Left-hander Ross Detwiler takes to the hill in the series finale with the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night at Nats Park, opposed by right-hander Joe Blanton. Detwiler was thrilled to get that win last time out but says a lot of credit goes to the defense behind him. "I went six innings and the team really picked me up," said Detwiler on the Nats defense. "After they pinch hit for me there, I think they scored four or five runs and it ended up being the winning run....

One night after getting an outstanding outing from their starting pitcher, tonight the Orioles got one not nearly as good and lost 5-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays. With the win, Tampa clinched a playoff spot for the second time in team history. Brad Bergesen gave up runs in four straight innings and left after five tonight in his third start of the year vs. Tampa. Jim Hunter talks with Buck Showalter following the O's 5-0 loss to the Rays Bergesen allowed six hits and five runs over five...

Brad Bergesen walked three of the first six batters that he faced tonight, and the lapse in control cost him a run. Bergesen issued free passes to Matt Joyce and Carlos Pena leading off the second inning, and Joyce scored when B.J. Upton lined an 0-2 pitch into center field. Fortunately for the Orioles, Adam Jones caught Reid Brignac's fly ball and cut down Pena advancing to third base. Bergesen didn't issue a walk over nine innings in a Sept. 15 victory over Toronto, but he walked four...

Nationals' number one overall selection Bryce Harper connected on his first home run in an instructional league game against the Atlanta Braves today from Viera, Florida. Nationals hitting coordinator Rick Schu said it was an opposite field shot and that Harper also added a double in the rain-shortened game that was called in the third inning. Harper also smacked a triple on Friday and has fit in well in his first week at instructs, working with coach Tony Tarasco and others on defense in...

Brian Roberts has been scratched, apparently because of an illness, and Julio Lugo is taking his place atop the order and at second base. For the Orioles: 2B Julio Lugo SS Robert Andino RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton DH Jake Fox CF Adam Jones C Matt Wieters LF Nolan Reimold 3B Josh Bell P Brad Bergesen For the Rays: C John Jaso 2B Ben Zobrist LF Carl Crawford DH Dan Johnson RF Matt Joyce 1B Carlos Pena CF BJ Upton SS Reid Brignac 3b Sean Rodriguez P David Price

Brad Bergesen has posted a 2.31 ERA in his last 10 starts covering 70 innings, and he's left nine of those games with a lead or the scored tied. Bergesen has allowed three runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts and has worked at least seven innings in six of them. He's also won his last three decisions on the road, and seven of his 12 outings away from home have been quality starts, including the last five. In his last five road starts, Bergesen is 3-0 with a 1.49 ERA over 36 1/3...

If the Tampa Bay Rays win to wrap up a playoff berth, but no one is there to see it, did they really clinch? It seems quite a few people were surprised at the low turnout of 12,466 Monday night at Tropicana Field. With a win, the Rays would have clinched the second playoff berth in team history and Tampa-St. Pete apparently was not bubbling over with excitement. The Rays began Monday with the best record in the Majors and some of the game's most exciting young players. The team has a...

It's raining, it's Tuesday and I'm fighting the urge to crawl back into bed. Last night's 4-0 win over the Rays improved my mood, but a little sunshine would be nice, too. It also improved the Orioles' record on Mondays to 6-0 after an 0-8 start. Too bad we've run out of Mondays this season. One more victory and the Orioles will avoid losing 100 games, which didn't seem possible last month. They also might have set a record for most wins under a different manager in one...

Left-handed pitcher Tom Milone has been named the franchise's 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Milone went 12-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 27 starts for Double-A Harrisburg. Milone was very happy to be chosen for the honor by the Nationals because a lot of previous winners have gone on to pitch in the majors. "Obviously, it is a great honor being named player of the year for the whole system. That right there is an honor," Milone said. "There is long list of guys who have received...

Brian Matusz had another good outing vs. an AL East rival and the Orioles gave the Yankees some help by winning tonight vs. the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. Matusz gave up just three hits over seven innings as the Orioles beat the Rays 4-0 at Tropicana Field. He lowered his ERA to 3.70 vs. AL East opponents, his lowest mark vs. any division. Matusz, who got out of a bases-loaded jam in the 5th, walked two with eight strikeouts. He threw 94 pitches, 63 strikes and is now 9-12, 4.40. Jim...