Nats can't get ahead in regulation, lose in 10th (updated)
Nats can't get ahead in regulation, lose in 10th (updated)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
They waited all night for the hit that would break a deadlocked ballgame. Just one hit at the right moment to drive in the go-ahead run and put them on a path to sweep the Marlins. And when the Nationals couldn't get the job done during nine innings of traditional baseball, they were left to try to do it in extra innings of non-traditional baseball. Which didn't suit them very well. It was Miami that pushed across two runs in the top of the 10th off closer Brad Hand, while the Nats went down...
Birdland loses a great O's fan
Birdland loses a great O's fan
Steve Melewski
Orioles
This is the story of someone we lost too soon. But it's much more than that. It's about someone that was a great friend to many and impacted many lives, including mine when we were college classmates at Towson University, then known as Towson State University, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Brice Marden Freeman died from pancreatic cancer on April 10. He was 60. He made it to opening day this year, but after bravely battling this disease for about 18 months, he passed away early on this...
As Gomes and Avila rehab, Barrera earning starts behind plate
As Gomes and Avila rehab, Barrera earning starts behind plate
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
When the All-Star break arrived and they found themselves without either of their two experienced catchers due to injury, the Nationals elected not to go with a pair of rookies and instead signed 37-year-old René Rivera, who had recently been released by Cleveland. And then they thrust Rivera right into the lineup for Friday's second-half opener against the Padres, then again Saturday night. Rivera was back behind the plate Sunday for the resumption of the previous night's suspended game,...
Roster moves, draft pick updates, Kjerstad, Diaz and Rutschman
Roster moves, draft pick updates, Kjerstad, Diaz and Rutschman
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The painful blow delivered to the Orioles yesterday with a walk-off loss to the Rays concluded a trip that made them settle for .500 and kept them busy with roster activity. The Orioles dropped their 11th series in a row at Tropicana Field dating back to July 24-26, 2017. They're 2-14 in their last 16 games against the Rays. Their 29 losses in day games lead the majors. And then there's the roster activity. They had to put pitcher Keegan Akin and outfielder Anthony Santander on the COVID-19...
Game 95 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
Game 95 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The Nationals find themselves in a position to sweep the Marlins tonight, and that's exactly the position they hoped to be in at the start of this critical week. They've taken advantage of a softer schedule, and now they'll try to take complete advantage of it and win their third straight over Miami, fourth straight overall. Erick Fedde gets the start, and he'll look to do what Jon Lester and Paolo Espino did before him: Shut out the Marlins without issuing any walks. That latter part is...
Wells solid in first start, Rays with walk-off win  (updated)
Wells solid in first start, Rays with walk-off win (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The baseball side of Alexander Wells' life came at him hard again, with little interest in his comfort or convenience. The short notice that he'd make his first major league start this afternoon. The leadoff home run by Randy Arozarena. The two walks that followed in the inning and the run-scoring triple before an out was recorded in the second. Wells doesn't get flustered. He doesn't crumble beneath the pressure. He was wearing the uniform and living the dream. Maybe the quality of some...
O's game blog: Alexander Wells makes first major league start
O's game blog: Alexander Wells makes first major league start
Steve Melewski
Orioles
After splitting the first two games of their series against Tampa Bay, the Orioles and Rays meet today in an afternoon game which will wrap up this series and a six-game road trip for Baltimore. The Orioles (31-63) beat Tampa Bay 6-1 on Monday night behind Spenser Watkins and lost 9-3 last night. Lefty John Means returned from the injured list and took the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits over five innings. The Orioles are 18-33 on the road this season and 3-2 on this trip to Kansas City...
Akin and Santander placed on COVID-19 injured list
Akin and Santander placed on COVID-19 injured list
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles had to place pitcher Keegan Akin and outfielder Anthony Santander on the COVID-19 injured list this morning, following protocols laid out by Major League Baseball. Manager Brandon Hyde could only share a few details on his Zoom call with the media, saying he learned late last night about the situation. There is no minimum stay on the COVID list, which enables Akin and Santander to perhaps be reinstated in fewer than 10 days. At this point, there hasn't been evidence whether the...
Akin and Santander on injured list (plus lineups)
Akin and Santander on injured list (plus lineups)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles placed left-hander Keegan Akin and outfielder Anthony Santander on the injured list this morning and recalled left-hander Alexander Wells and outfielder Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk. Wells is making his first major league start. Akin was supposed to start this afternoon to close out the series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. He's 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA and 1.800 WHIP in 13 games (eight starts). He's allowing 12.5 hits per nine innings. Santander has been playing on a sore...
Nats won't decide to buy or sell until right before deadline
Nats won't decide to buy or sell until right before deadline
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
If their general manager is to be believed, the Nationals have nine more days to prove they deserve to be trade deadline buyers and not sellers. Mike Rizzo, taking questions from beat reporters Tuesday for the first time since April, outlined a two-pronged approach he plans to take as the July 30 trade deadline approaches. He could decide to buy or he could decide to sell. And it all depends on how his team plays during this critical stretch and what the standings look like at the end of...