Nick Johnson

The Tampa Bay Rays were nursing a one-run lead when manager Joe Maddon pulled starter Jeremy Hellickson and turned to Joel Peralta to get the final out in the seventh inning. Nick Johnson was at the plate for the Baltimore Orioles, and Maddon loved the matchup. "I liked Joel on Johnson," Maddon said later. "I feel great about Joel Peralta in any situation. " Maddon's hunch backfired. Johnson hit his first homer in two years, a two-run drive that gave the Orioles a 4-3 victory Friday night in a duel for first place in the AL East.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach hit sixth-inning homers to turn a tie game in Boston's favor, and the Red Sox withstood two home runs by Nick Johnson in a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Scott Podsednik also homered for the Red Sox, who climbed back to .500 (22-22) with their 10th win in 13 games. Boston took two of three from the Orioles, who were seeking to win a fourth straight series against the Red Sox for the first time since 1960.

Adam Jones led off the eighth inning with a tiebreaking homer and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 on Thursday night, completing a three-game sweep with their fourth straight victory. Jones ripped the first pitch from Casey Janssen (1-1) into the first row of the left-field stands, barely eluding the leap of Eric Thames. It was his sixth homer of the season. Darren Oliver replaced Janssen after Jones' home run and allowed Matt Wieters' single before Chris Davis hit a two-run homer to right-center.

Elliot Johnson and Ben Zobrist homered, Carlos Pena ended an extended slump with two doubles and two RBIs, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-8 Sunday and avert a three-game sweep. James Shields earned his sixth win for the Rays, who snapped a three-game skid and won for only the second time in eight games. Tampa Bay entered the series tied atop the AL East with Baltimore. This victory was anything but easy. The Rays led 7-1 in the fourth inning and 9-6 in the eighth, but it was 9-8 when Fernando Rodney got Matt Wieters to ground out in the ninth with...

Elliot Johnson and Ben Zobrist homered, Carlos Pena ended an extended slump with two doubles and two RBIs, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-8 Sunday and avert a three-game sweep. James Shields earned his sixth win for the Rays, who snapped a three-game skid and won for only the second time in eight games. Tampa Bay entered the series tied atop the AL East with Baltimore. This victory was anything but easy. The Rays led 7-1 in the fourth inning and 9-6 in the eighth, but it was 9-8 when Fernando Rodney got Matt Wieters to ground out in the ninth with...

Roger Clemens was foiled again by a lack of run support and Jack Wilson homered off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 1-0 victory last night over the Astros in Houston. Clemens allowed two hits in eight shutout innings, lowering his major league-leading ERA to an incredible 1.32. He struck out nine and walked none, but the Astros couldn't muster any offense against Kip Wells and two relievers. It was the ninth no-decision for the 43-year-old Clemens and the sixth time the Astros have failed to score for him. He threw an...

Livan Hernandez pitched eight strong innings to win his eighth straight decision, and Nick Johnson hit a three-run double to lead the Nationals past the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, last night in Washington for their season-best seventh victory in a row. Pitching on an extra day of rest against a struggling lineup, Hernandez gave up hits here and there but didn't allow the A's to score until the eighth. The big righthander threw 127 pitches one start after tossing 150. Oakland has lost 11 straight road games, and manager Ken Macha's bid to shake things up by bypassing on-field...

The free fall of once-promising Byung Hyun Kim took another downward spiral yesterday at Denver in the Rockies' 8-6 loss to San Francisco. With Colorado leading, 5-3, in the seventh, the former Red Sox reliever, traded by Boston near the end of spring training, replaced starter Jason Jennings with two on and two out. Kim walked Edgardo Alfonzo with his first four pitches, loading the bases, then gave up a grand slam to Michael Tucker on his...

Daryle Ward hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Pirates withstood a shaky start by Oliver Perez to beat Florida, 5-4, last night, the Marlins' eighth consecutive loss in Pittsburgh. The Pirates trailed, 2-1 and 4-3, as the Marlins hit three solo home runs off Perez -- by Carlos Delgado, Juan Encarnacion, and Miguel Cabrera -- but took the lead after reliever Nate Bump (0-2) retired the first two batters in the seventh. After Jason Bay singled, Ward hit a 2-2 pitch into the right-field seats for his 10th homer and the Pirates' 39th in May -- four off the...

Nationals Park had quite an opening. Ryan Zimmerman hit a tiebreaking homer off Peter Moylan with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves, 3-2, last night in the first regular-season game at the $611 million stadium in Washington. With the dome of the US Capitol lit up against the night sky beyond left field, and the Washington Monument visible from patches of the upper deck, Zimmerman raised his right fist as he rounded first base. Teammates spilled out of the dugout and greeted the face of the franchise at home plate for celebratory pounds on the...

The Tampa Bay Rays were nursing a one-run lead when manager Joe Maddon pulled starter Jeremy Hellickson and turned to Joel Peralta to get the final out in the seventh inning. Nick Johnson was at the plate for the Baltimore Orioles, and Maddon loved the matchup. "I liked Joel on Johnson," Maddon said later. "I feel great about Joel Peralta in any situation. " Maddon's hunch backfired. Johnson hit his first homer in two years, a two-run drive that gave the Orioles a 4-3 victory Friday night in a duel for first place in the AL East.

Adam Jones led off the eighth inning with a tiebreaking homer and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 on Thursday night, completing a three-game sweep with their fourth straight victory. Jones ripped the first pitch from Casey Janssen (1-1) into the first row of the left-field stands, barely eluding the leap of Eric Thames. It was his sixth homer of the season. Darren Oliver replaced Janssen after Jones' home run and allowed Matt Wieters' single before Chris Davis hit a two-run homer to right-center.

A flood of memories washed over John Lannan as he stood on the mound at Yankee Stadium and listened to the crowd cheer for his favorite team growing up. This was one unforgettable night for the Long Island lefthander. Lannan pitched into the ninth inning in his first career start against the New York Yankees, leading the Washington Nationals to a much-needed 3-2 victory last night. “The night belonged to him,’’ Nationals manager Manny Acta said. Lannan (4-5)

Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and matched a career high with four hits, leading CC Sabathia and the Yankees to a 5-3 win over the Nationals last night in New York. Sabathia (6-4) held Washington in check after light-hitting Anderson Hernandez’s three-run homer in the fifth gave the Nationals the lead. The 6-foot-7-inch lefthander departed after walking Nick Johnson with two outs in the eighth inning and received a standing ovation. Brian Bruney, activated off the disabled list earlier in the day, made just his second appearance since April 21 and got...

David Ortiz has become the Big Wait. Wait, wait, and wait some more. Wait for the time when he turns back into David Ortiz, who from 2003-07 was one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Is the answer as simple as recovering from the partially torn sheath in his wrist that damaged his 2008 season? Is it as simple as his knee feeling better, his shoulder? Is it all health-related? For weeks, the questions have been asked. And there have been no answers. In an interview last week, Ortiz said that, physically, he's "better than ever," but he also hinted at a personal issue.

Nationals Park had quite an opening. Ryan Zimmerman hit a tiebreaking homer off Peter Moylan with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves, 3-2, last night in the first regular-season game at the $611 million stadium in Washington. With the dome of the US Capitol lit up against the night sky beyond left field, and the Washington Monument visible from patches of the upper deck, Zimmerman raised his right fist as he rounded first base. Teammates spilled out of the dugout and greeted the face of the franchise at home plate for celebratory pounds...

BALTIMORE (AP) — Daniel Nava and Kelly Shoppach hit sixth-inning homers to turn a tie game in Boston's favor, and the Red Sox withstood two home runs by Nick Johnson in a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Scott Podsednik also homered for the Red Sox, who climbed back to .500 (22-22) with their 10th win in 13 games. Boston took two of three from the Orioles, who were seeking to win a fourth straight series against the Red Sox for the first time since 1960.

Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and matched a career high with four hits, leading CC Sabathia and the Yankees to a 5-3 win over the Nationals last night in New York. Sabathia (6-4) held Washington in check after light-hitting Anderson Hernandez’s three-run homer in the fifth gave the Nationals the lead. The 6-foot-7-inch lefthander departed after walking Nick Johnson with two outs in the eighth inning and received a standing ovation. Brian Bruney, activated off the disabled list earlier in the day, made just his second appearance since April 21 and got Ryan Zimmerman to...

Roger Clemens was foiled again by a lack of run support and Jack Wilson homered off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 1-0 victory last night over the Astros in Houston. Clemens allowed two hits in eight shutout innings, lowering his major league-leading ERA to an incredible 1.32. He struck out nine and walked none, but the Astros couldn't muster any offense against Kip Wells and two relievers. It was the ninth no-decision for the 43-year-old Clemens and the sixth time the Astros have failed to score for him. He threw an economical 88 pitches but has not gone...

Livan Hernandez pitched eight strong innings to win his eighth straight decision, and Nick Johnson hit a three-run double to lead the Nationals past the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, last night in Washington for their season-best seventh victory in a row. Pitching on an extra day of rest against a struggling lineup, Hernandez gave up hits here and there but didn't allow the A's to score until the eighth. The big righthander threw 127 pitches one start after tossing 150. Oakland has lost 11 straight road games, and manager Ken Macha's bid to shake things up by bypassing on-field...