You can only hope to contain it. The Orioles haven't swept a four-game series on the road since June 1995 in Chicago. They've already taken a 3-1 lead today in the top of the second inning. Who are these guys? They failed to score after Miguel Tejada reached third base with one out in the first inning, but Julio Lugo doubled in the second to tie the game, and Corey Patterson looped a double to left field with two outs to bring home two more runs. That's three doubles in the second...

On Saturday, General Manager Mike Rizzo announced that Jesus Flores experienced another setback in his long road back to the big leagues, saying the team will give Flores several days off from his throwing program after he recently experienced pain, once again, in his shoulder. Flores hasn't played with the team regularly for over a year and he's been rehabbing his shoulder since he had surgery to repair a torn labrum last September. The Nationals had hoped Flores would be ready by Opening...

On Sunday, the Nationals teamed up with the USO and Microsoft for an all-out military appreciation day to say thank you to local servicemen and women who continue to make sacrifices overseas and here at home. "This is a big deal for us," said USO Metro DC president Elaine Rogers. "It's a great way for volunteers to come together to say thank you to our troops and their families." Wounded warriors were treated to a special pre-game BBQ while over 100 volunteers made care packages for...

Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard met with the media before Sunday's game against the Giants after allowing four runs on two hits, one a home run, two walks and just one strikeout in 1/3 of an inning in Saturday's loss. It was his third setback in the last ten games in which his ERA has exploded to 11.00. "I think the bottom line is I am not making quality pitches when it counts," Clippard said. "I am making some good pitches - just not when it counts. "I have felt like I have been...

Look familiar? Corey Patterson LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Ty Wigginton DH Adam Jones CF Jake Fox 1B Craig Tatum C Julio Lugo 2B Cesar Izturis SS Jake Arrieta RHP Bengie Molina is the only Ranger who has faced Arrieta, going 1-for-3 with a strikeout. For the Rangers: Julio Borbon CF Michael Young 3B Ian Kinsler 2B Vladimir Guerrero DH David Murphy LF Nelson Cruz RF Bengie Molina C Chris Davis 1B Andres Blanco SS C.J. Wilson LHP

The Nationals are getting ready for the second half of the season with 73 games remaining on the schedule. The team can still make a move in the National League East, unlike last year when they reached the All-Star break 22 1/2 games out of first place and had already lost 61 games. Manager Jim Riggleman is confident the clubhouse is filled with the players that can get it done. "I think the world of our team because they play hard and they care. They suffer with the losses. They really...

Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann says he will pitch Wednesday, July 14 in his third rehab start against the Kinston Indians at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge. Zimmermann is expected to go four inning and 65 pitches. He was outstanding in his second start Thursday in Frederick, hitting 96 miles per hour on the fastball, striking out five over three innings, allowing a 1st inning double as the only hit and walking none. What impressed me the most was his major league tempo, not giving the...

As we continue our series of stories on the O's minor leagues today we look at the Orioles farm through the eyes and thoughts of an insider - Someone who has managed in that farm system since 2007 - current O's interim third base coach Gary Allenson. Until he took that position last month, Allenson had managed at Triple-A Norfolk since 2007, seeing most of the club's top prospects come his way at one time or another. "I think we've developed some pretty good players. It's still...

One of the biggest decisions teams make for their minor leaguers is when to promote players to higher levels. When is the time right? What if the player doesn't succeed at that level? How fast should prospects move through the system? O's president Andy MacPhail worked with David Stockstill when he headed up the O's farm system and now works with his brother, John, who is the current director of player development. The O's may be going through some subtle changes in philosophy in how...

It feels like I just got to Ocean Pines and I'm already prepared to make the return trip to Sykesville. I'll post the lineups and check the comments once I'm home. The usual drill. Before hitting the road, I wanted to point out the following: * The Orioles are hitting on the road. They're batting .301 in this series, with seven home runs and 14 extra-base hits. * The last time Cesar Izturis homered before last night, Brian Matusz was making his major league debut on Aug. 4 in Detroit....