Don't forget, the Nats will host a blood drive on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Nationals Park. All blood donors will receive two tickets to a future Nationals game, a limited edition Build-A-Bear Workshop bloodhound and the opportunity to take an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Nationals Park. Inova Blood Donor Services supplies lifesaving blood and blood products to 15 different hospitals in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Donations help cancer and trauma patients, newborns...

On this day in 1999, Cal Ripken Jr. became the first Oriole to go 6-for-6 in a game, as the O's scored the most runs in franchise history (at that time) on their way to a 22-1 win over the Braves. Cal's six-hit game is still an Orioles single-game record, as are the five runs he scored off of his six hits in that game as well. Miguel Tejada was the last Oriole to come close with a five-hit game on July 9, 2005 versus the Boston Red Sox at OPACY. The O's topped their single-game run...

The Orioles have agreed to terms with these picks from this week's First-Year Player Draft: The round they were drafted in follows the player's name. Jeremy Nowak (13), Michael Mosby (14), Joseph Oliveira (15), Vincent Zazueta (25), Austin Goolsby (26), Michael Rooney (30), Adam Gaylord (31), Steven Mazur (33), Samuel Starr (34), Joseph Donaldson (35), Brad Decater (36), Jeremy Shelby (38), Jacob Petit (42), Preston Hale (44) and Cody Young (47). Scouting director Joe Jordan said earlier...

It wasn't too long ago that we were fretting over David Hernandez's tendency to walk batters and give up home runs. Now he's looking like a potential closer. I see no reason to hang that label on him, or anyone else, as I've pointed out. Hernandez doesn't have to be the automatic choice in the ninth inning. Alfredo Simon doesn't have to be the automatic choice in the ninth inning. Go with the hot hand - or the more rested arm. Interim manager Juan Samuel has indicated that Simon will...

Nats pitcher Sean Burnett was thrilled to get a shot at his former team and help the Nats sweep the Bucs 4-2. Burnett allowed a couple of hits, but struck out Jason Jamarillo and bridged the gap from the sixth to the ninth inning, allowing Tyler Clippard to come on in the ninth for his first save of his major league career. "Yeah, its always good to beat your buddies. I guess you have bragging rights until the next time that you face them. I still have a a lot of good friends over there. ...

OK, since I cautioned fans not to read too much on the plus or negative side of Jake Arrieta's first Major League start, I won't either. I won't gush about his solid performance vs. the Yankees or say I told you so about him making his first big league start vs. New York. But it was a good night to see an O's fifth-round pick get the win throwing heaters at the start and an O's 16th-round pick doing the same at the end. David Hernandez recorded his first Major League save, needing 13...

Charlie Beamon, Koji Uehara and Jake Arrieta. Those are the three Orioles starting pitchers that beat the Yankees in a start in their Major League debuts. After the game, Arrieta had to deal with inquiring reporters and answering questions with shaving cream still an issue. "I got a little build up in my ears, so I'll do my best to hear you guys." Jake Arrieta talks with the media about his first Major League win He handled that well, too. "It's real satisfying to throw well in my...

Interim manager Juan Samuel let Jake Arrieta pitch out of a sixth-inning jam, in part because he was responsible for putting the rookie in it by ordering two intentional walks. "It never crossed my mind, getting him out of there," Samuel said. "I'm like, he's going to work his way out of this, so it never crossed my mind taking him out. "I think you saw him pump his fist after getting that third out. He was pretty excited. I know it was a tough situation. We walked some hitters for him,...

David Hernandez got his first shot at closing tonight, and his first pitch was a 96 mph fastball. Jake Arrieta threw serious heat at the Yankees in the first inning, and Hernandez did the same in the ninth. Marcus Thames took a big cut and flied to the warning track in right. One pitch, one out, one scare. Hernandez walked No. 9 hitter Kevin Russo to put the tying run on base, but he got ahead of Derek Jeter with a 97 mph fastball and induced a harmless fly ball to right with a 96 mph...

If Jake Arrieta just had not walked number nine hitter Chad Moeller leading off the top of the third. That led to two Yankees runs, but this young man did a very solid job in his Major League debut. He might beat the Yankees and A.J. Burnett in his Major League debut since he leaves with a 4-3 lead after six innings. Arrieta tonight: 6IP, 4H, 3R-ER, 4B, 6K. He threw 106 pitches, 61 for strikes. He showed the confidence and poise we heard that he had. The Yankees hitters went just 4 for...