Nationals lose at San Diego 2-1 on Saturday night (May 18, 2013).

The Facts:
1.    The Nats fell to 23-20 overall.

2.    The Nats fell to 16-18 since their 7-2 start.

The Negatives:
1.    The Nats went just 4-for-26 overall.
     a.    Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

     b.    Second baseman Danny Espinosa went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and now is batting .168 this season.

     c.    Shortstop Ian Desmond went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

     d.    Right fielder Tyler Moore went 0-for-3.

     e.    Center fielder Denard Span went 0-for-3 with a walk.

The Positives:
1.    Starter Jordan Zimmermann tossed a complete game, allowing two runs (one earned) in eight innings.  He had six strikeouts versus seven hits, no walks and a hit-by-pitch on 85 pitches.  Zimmermann did commit a throwing error (1) on a pickoff attempt during the Padres’ one-run eighth inning but also had a single.  He fell to 7-2 with a 1.62 ERA over nine starts this season.
     a.    The Nats now have an MLB-worst 36 errors this season.

2.    Left fielder Steve Lombardozzi had an RBI single and a walk.

Injury/Absence/Roster Update:
1.    20-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper did not play due to a sore left knee stemming from colliding with the right field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning of Monday night’s 6-2 win at the Dodgers.

2.    Ross Detwiler will not make his next scheduled start due to back spasms.

3.    Catcher Wilson Ramos is on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

4.    Right fielder Jayson Werth is on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.  He did not play for the 16th time in 17 games.

5.    Pitcher Christian Garcia is on the 15-Day disabled list with a right-forearm tendon injury.

Orioles lose to Tampa Bay 10-6 on Saturday (May 18, 2013).

The Facts:
1.    The O’s fell to 23-19 overall.

2.    The O’s lost for the fifth time in six games.

The Negatives:
1.    The Rays scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning.
     a.    Closer Jim Johnson allowed five runs and recorded just one out in the ninth inning, falling to 14-for-16 on saves this season as he blew his second consecutive save chance.  He faced six batters: groundout, solo homer, walk, walk, single, two-run double.

     b.    Reliever Darren O’Day allowed a run and recorded two outs in the ninth inning.  He faced five batters: two-run double, double, intentional walk, bases-loaded walk, double play.

2.    20-year-old third baseman Manny Machado went 0-for-5 with a strikeout.

3.    Catcher Matt Wieters went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and a walk.

The Positives:
1.    The O’s went 13-for-39 overall and 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
     a.    Center fielder Adam Jones had a two-run homer (6), a single, a walk and an RBI fielder’s choice.

     b.    First baseman Chris Davis had a solo homer (12) and a single and finished with two runs.

     c.    Left fielder Nate McLouth had two singles, a walk, two stolen bases and two runs.

     d.    Shortstop J.J. Hardy had an RBI double and a single.

     e.    Right fielder Nick Markakis had an RBI double, two singles and a run.  He did get caught stealing.

2.    Reliever Tommy Hunter tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

3.    Reliever Brian Matusz retired the only batter he faced.

Injury/Roster/Absence Update:
1.    The O's selected the contract of starter Jair Jurrjens (jah-EER JER-jihnz) from Triple-A Norfolk.  He allowed four runs in five innings on six hits, a walk and a wild pitch versus five strikeouts on 75 pitches in his Orioles debut.

2.    The O's recalled pitcher Jake Arrieta from Triple-A Norfolk.  He's expected to be used as a reliever.

3.    The O's placed outfielder Nolan Reimold on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.  

4.    The O’s optioned second baseman Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A Norfolk after the game.

5.    The O's optioned reliever Alex Burnett to Triple-A Norfolk.

6.    The O's transferred second baseman Brian Roberts to the 60-day disabled list.  He underwent right hamstring surgery on May 9 and was expected to be out about six more weeks.

7.    Starter Wei-Yin Chen (WAY-YIHN CHEHN) is on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain.  

8.    Starter Miguel Gonzalez is on the 15-day disabled list with a right thumb blister.

9.    Infielder Wilson Betemit (BEH-teh-meet) is on the 60-day disabled list with a right PCL tear.

10.    Pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada (soo-YOH-shee WAH-duh) is on the 60-day disabled list.  He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on May 11, 2012.

11.    Starter Zach Britton is at Triple-A Norfolk.

12.    Starter Steve Johnson is at Triple-A Norfolk.

Nationals win at San Diego 6-5 in 10 innings on Friday night (May 17, 2013).

The Facts:
1.    The Nats improved to 23-19 overall.

The Positives:
1.    Chad Tracy had a pinch solo homer (1) in the top of the 10th inning.  Nats pinch hitters now are 9-for-53 with one RBI this season.

2.    First baseman Adam LaRoche blasted two homers (6 and 7): three-run bomb in the fourth inning and a solo shot in the sixth inning.  He did strike out twice.  LaRoche now is 19-for-48 over his last 14 games.  

3.    Starter Gio Gonzalez allowed three runs (two earned) in 6 2/3 innings on five strikeouts versus six hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch on 115 pitches.  He also committed a throwing error (1).  Gonzalez now has a 4.01 ERA over nine starts this season.

4.    Reliever Tyler Clippard tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

5.    Reliever Drew Storen tossed a scoreless 10th inning, though he did give up two singles.

The Negatives:
1.    The Nats went just 7-for-36 overall, struck out 15 times and totaled just two walks.
     a.    Second baseman Danny Espinosa went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and now is batting just .172 this season.

     b.    Center fielder Denard Span went 0-for-5 with a strikeout.

     c.    Left fielder Steve Lombardozzi went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and now is batting just .205 this season.

     d.    The Nats are 27th out of 30 MLB teams with 150 runs.

     e.    The Nats are 27th out of 30 MLB teams with a .375 slugging percentage.

     f.     The Nats are 28th out of 30 MLB teams with a .292 on-base percentage.

     g.    The Nats are tied for 28th out of 30 MLB teams with a .230 batting average.

2.    The Nats continued to struggle defensively.
     a.    The Nats committed three errors and now have committed an MLB-worst 35 errors this season.
          i.    Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman committed a throwing error (9) during the Padres’ two-run ninth inning and now has an MLB-worst nine errors.  He did have a solo homer (2) in the sixth inning and a single and did finish with two runs.

          ii.   20-year-old right fielder Bryce Harper committed a throwing error (3) during the Padres’ two-run first inning.  He did have a single, a walk and a run.

     b.    Catcher Kurt Suzuki went 0-for-2 on runners trying to steal and now is a National League-worst 2-for-21 on runners trying to steal this season.  He also struck out twice but did have a single.

3.    Closer Rafael Soriano allowed two runs (both unearned) in the ninth inning on three singles, falling to 12-for-14 on saves this season.

Injury/Absence/Roster Update:
1.    Manager Davey Johnson said that Ross Detwiler will not make his next scheduled start due to back spasms.

2.    Catcher Wilson Ramos is on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

3.    Right fielder Jayson Werth is on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.  He did not play for the 15th time in 16 games.

4.    Pitcher Christian Garcia is on the 15-Day disabled list with a right-forearm tendon injury.

Orioles lose to Tampa Bay 12-10 on Friday night (May 17, 2013).

The Facts:
1.    The O’s fell to 23-18 overall.

2.    The O’s lost for the fourth time in five games.

The Negatives:
1.    Starter Jason Hammel allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings on 10 hits and two walks versus four strikeouts on 99 pitches.  He fell to 5-2 with a 5.72 ERA over nine starts this season.
     a.    Birds starters are 23rd out of 30 MLB teams with a 4.86 ERA.

2.    Reliever Alex Burnett faced six batters in relief of Hammel: walk, RBI double, two-run single, walk, strikeout, double.

3.    Reliever Troy Patton allowed two runs in two innings on four hits and a walk.

The Positives:
1.    The O’s scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and went 13-for-39 overall and 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
     a.    The O’s are tied for second in MLB with 206 runs, are fourth in MLB with a .437 slugging percentage and are sixth in MLB with a .762 OPS.

     b.    Shortstop J.J. Hardy had a solo homer (8) in the second inning, a single and a walk and finished with two runs.

     c.    Left fielder Chris Dickerson blasted a three-run homer (1) to cap that six-run eighth.

     d.    First baseman Chris Davis had a two-run single in the first inning, a double and a run.  He leads MLB with a .662 slugging percentage and is second in MLB with a 1.072 OPS and 39 RBI.

     e.    DH Nate McLouth had a triple, a single and two runs.

     f.     Second baseman Yamaico (yuh-MY-koh) Navarro had a triple, a single and a run.

     g.    Catcher Matt Wieters had a two-run single and a run in the eighth inning.  He did commit a passed ball (2).

     h.    20-year-old third baseman Manny Machado had a double, two RBI groundouts and a run.  He is tied for first in MLB with 18 doubles and is second in MLB with 60 hits.

2.    Reliever Brian Matusz tossed a perfect eighth inning.

3.    Reliever Pedro Strop tossed a perfect ninth inning.

Injury/Roster/Absence Update:
1.    Starter Jair Jurrjens (jah-EER JER-jihnz) is expected to make his Orioles debut and start against the Rays on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.  The O’s signed him as a non-roster invitee prior to the season.  Jurrjens was an All-Star with Atlanta in 2011 but has struggled since the second half of that season, as he’s dealt with right knee problems.

2.    Starter Wei-Yin Chen (WAY-YIHN CHEHN) is on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain.  

3.    Starter Miguel Gonzalez is on the 15-day disabled list with a right thumb blister.

4.    Second baseman Brian Roberts, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain, underwent right hamstring surgery on May 9 and was expected to be out about six more weeks.

5.    Infielder Wilson Betemit (BEH-teh-meet) is on the 60-day disabled list with a right PCL tear.

6.    Pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada (soo-YOH-shee WAH-duh) is on the 60-day disabled list.  He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on May 11, 2012.

7.    Starter Jake Arrieta is at Triple-A Norfolk.

8.    Starter Zach Britton is at Triple-A Norfolk.

9.    Starter Steve Johnson is at Triple-A Norfolk.

Nationals win at San Diego 6-2 on Thursday night (May 16, 2013).

The Facts:
1.    The Nats improved to 22-19 overall.

The Positives:
1.    Starter Stephen Strasburg allowed two runs (one earned) in a career-high eight innings on four strikeouts versus three hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch on 117 pitches.  Strasburg improved to 2-5 with a 2.83 ERA over nine starts this season.

2.    Closer Rafael Soriano tossed a scoreless ninth inning and now has tossed 14 scoreless innings over his last 14 games.

3.    The Nats went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position and totaled five walks.
     a.    First baseman Adam LaRoche had a two-run homer (5) in the fourth inning and a walk.  He now is 17-for-44 over his last 13 games.  

     b.    Second baseman Steve Lombardozzi had an RBI single and a run in the fifth inning.

     c.    Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had a two-run single in the fifth inning and two walks but committed a throwing error (8) during the Padres’ one-run fifth inning.  He now has an MLB-worst eight errors, and the Nats now have an MLB-worst 32 errors.

     d.    Catcher Kurt Suzuki had a single, a walk, a stolen base and a run but went 0-for-1 on runners trying to steal and now is a National League-worst 2-for-19 on runners trying to steal this season.

The Negatives:
1.    The Nats went just 7-for-32 overall.
     a.    Shortstop Ian Desmond went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

     b.    Right fielder Roger Bernadina went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and now is batting .122 this season.

Injury/Absence/Roster Update:
1.    20-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper started off having not started each of the previous two games due to colliding with the right field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning of Monday night’s 6-2 win at the Dodgers.  He suffered a jammed left shoulder, required 11 stitches for a cut under his chin and on Tuesday said that he felt nauseous and general soreness.  Harper blasted a solo homer (11) in the seventh inning and now is tied for second in MLB with 11 homers and a .629 slugging percentage.

2.    The Nats placed catcher Wilson Ramos on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

3.    The Nats recalled catcher Jhonatan (JAH-nuh-tihn) Solano from Triple-A Syracuse.

4.    Right fielder Jayson Werth is on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.  He did not play for the 14th time in 15 games.

5.    Pitcher Christian Garcia is on the 15-Day disabled list with a right-forearm tendon injury.

Nationals lose at the Dodgers 3-1 on Wednesday night (May 15, 2013).

The Facts:
1.    The Nats fell to 21-19 overall.

2.    The Nats fell to 14-17 since their 7-2 start.

The Negatives:
1.    The Nats went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, totaled just two walks and struck out eight times.
     a.    Dodgers starter Zack Greinke allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings in his return from a broken left collarbone suffered in a brawl with San Diego outfielder Carlos Quentin on April 11.  Greinke also had an RBI single.

     b.    The Nats are 27th out of 30 MLB teams with 138 runs.

     c.    The Nats are 28th out of 30 MLB teams with a .292 on-base percentage.

     d.    The Nats are 28th out of 30 MLB teams with a .370 slugging percentage.

     e.    The Nats are 28th out of 30 MLB teams with a .231 batting average.

2.    Reliever Drew Storen allowed a run in the eighth inning on a single, two walks and two sacrifices.  He now has allowed eight earned runs in 15 1/3 innings on 20 hits and three walks this season.

The Positives:
1.    Reliever Craig Stammen tossed three scoreless innings, recording three strikeouts.

2.    Reliever Tyler Clippard tossed a perfect seventh inning, recording two strikeouts.

3.    The Nats went 9-for-34 overall.
     a.    First baseman Adam LaRoche had a solo homer (4) but struck out twice.

Injury/Absence/Roster Update:
1.    Catcher Wilson Ramos had a double and a single but left the game after singling in the top of the fourth inning due to re-injuring his left hamstring.

2.    Starter Ross Detwiler allowed two runs in three innings on six hits and two walks versus no strikeouts on 57 pitches but then left game due to back spasms.  He now has a 2.76 ERA over eight starts this season.

3.    20-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper did not start for a second consecutive game off colliding with the right field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning of Monday night’s 6-2 win at the Dodgers.  He suffered a jammed left shoulder, required 11 stitches for a cut under his chin and on Tuesday said that he felt nauseous and general soreness.  Harper did pinch-hit in the top of the ninth inning but grounded out.

4.    Right fielder Jayson Werth is on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain.  He did not play for the 13th time in 14 games.

5.    Pitcher Christian Garcia is on the 15-Day disabled list with a right-forearm tendon injury.