O's game blog: Looking for a series win against Boston

Jordan Lyles throws white wide

After last night’s 2-1 win in 10 innings over Boston on a throwing error by the Red Sox, the Orioles and Sox have split the first two games of this series. They have scored seven runs combined in the games.

Today, the Orioles (7-14) host Boston (9-13) in the rubber game in the series. A win would give the Orioles their third series victory of 2022 and they are 1-1 in rubber games.

Last night was the club’s second walk-off win of the season and they are now 2-0 in extra-inning games. They are 4-4 at home and 3-8 versus the American League East, and the win ended a five-game losing streak for the Orioles.

They continue to play a lot of close games, with 13 of the 21 decided by two runs or less. Baltimore is 4-4 in one-run games and 1-4 in two-run games.

The Orioles are moving into what looks like a bit of a softer spot in their schedule. The combined records of the teams they played in their first six series – the Rays, Brewers, Yankees, Oakland and Angels – is 66-41 through Saturday, for a win percentage of .617. The combined records of the teams they play the next five series starting with this one – the Red Sox, Twins, Royals, Cardinals and Tigers – is 46-54 for a win percentage of .460.

Mancini remains out of Orioles lineup for series finale

Trey Mancini catch into wall black

The Orioles conclude the first of three series on the homestand this afternoon with Jordan Lyles starting and Trey Mancini on the bench.

Mancini wasn’t available last night after bruising his ribs Friday while making a catch in right field and slamming into the wall. He said yesterday that he was fine, but manager Brandon Hyde wanted to rest him.

Mancini is 1-for-14 with a home run against Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta.

Tyler Nevin is starting at first base. Ryan Mountcastle is the designated hitter.

Ramón Urías is the third baseman, with Kelvin Gutiérrez out of the lineup for the third game in a row. Jorge Mateo is the shortstop.

Crowd salutes Zimmerman, then Sox beat 'pen (updated)

Crowd salutes Zimmerman, then Sox beat 'pen (updated)
The outcome of the game was important - to the Red Sox. The Nationals wanted to respect that. And yet there were things the Nats felt they needed to do in this Game 162, whether putting a 23-year-old rookie on the mound for his major league debut, giving a retiring catcher a chance to take the field one last time or giving a potentially retiring franchise icon a chance to depart the field to the celebration he deserves. So it was that today's season finale played out on South Capitol Street in...

Rizzo: After low point this year, improvement expected in 2022

Rizzo: After low point this year, improvement expected in 2022
Mike Rizzo wasn't about to put a timetable on the Nationals' rebuilding project to become a contender again, but the longtime general manager seemed to make it clear today in an end-of-season session with reporters that he views this year as the low point in the process, with significant improvement expected in 2022. "Our goal is to win," Rizzo said during a 25-minute session in the home dugout prior to the Nationals' season finale. "It's to win the division. It's to win the World...

Game 162 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox

Game 162 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox
Well, here we are. It's Game 162, the end of a long and winding and eventful but ultimately disappointing baseball season in the nation's capital. If someone told you on opening day everything that would transpire over the ensuing six months, would you have believed it? Probably not. There is, however, meaningful baseball to be played today on South Capitol Street. Perhaps not so meaningful for the Nationals, but critical to the Red Sox, who enter the day tied with the Yankees atop the...

Martinez says Hickey will return, less definitive on other coaches

Martinez says Hickey will return, less definitive on other coaches
The Nationals pitching staff enters today's season finale sporting a 4.79 ERA, seventh-worst in the majors. And that number has only gotten worse as the season has played out. Since the All-Star break, the Nats' ERA is a gaudy 5.60, third-worst in the majors. So as they prepare to evaluate what went wrong this year, and what changes could be necessary to try to prevent it from happening again, the Nationals would be expected to at least consider whether pitching coach Jim Hickey deserves any...

Nats drop wild game, Red Sox move closer to wild card (updated)

Nats drop wild game, Red Sox move closer to wild card (updated)
The closest the Nationals are going to get to meaningful October baseball occurred around 7 p.m. tonight on South Capitol Street, as the sun set behind the first base stands, the temperature inched down toward the 60s, and a sellout crowd of 41,465 watched in nervous anticipation as the most feared hitter in the sport stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth and the home team trailing by a run. "I love that feeling," Juan Soto said in his Zoom session with...

Parra activated, García sits again, Adon could pitch Sunday

Parra activated, García sits again, Adon could pitch Sunday
Gerardo Parra is getting one last shot to finish the season on the field, but it appears Luis García's season may have already ended. Parra was activated off the 10-day injured list prior to this afternoon's game against the Red Sox, with left-hander Josh Rogers placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. It's a fortuitous break for Parra, who last played Sept. 4 before being taken off the roster with inflammation in his right knee. The popular veteran outfielder, whose future beyond...

Game 161 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox

Game 161 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox
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Fans thank Schwarber for memorable half-season in D.C.

Fans thank Schwarber for memorable half-season in D.C.
Kyle Schwarber was meeting a friend of his on the Cubs coaching staff who was in town for the upcoming weekend series in D.C. at 10:30 p.m. on July 29 when his phone rang and Mike Rizzo's name showed up as the caller. He didn't need the Nationals general manager to tell him why he was calling, only to tell him the name of the team he had just been traded to. Turns out it was the Red Sox, who were sending pitching prospect Aldo Ramirez to the Nats in exchange for the 28-year-old slugger....

Rogers fades late, Nats can't rally to beat Red Sox (updated)

Rogers fades late, Nats can't rally to beat Red Sox (updated)
It had been a while since Nationals Park experienced this kind of energy, provided by a crowd of 32,521 filled with fans with varied reasons to get amped up for the opener of the season's final series. Some were excited to see Juan Soto's last charge for a batting title and possible MVP honor. They perhaps took solace in the four walks he drew - the last of them his 144th of the season, something only Barry Bonds had previously done this century - but that's not really what they came to...

Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox

Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox
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What's in store for Zimmerman during final weekend?

What's in store for Zimmerman during final weekend?
At some point in each of the next three evenings, Ryan Zimmerman is going to step to the plate at Nationals Park and receive a massive ovation each time. It won't matter what he does, whether he drives a ball off the wall for a double or strikes out on three pitches. The crowd will shower him with adulation whenever his name is mentioned, anytime he does anything of note, really, on the field. And when he steps off the field for the last time during or after Sunday's season finale against the...

Corbin won't pitch again in 2021, Sunday starter TBD

Corbin won't pitch again in 2021, Sunday starter TBD
Turns out Patrick Corbin's start Tuesday night in Colorado was his final outing of the season. Nationals manager Davey Martinez met with the left-hander this morning and emerged with the decision not to send him back to the mound for one final start in Sunday's season finale against the Red Sox, for both physical and emotional reasons. "You saw Patrick make his last start yesterday," Martinez said in his Zoom session with reporters prior to today's game against the Rockies. "He's got a...

Gray, Corbin could each get one more start this weekend

Gray, Corbin could each get one more start this weekend
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Schwarber to Red Sox, Hudson to Padres (updated)

Schwarber to Red Sox, Hudson to Padres (updated)
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Another bad start for Voth, another series loss for Nats (updated)

Another bad start for Voth, another series loss for Nats (updated)
The 2020 season is now more than halfway complete, and the defending World Series champs still have won only a single three-game series. Not even a weekend at Fenway Park against a Red Sox roster that is now a shell of its 2018 championship form could cure what ails the Nationals. The 2019 champs still can't get consistent starting pitching or consistent offensive production with runners on base. And because of that, the Nats lost again this afternoon, 9-5, for yet another series loss and yet...

After fortuitously timed signing, Holt hopes to help Nats

After fortuitously timed signing, Holt hopes to help Nats
Though he knew he wouldn't be re-signing with the Red Sox last winter and wound up with the Brewers instead, Brock Holt decided to keep living in his suburban Boston home. So when the veteran utility man was designated for assignment last week, he returned home and decided to enjoy the time with his pregnant wife, Lakyn, and their 3-year-old son, Griffin, while waiting to get a call from another club. The call came Friday from the Nationals, and Holt was eager to join the defending World...

Game 31 lineups: Nats at Red Sox

Game 31 lineups: Nats at Red Sox
The 2020 regular season is now 50 percent complete, and the Nationals have won exactly one series to date. And even that requires an asterisk: They won both of their designated "road" games against the Blue Jays at Nationals Park, which officially counted as its own two-game series even though it immediately followed Toronto's two straight wins in the same park with the Nats serving as home team. Point is, this team simply hasn't been able to get onto any kind of modest roll and at least...

Braymer all smiles after "humbling and awesome" debut

Braymer all smiles after "humbling and awesome" debut
Ben Braymer, like every young ballplayer, had always wondered what his major league debut would look like. He had conjured up some images in his head, perhaps imagining a start at Nationals Park against the Braves or Phillies. Or maybe he'd be on the road in a hostile environment like Philadelphia. But Fenway Park? In relief? With no fans in attendance? While wearing a nameless No. 42 jersey? None of that ever crossed the left-hander's mind until it all happened to him Friday night during the...