Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Welcome Baltimore Orioles To Nats Park, Look For Seventh Straight W.

• Programming Notes: Luckily there's no DH this time when the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles face off in Interleague play. This time it's baseball played the right way. Jason Marquis and Zack Britton will be on the mound tonight when the Nats and O's start a three-game set at 7:05 pm EDT. The Nationals take a six-game win streak into tonight's contest, and Zimmerman hasn't even warmed up yet. MASN HD, MLB.tv, 106.7 The FAN in D.C., 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM channel 187. Who's Watching the Nationals Go For Seven Straight?

• LINKS AND LINKS AND...

• NATS BEAT: 

• Twitter: @NationalsPR - "Last night was the 1st gm in Expos/Nats history in which the club had both a 1st-inning leadoff HR & a game-ending HR (courtesy of Elias)." 

• "Just that one spot difference, LaRussa said, can force the manager into an earlier decision on whether to pull the starting pitcher or how to double-switch." - "Tony LaRussa likes the Nationals’ lineup" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "'I think the number one thing is the growth of Desmond and Espinosa,' Riggleman said." - "Riggleman: Personnel changes key to defensive turnaround" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "If most of the Washington Nationals couldn’t recall their last six-game winning streak, it wouldn’t be for lack of an apt memory." - "Espinosa's walk-off blast gives the Nats their sixth straight win" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "'It has been a tough season and Ryan [Zimmerman's] injury certainly hurt, but they played their hearts out every game,' Lerner said." - "Lerner pleased by Nationals' progress in 2011" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com

• "We’re turning things around. Losing isn’t acceptable in this clubhouse." - Danny Espinosa - "Nationals vs. Cardinals: Danny Espinosa’s walk-off homer gives Washington its sixth straight win" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• "'Sometimes, when you get your point across, your voice is raised a little bit. It happens,' Marquis said." - "Baltimore Orioles at Washington Nationals: Streaking Nationals kick off Interleague set with O's" - Audrey Snyder, MLB.com Preview

• "Hamilton was safe and the Nationals had committed their first error in 130 2/3 innings -- a franchise record, as well as the longest such streak in the major leagues this season." - "Nationals record-breaking errorless streak comes to harmless end" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "'I wasn't getting beat by my best pitch the last month and a half,' Burnett said." - "Confidence in Burnett gave Nationals chance to sweep Cards" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "If we keep playing well and beating good teams, we'll start realizing we should compete and win these games." - Laynce Nix - "Nationals 7, Cardinals 4: Second look" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• Twitter: @AdamKilgoreWP - "Ollie Perez placed on DL at Class AA Harrisburg."

• "The Nationals had long since shifted into high gear, though. And in the bottom of the inning, it was Espinosa driving a pitch into the home bullpen for a walk-off win." - "As wins keep coming, Nationals succeeding in ways they couldn't before" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "'I would call him and say, 'Can you hit ground balls? I want to go hit.' If I asked him, he was always there.'" - Danny Espinosa - "Espinosa Jr. gives Sr. all the credit" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "'It was a big confidence boost to be left in there to see if I could get through it and then get through it.'" - Sean Burnett - "St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals: Espinosa's walk-off secures sweep of Cards" - Steven Miller, MLB.com WSH Recap

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Everyone can understand from natural experience and common sense that affection is crucial from the day of birth; it is the basis of life." - 

• NATS MINOR LEAGUE UPDATES: 

• Class-A Hagerstown: Randolph Oduber - 3 for 4, 1 R; Bryce Harper - 0 for 4, 1 BB, 2 K's; A.J. Cole - 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K's, 1 HR - Hagerstown Suns Scoreboard

• Class-A Hagerstown: David Freitas - 2 for 3, 2B; Bryce Harper 0 for 3, .326 AVG; - Hagerstown Suns Scoreboard

• Class-A Potomac - Jeff Kobernus - 3 for 4, 1 SB, 1 HR; Eury Perez - 1 for 4, .288 AVG - Potomac Nationals Scoreboard

• Double-A Harrisburg: "The Senators' Steve Lombardozzi started off the game with a single then scored the first run of the game for the Sens after a triple by Tyler Moore." - "Josh Johnson leads the Sens past Trenton" - Terry Byrom, Harrisburg Senators News

• Double-A Harrisburg: "The Senators used a clutch two-run double by Josh Johnson in the top of the seventh inning of Thursday night’s series finale to top the Trenton Thunder 3-2." - "Game 64: Senators 3, Thunder 2" - Mick Reinhard, The Sports 'Burger

• Triple-A Syracuse: "The three runs backed up Brad Meyers, who allowed just two runs in seven innings and claimed his fourth win of the season." - "Chiefs rally in eighth to beat Knights" - Syracuse Chiefs News

• "The newly affiliated Auburn Doubledays start play tonight in the New York-Penn League with a still-undisclosed roster. Ryan Demmin is the Opening Day starter, according to MiLB.com." - "Friday’s News & Notes" - Sue Dinem, NationalsProspect.com

• "According to Baseball America's Prospects Blog, the Nats have signed the following draft picks..." - "9 Draft Pick Signings" - Sean Hogan, DC is for Baseball

• SHARKNATSTOWN: 

• "The Great Werth led off with a solo-shot.  Then Tyler predicted that Shark would follow suit on Twitter..." - "Sharkorade Celebration!" - Sharkadina: Roger Bernadina's Unofficial Blog

• NATSTOWN: 

• "What do you want to believe: the first 66 games of this season, where the Nats couldn't hit their way out of a wet paper bag; or the last two days, where the Nats have banged out 28 hits and 18 runs?" - "Enjoying Success but Keeping Expectations in Check" - Dave Nichols, Nats News Network

• "During the past few years, one of the worst pitchers in the National League played for the New York Mets." - "Ollie-Watch: Taking A Flier [UPDATE]" - Mac, Capitol Baseball

• "While the Nats’ bats are suddenly on fire, the racing presidents’ behavior has reached a new level of unpredictability." - "Teddy goes off-course into the outfield" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!

• "It's the first time Washington has won six in a row since they closed the season in 2009 with seven consecutive victories." - "GAME 69 REVIEW: Danny Does It!" - Dave Nichols, Nats News Network

• "Danny Espinosa delivers walk-off HR, earns Gatorade shower" - Nats Enquirer

• NL EAST UPDATES: 

• Braves: "Tommy Hanson was scratched from his scheduled Friday start because of tendinitis in his pitching shoulder." - "Hanson scratched (shoulder); Delgado to debut" David O'Brien, ajc.com

• Mets: "'Three pitches, it’s a tie ballgame,' [Francisco] Rodriguez said. 'There’s no excuses. I didn’t execute and it cost us the game.'" - "K-Rod: Blame Mets' Balk-Off Loss To Braves On Me; Francisco Rodriguez Served Up Homer That Led To D.J. Carrasco's Mistake" - CBS New York

• Phillies: "The series will kick off at 10:10 PM ET with Roy Oswalt facing rookie phenom Michael Pineda." - "Mariners Series Preview with Pro Ball NW" - Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley

• Marlins: "The Marlins have lost seven in a row, and they're now 6.5 games out in the wild card.  It's time to think about selling." - "If The Marlins Become Sellers: MLB Rumors" - Tim Dierkes, MLBTradeRumors.com