O's game blog: Orioles have won eight of last 10 against Nats

The Orioles look to continue their winning ways against the Washington Nationals when the teams continue their weekend series tonight.

The Orioles' 3-2 win last night was their 21st in 51 games in the all-time series between these clubs decided by a single run. The O's are 16-5 in those games.

The Orioles have won eight of their last 10 against the Nationals and are 11-4 since 2012. The Orioles are 15-5 at home versus the Nats since 2008 and lead the all-time series, 30-21.

Before Friday's loss, the Nationals were 12-5 since June 19, the best record in the majors since that date, and had outscored their opponents 68-37.

The Orioles moved two games over .500 with the win at 44-42. It was just their third win in the last 11 games. Over a longer stretch, the Orioles are 21-13 their past 34 games.

Tonight, Miguel Gonzalez (7-5, 3.87) pitches against right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (7-5, 3.04 ERA).

In three starts since coming off the DL with a right groin strain, Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 6.46 ERA. He gave up just one run over six innings Sunday in a win at Chicago in his last start.

Since the 2014 All-Star break, Gonzalez is 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA. This season the Orioles are 9-6 in his 15 starts.

Zimmermann, who last year went 14-5 with a 2.66 ERA and finished fifth in the Cy Young vote, is a pitcher on a roll right now. He is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.40 his last three starts, allowing one run and 15 hits over 22 2/3 innings with one walk and 17 strikeouts.

In five career starts versus the Orioles, he is 1-3 with a 4.13 ERA. In three starts at Camden Yards, he is 0-3 with a 5.12 ERA.

After tossing a scoreless seventh inning Friday night, Darren O'Day now owns a 0.88 ERA with 43 strikeouts over his last 32 games since April 13.

Manny Machado has now hit safely in 19 of his last 21 games (.349/.413/.639) after going 1-for-3 with a walk. He also has hit safely in 58 of his last 73 games (.324/.383/.578) since April 21.

Washington's Bryce Harper has now reached base safely in 11 straight games (.359/.479/.590) after going 1-for-4. He has reached base safely in 72 of 79 games played this season (.342/.469/.703).

Harper is batting just .200 (8-for-40) with no homers, two RBIs and a slugging percentage of .275 in 11 career games against the Orioles. He is batting just .182 (4-for-22) all-time at Camden Yards.

Amazing lady: Here is a great article in the Frederick News-Post on Cora Purcell of Frederick, who will turn 104 on Thursday. Tonight, she will throw out the first pitch at Camden Yards. She saw Babe Ruth play and is a longtime Orioles fan.