearance since June 21. Zach Britton allowed four runs and seven hits, with two walks and three strikeouts, in 5 2/3 innings. He threw 90 pitches, 55 for strikes. Britton will have one win in his last 10 starts after tonight. I mentioned earlier today that Double-A Bowie infielder Billy Rowell was placed...