The Nationals minor league system was honored this season with most valuable player of the year awards handed out to Potomac's Tyler Moore and GCL Nationals Randolph Oduber. Nationals hitting coordinator Rick Schu says both players deserved their awards and greatly improved from the beginning of the season. Schu says Oduber, who hails from the island of Aruba and attended Western Oklahoma State College, came in and "really battled all season." "He had a great season in the GCL," says...

Pretty sly move by manager Buck Showalter to put Jake Fox in tonight's lineup. Showalter knew that Fox was 4-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs lifetime against Tigers starter Armando Galarraga. You can't keep that stuff a secret. Didn't matter that it was right-hander vs. right-hander. Didn't matter that Fox has been glued to the bench. Tonight was the right time to give Fox a start, and he just gave the Orioles a 3-1 lead with a two-run shot in the fifth inning. Does anyone...

For the Orioles: 2B Brian Roberts 3B Ty Wigginton RF Nick Markakis DH Luke Scott CA Matt Wieters CF Adam Jones LF Felix Pie 1B Jake Fox SS Cesar Izturis P Kevin Millwood For the Tigers: CF Austin Jackson 2B Will Rhymes DH Johnny Damon 1B Miguel Cabrera LF Ryan Raburn RF Brennan Boesch SS Jhonny Peralta 3B Brandon Inge CA Alex Avila P Armando Galarraga

Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa burst onto the scene at the beginning of September and ignited the team with his aggressive and exciting play in the Nats infield. He got off to a sizzling start at the plate as well, going 9-for-16 with 3 homers and 10 RBI in his first week. Coaches at Long Beach State saw the raw talent, energy, and passion from Espinosa when he was in his second year of high school. Former 49ers coach Mike Weathers recruited Espinosa, and current coach Troy...

After missing out on their first three-game sweep at New York in 24 years, the Orioles' road trip resumes at Detroit tonight where the Tigers host the O's in game one of a three-game series. The Orioles were also looking for the season's first five-game winning streak, but didn't get it on Wednesday. They have won four in a row six times. The Orioles have won eight of the past 12 games and are 21-14 under Buck Showalter They are 6-4-1 in 11 series since Showalter took over after...

Earlier this week the Orioles and Major League Baseball announced that Jeremy Guthrie was named the O's 2010 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. Guthrie is one of 30 nominees, one from each club, who are also finalists for the national award, which is given each year to "the Major League Baseball player who combines a dedication to giving back to the community with outstanding skills on the baseball field." In its ninth year, Roberto Clemente Day aims to honor Clemente's legacy and...

Expanding upon his acclaimed daily radio show simulcast on MASN, Redskins Hall of Famer John Riggins and MASN will launch a new, live postgame show after every Redskins game starting September 12 at 11:30 p.m. Riggo's Postgame Xtra will air live on MASN - and on the HD-3 channel of 103.5 FM - following the Washington-Dallas Sunday night tilt, as the incomparable and outspoken John Riggins provides instant analysis of the game. Throughout the month of September, Riggo will be joined in the...

I have to admit, I wait for this one all season. It's like my Christmas in September. I love Hispanic Heritage Night at Nationals Par. The music, the dancing, the PA announcements in Spanish -- it's a perfect celebration of the Latino influence in baseball. On Friday, the Nationals will honor Hispanic culture, as they do every season during Hispanic Heritage Month, with a pre-game flag ceremony highlighting each Hispanic player's home country including Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama,...

Just to avoid any controversies later in the game, umpire Jim Joyce already has given the Orioles an infield hit tonight. Mark it down in your scorebooks. Joyce actually will be working the plate tonight with Armando Galarraga on the mound in Detroit. It'll be another tearful reunion, with more reminders of Joyce's blown call on June 2 that denied Galarraga a perfect game. My guess is the Orioles better come out swinging, because Galarraga will have a wide strike zone. Galarraga is 0-2...

The Potomac Nationals pushed across a run in the top of the 7th vs. Nate Nery to break a 4-4 tie as the Nationals beat Frederick tonight 5-4 at Harry Grove Stadium. The win evens their best-of-five Northern Division Championship Series at a game each. The Keys took a 1-0 lead in the second when L.J. Hoes doubled and scored on Miguel Abreu's single. Frederick took a 4-1 lead by scoring three runs in the 4th. Billy Rowell doubled and scored on an error and catcher Brian Ward added a two-run...