The Washington Nationals optioned starting pitcher Yunesky Maya to Triple-A Syracuse yesterday in order to add another bullpen option for Jim Riggleman until Tom Gorzelanny makes his next expected start Sunday. While the demotion was expected, Maya didn't exactly do much to inspire the Nationals to make room on the roster to keep the 29-year-old Cuban. In four starts, Maya went 0-1 and posted a 6.88 ERA and a .325 batting average against. While some viewed his call-up as a chance for him to...

As the Orioles' ninth-inning rally fizzled out last night to extend their losing streak in Toronto to 16 games, it made me wonder how the team has fared late in games this season. I didn't remember a lot of come-from-behind victories for Baltimore this season and the numbers for the offense kind of show you why. OPS for Baltimore broken down by inning for 2011: Inning OPS 1st .592 2nd .688 3rd .683 4th .663 5th .814 6th .702 7th .798 8th .723 9th ...

If you didn't get a chance to hear Andy MacPhail interviewed Wednesday on 105.7 the Fan FM in Baltimore, you missed a good, wide-ranging interview with the Orioles' team president. He appeared on the Ken Weinman and Vinny Cerrato show that airs each weekday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m on the Fan. Many topics were addressed and here are some excerpts from the interview. MacPhail was asked about Brian Matusz: "He's healthy. For whatever reason, from where he was in spring training to the time he...

The Nationals' offense has rewarded its starting pitching with a couple of big offensive performances to begin a series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. Washington was down 6-1 in the fifth inning Tuesday, and erupted for seven runs to win, 8-6. Then, the Nationals crushed four home runs, two by red-hot Michael Morse, in a 10-0 shellacking of the Cardinals on Wednesday. It was a well-deserved reward for Livan Hernandez (4-8), who threw his 50th complete game and his ninth...

For the Orioles, this was a not-so-sweet 16. Toronto defeated the Orioles 4-1 to take the first two games of this series, beating the Orioles for the 16th consecutive time at Rogers Centre. The Orioles have not won there since Aug. 7, 2009. The Orioles have lost 21 of their last 22 and 25 of the last 27 games in Toronto. Gary Thorne talks with Buck Showalter about the Birds' 4-1 loss to Toronto Ricky Romero improved to 6-6 and took a three-hit shutout to the ninth. He was pulled after...

Remember that stat I passed along earlier today about the Orioles batting .239 against left-handed starters this season? They set out to prove tonight that it's not deceiving in any way. The Orioles have no runs and three hits in seven innings against Blue Jays southpaw Ricky Romero. They've struck out 10 times. And they're determined to waste Jake Arrieta's quality start. Arrieta has held Toronto to two runs in six innings. He's scattered nine hits. He's also waiting for the usual run...

Another loss tonight at Toronto for the Orioles would make 16 straight losses at Rogers Centre since they last won there Aug. 7, 2009. It would also set a franchise record for most consecutive road losses against one club. Believe it or not, the Orioles have three times lost 15 straight on the road versus an opponent. Here are the two others. * 15 straight losses at Seattle from June 2, 1999 to May 24, 2002. * 15 straight losses at Cleveland from April 30, 1955 to July 27, 1956. On the...

Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper is in the lineup for tonight's regularly scheduled game for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns at Lakewood. Harper took batting practice prior to the conclusion of Tuesday's suspended game. He was deemed good to start. Harper jammed his left thumb in Sunday's game and missed two games. He is batting .338 with 14 homers, 11 stolen bases and 43 RBIs in 60 games. Harper is 12-for-32 (.375) with three homers and seven RBIs in the month of June (span of 10...

The Nationals recalled right-handed reliever Collin Balester from Triple-A Syracuse before Wednesday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Balester has gotten into a nice groove at Syracuse. He was 2-0 with one save and a 3.24 ERA in 19 games, striking out 29 and allowing just one home run. Balester appeared in three Nationals games earlier this season and got roughed up a bit. But he has made an adjustment in his pitch choices. Balester said he has started to throw his changeup more...

The Washington Nationals today recalled right-handed pitcher Collin Balester from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and optioned right-handed pitcher Yunesky Maya to Syracuse. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Balester went 2-0 with one save and a 3.24 ERA in 19 relief appearances with Syracuse, posting 29 strikeouts in 25.0 innings at Triple-A this season. The 25-year-old has pitched 3.1 innings spanning...