Taylor's double highlights big first inning (Nats win 6-1)

A very positive first inning for the Nationals, fresh off their very positive road trip to California.

Joe Ross induced a pair of infield grounders and earned a called third strike, allowing one single to dispatch the Orioles in the first inning.

The offense then took it to Orioles starter Alec Asher.

Trea Turner walked and stole two bases.

Bryce Harper singled him home to give the Nats a 1-0 lead. Adam Lind singled. Stephen Drew then lined a single to score Harper for a 2-0 lead.

Michael A. Taylor broke open the frame with a two-run double to the right field corner. The Nats' lead is now 4-0. Asher struck out Ross to end the rally.

First inning complete in D.C., the Nats lead the Orioles 4-0.

Update: Ross struck out the side in the second. He now has four strikeouts in a row.

The Nats added another run thanks to Turner's speed. He stole his third base of the game, a new career high, to get to third for Lind's sac fly in the second. The RBI gave the Nats a 5-0 advantage on the Orioles.

Ross struck out Seth Smith in the third for his fifth strikeout of the game. He has retired seven batter in a row.

After 2 1/2 innings, the Nats lead the Orioles 5-0.

Update II: The Nats stole another base in the the third inning, their fifth steal of the game. Taylor stole second with one out. But Brian Goodwin popped out to second base and Ross struck out looking.

After three innings, the Nats lead the Orioles 5-0.

Update III: Ross struck out the side for the second time in the game to end the fifth inning quickly. His 10 strikeouts are one away from his career mark of 11 against the Pirates on June 19, 2015.

After 4 1/2 innings, the Nats lead the Orioles 5-0.

Update IV: Asher left after four innings. He was replaced by former starter Ubaldo Jiménez. Stephen Drew greeted Jiménez's second pitch by hitting over the wall in right field. The Nats lead 6-0 after five innings.

Update V: Ross struck out two more Orioles in the sixth. He now has recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts.

Update VI: Orioles got to Ross a bit in the seventh. Mark Trumbo doubled for his second hit of the game to lead off. With two outs, Joey Rickard smacked a clean single to score Trumbo. Ross forced a groundout to end the inning.

After 6 1/2 innings, the Nats lead is 6-1.

Update VII: Ross finishes 7 1/3 innings, allows one run on four hits with no walks and a career-high 12 strikeouts. He allowed the Orioles no baserunners from the second through the fifth innings. He threw 93 pitches, 67 for strikes, a 72.04 strike percentage.

After 7 1/2 innings, the Nats still lead 6-1.

Update VIII: Blake Treinen pitches a scoreless ninth. He struck out two.

The Nats even the season series with the Orioles at 2-2.

Final score: Nationals 6, Orioles 1.