WASHINGTON (AP) – The Washington Nationals are short-handed – and it shows.

With 10 players on the disabled list, the Nationals had a punchless offensive performance Friday night, falling 2-1 in 11 innings to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

Nick Markakis’ homer into the second deck in right field sent the Nationals to their first two-game home losing streak this season.

Washington is missing three starting position players – outfielders Michael Morse and Jayson Werth, and catcher Wilson Ramos – and their absence was particularly glaring Friday.

“When you’re missing some key guys, it puts pressure on some other guys to be more aggressive and be more run-producing,” manager Davey Johnson said. “We need to have patience when we get in those situations.”

Washington had six singles, and a home run from Ian Desmond. The Nationals were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position, and had two runners thrown out attempting to steal second by Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters.

“A lot of times, we got ourselves out being overly aggressive,” Johnson said.

An outstanding effort from starter Edwin Jackson was wasted. He came into the game with a 5-1 career mark against the Orioles. He threw eight innings, limiting Baltimore to five hits, striking out eight and walking one, but for the fifth straight time, he left without a decision.

“Offense comes and goes,” Jackson said. “More times than not, if we keep pitching the way we have, we’ll win.”

Markakis’ blast off Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus (2-1) helped the Orioles improve to 6-2 in extra innings with all six victories coming on the road.

Mattheus threw him a slider, and it didn’t go where he wanted it.

“I would have liked it a little bit more elevated, but he put a good swing on it and hit it out of the park.”

The first-place Orioles have won four straight.

Four Orioles relievers followed starter Jake Arrieta, including Kevin Gregg (2-1) in the 10th inning. Pedro Strop allowed two runners to reach in the 11th inning before finishing off the Nationals for his third save.

Arrieta matched his career high with nine strikeouts. He allowed one run and six hits, walking one in seven innings.

Adam Jones drove home the Orioles first run with a first inning infield single against Jackson. Washington’s Ian Desmond tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth inning against Arrieta.

Arrieta entered the game having allowed 13 earned runs over his last two starts, including seven runs in 3 2-3 innings against Tampa Bay on Sunday. No signs of that pitcher existed in the series opener.

Wieters helped his pitcher by throwing out Bryce Harper and Jesus Flores attempting to steal second base.

The 19-year-old Harper was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Xavier Avery led off the Orioles first inning with a walk and one out later moved to third on Markakis’ double to left center. Jones sent a sharp grounder off Jackson’s left heel. The ball caromed behind the mound, allowing Avery to score from third.

Jackson escaped further damage by inducing Wieters into an inning-ending double play grounder. He then settled in, striking out the side in the second inning.

Held scoreless by Arrieta through five innings, the Nationals tied the game in the sixth on Desmond’s sixth home run of the season, landing deep in the left-field stands.

Notes: Jones extended his hitting streak to 10 games for third time this season. Morse (back) is expected to begin an extended spring training assignment on Monday at the Nationals camp in Viera, Fla., Johnson said. Morse has not played in a game this season. … The Nationals’ game against the Miami Marlins that was rained out on April 22 has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 3.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Washington Nationals starter Edwin Jackson walked the first batter he faced on Friday night. The third batter doubled, and the cleanup hitter singled in a run.

It was hardly a way to begin what would become among Jackson’s most commanding starts this season, yet that’s exactly how it ended when he left the game after eight innings and 95 pitches during a 2-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Nationals Park.

During five of his final seven innings, Jackson retired the side in order. He finished with eight strikeouts, allowed five hits and walked one in lowering his ERA to 3.31 before watching reliever Ryan Mattheus surrender an 11th inning homer to Nick Markakis that was the difference.

“I was just able to come out and locate pitches when I needed to,” Jackson said. “Having great defense behind you, it always makes the game a little easier.”

The offensive support, however, was virtually non-existent behind Jackson, who has no-decisions in six of eight starts this season. He’s yielded three runs or fewer in five of those outings, and he’s pitched at least five innings in every start.

In the Nationals most recent trip, Jackson started twice and left each game with the lead. Washington was one out from winning each time but gave up game-ending homers.

“Like I said a thousand times, offense comes and goes,” Jackson said when asked about his teammates’ lack of production. “More times than not, if we keep pitching the way we’re pitching, we’ll win more games. Theses guys here, they practice real hard, and everybody’s out there having the best ABs they can.”

The Nationals managed one extra-base hit against the Orioles, that coming on Ian Desmond’s sixth-inning homer to tie the score at 1. It was the sixth time this season Washington has scored one run or been shutout.

This latest case of offensive failure comes with the Nationals missing several starters who potent bats, including outfielder Michael Morse, and right fielder Jayson Werth.

“Through nine innings or so, I think we hit one ball hard,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “We had chances. A game like that’s frustrating. That was a tough one. [Jackson] pitched good. I thought the bullpen pitched good. One pitch, ballgame.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nick Markakis homered into the second deck in right field to give the Baltimore Orioles a 2-1 win in 11 innings over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Markakis’ blast off Nationals reliever Ryan Mattheus (2-1) helped the Orioles improve to 6-2 in extra innings with all six victories coming on the road.

The first-place Orioles have won four consecutive games.

Four Orioles relievers followed starter Jake Arrieta, including Kevin Gregg (2-1) in the 10th inning. Pedro Strop allowed two runners to reach in the 11th inning before finishing off the Nationals for his third save.

Arrieta matched his career-high with nine strikeouts. He allowed one run and six hits, walking one in seven innings.

Edwin Jackson matched him, allowing one run in eight innings with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Adam Jones drove home the Orioles first run with a first inning infield single against Jackson. Washington’s Ian Desmond tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth inning against Arrieta.

Arrieta entered the game having allowed 13 earned runs over his last two starts, including seven runs in 3 2-3 innings against Tampa Bay on Sunday. No signs of that pitcher existed in the series opener.

Matt Wieters helped his pitcher by throwing out Bryce Harper and Jesus Flores attempting to steal second base.

The 19-year-old Harper was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Xavier Avery led off the Orioles first inning with a walk and one out later moved to third on Markakis’ double to left center. Jones sent a sharp grounder off Jackson’s left heel. The ball caromed behind the mound, allowing Avery to score from third.

Jackson escaped further damage by inducing Wieters into an inning-ending double play grounder. He then settled in, striking out the side in the second inning.

Held scoreless by Arrieta through five innings, the Nationals tied the game in the sixth on Desmond’s sixth home run of the season, landing deep in the left field stands.

NOTES: Jones extended his hitting streak to 10 games for third time this season. Nationals OF Michael Morse (back) is expected to begin an extended spring training assignment on Monday at the Nationals camp in Viera, Florida, manager Davey Johnson said. Morse has not played in a game this season. The Nationals game against the Miami Marlins that was rained out on April 22 has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on August 3.Saturday’s pitching matchup pits Orioles RHP Jason Hammel against Nationals LHP Ross Detwiler.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The blast sent Washington (23-16), which left two runners on base in the bottom of the 11th, to its second straight loss and third in four game and left starter Edwin Jackson the victim of another hard-luck no-decision despite one of his most robust outings this season.

After allowing a run in the opening inning, Jackson handcuffed the Orioles (26-14) during the rest of his outing. Jackson completed eight innings, surrendering five hits and an earned run with one walk and eight strikeouts on 95 pitches, his second highest total this season.

Along the way, Jackson got a highlight-reel assist from third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who reacted in time to catch Robert Andino’s sharp line drive that was destined for extra bases.

Baltimore right-hander Jake Arrieta was cruising as well, striking out eight over the first five innings and benefiting from the arm of catcher Matt Wieters, who after allowing a stolen base to Ian Desmond in the third threw out two runners at second.

Wieters first picked off Bryce Harper’s steal attempt for the second out of the fourth. One inning later, Wieters wiped Jesus Flores off the docket trying to steal second, and Arrieta struck out Jackson to end the fifth.

The bottom of the sixth began with Arrieta trying to get an 0-1 sinker by Desmond. The Nationals shortstop instead drove the ball into the left field seats roughly a dozen rows deep, and the score was tied at 1.

Desmond blasted his sixth homer and ensured his 15th multi-hit game of the season, the most on the Nationals. He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games with two home runs, four RBI and seven runs.

Arrieta regrouped to retire the side in order the rest of the way without having a ball leave the infield. Arrieta yielded a leadoff single in the seventh to Harper, who reached base on his first three at-bats, before again setting down the side in order with a strikeout and two popups in foul territory.

Arrieta’s night was complete after that inning, and the Orioles’ opening day starter had recovered impressively from his last two outings in which he allowed 13 combined earned runs. His final line included six hits with one walk and nine strikeouts in his most efficient outing since eight shutout innings against the New York Yankees on May 2.

Jackson, meantime, logged his best start since giving up no runs over 6²/
₃ innings on April 26 against San Diego. He also fell one strikeout short of matching his season high and worked at least five innings for the 98th time in his last 104 starts dating from 2009.

It also was the second time this season Jackson has pitched at least eight innings. His only other such performance came on April 14, when the right-hander’s two-hitter on 92 pitches against Cincinnati sparked the Nationals to a 4-1 triumph and his only victory this season.

Jackson did run into trouble early against Baltimore, walking leadoff hitter Xavier Avery on six pitches. J.J. Hardy flied out to right field, but Markakis lined a double into the gap in left center that left Avery standing on third base.

Adam Jones provided the first run of the game by following with a single that caromed straight up off the pitcher’s mound and dropped in the infield. Avery scored on the peculiar hit, and Markakis advanced to third base before Jackson got Wieters to ground to Desmond on a 1-1 count.

Desmond fielded the ball with ease, stepped on second base and threw to Adam LaRoche at first for the double play, allowing Jackson to escape further damage during an inning in which he threw 18 pitches.

The Nationals were in position to tie in the second when Harper led off the home half by grounding softly to Andino at second base. Harper sprinted to first despite the apparent routine grounder that turned into a single when Andino was unable to field the ball cleanly.

Harper wound up on second when the ball went into the Nationals dugout after Andino tried to shovel the ball to first with his glove, and the rookie sensation went to third on Danny Espinosa’s fly out to center.

The inning concluded, though, with Harper stranded following Rick Ankiel’s strikeout and a fly ball to right off the bat of Flores.

Harper raced around the bases quickly and continued his sprint straight to the dugout, where he exchanged high-fives with teammates. As the crowd cheered, Harper came to the top of the dugout steps for a curtain call, thrusting his right index finger into the air.

He’s the youngest player in the majors – and, at 19 years, 211 days old, the youngest to hit a homer since Adrian Beltre of the Los Angeles Dodgers connected when he was 19 years, 171 days old on Sept. 25, 1998, according to STATS LLC.

Harper’s homer gave the Nationals a 4-1 lead, but San Diego tied the game with a three-run inning in the fourth. With two on and one out, Orlando Hudson hit a single to center field that scored two runs, the second coming on Headley’s collision with Leon. Hudson later scored on Stauffer’s sacrifice.

After Headley gave the Padres the lead an inning later, Ian Desmond put Washington ahead for good in the sixth with a two-run double off the right field wall. Tracy and Nady added a pair of insurance runs with their eighth-inning solo homers.

WASHINGTON – Saratoga Central Catholic High School graduate Tim Stauffer earned a no-decision and Bryce Harper hit his first big league home run, helping lead the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

Harper became the youngest major leaguer to homer since 1998, going deep on a solo shot to straightaway center field in the third inning off Stauffer. The home run came in the outfielder’s 15th game and 54th at-bat with the Nationals.

Washington lost another player to injury in a season that has been filled with them. Catcher Sandy Leon making his major league debut – left the game in the fourth inning after spraining his right ankle in a collision at home plate.

Chase Headley was one of three Padres to score in the fourth when he bowled into Leon on a play at the plate, causing the catcher’s right ankle to buckle under him. Headly briefly gave the Padres a 5-4 lead an inning later with an RBI single. He also doubled and made two errors.

Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady each connected in the eighth inning for Washington.

Craig Stammen (3-0) pitched two innings for the win. Washington closer Henry Rodriguez walked the bases loaded with one out in the ninth inning before giving way to Sean Burnett, who got Jesus Guzman to ground into a 1-2-3 double play for his first save.

Miles Mikolas (0-1) gave up two runs and two hits while getting just one out.

Stauffer was reinstated from the disabled list before the game and started for the first time this season after being sidelined with a strained right elbow. He gave up four runs – three earned – on seven hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked three.

Nationals starter Ross Detwiler gave up a season-high four earned runs – five overall – on seven hits in five innings. In his seventh start of the season, his ERA rose from 2.10 to 2.75.

In the third inning, Ryan Zimmerman had a run-scoring single and Roger Bernadina scored from third when Headley missed a pick-off throw from catcher Nick Hundley. Then the 19-year-old Harper drove a 2-1 pitch to the grass backdrop just to the left of the 402-foot marker with two outs.

Harper raced around the bases quickly and continued his sprint straight to the dugout, where he exchanged high-fives with teammates. As the crowd cheered, Harper came to the top of the dugout steps for a curtain call, thrusting his right index finger into the air.

He’s the youngest player in the majors – and, at 19 years, 211 days old, the youngest to hit a homer since Adrian Beltre of the Los Angeles Dodgers connected when he was 19 years, 171 days old on Sept. 25, 1998, according to STATS LLC.

Harper’s homer gave the Nationals a 4-1 lead, but San Diego tied the game with a three-run inning in the fourth. With two on and one out, Orlando Hudson hit a single to center field that scored two runs, the second coming on Headley’s collision with Leon. Hudson later scored on Stauffer’s sacrifice.

After Headley gave the Padres the lead an inning later, Ian Desmond put Washington ahead for good in the sixth with a two-run double off the right field wall. Tracy and Nady added a pair of insurance runs with their eighth-inning solo homers.

WASHINGTON (AP) Andrew McCutchen won’t get to face the Washington Nationals again this season. He’s sorry about it. They’re not.

McCutchen homered twice, James McDonald took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out a career-high 11, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Nationals 5-3 on Thursday night.

In five games against Washington this season, McCutchen went 10 for 17. He is batting .442 with 10 home runs in 23 career games versus the Nationals.

”It’s a good place to hit,” McCutchen said. ”I really can’t pinpoint it. I’m just hitting what they throw to me.”

According to Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, it doesn’t matter how McCutchen is pitched.

”You pitch him away, and he hits it away,” Zimmerman said. ”He’s one of those special players that can do everything. He’s fun to watch. I just wish we didn’t have to watch so much when we play them.”

Nationals manager Davey Johnson had a frustrating night watching Jordan Zimmermann lose, his team flail at McDonald’s pitches for the first five innings and McCutchen hit the two homers.

”We certainly haven’t figured out how to pitch him,” Johnson said. ”He looks awful comfortable in there.”

As a rookie in 2009, McCutchen hit three home runs in a game against the Nationals, and he nearly had three in this game. He had solo shots against Zimmermann (2-4) in the first and sixth and nearly had another homer in the third, but his long shot to left went foul by a few feet.

McCutchen also made a beautiful catch in center field, robbing Adam LaRoche of an extra-base hit in the fifth.

”That was an unbelievable catch,” McDonald said. ”That was for sure a double off the wall.”

McDonald retired his first 13 batters – striking out nine – and also was helped by a spectacular play from Casey McGehee at first base. The right-hander walked Bryce Harper with one out in the fifth.

Carrying a 4-0 lead in the sixth, McDonald weakened and allowed consecutive doubles to Jesus Flores and Steve Lombardozzi to start the inning. Flores held at third because he wasn’t sure Lombardozzi’s ball was going to drop. Zimmerman’s single drove in both runners, and LaRoche’s triple scored Zimmerman.

”He went from no-no to oh no!” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ”It was good stuff for five innings, though. Really electric.”

McDonald (3-2) was pulled after 5 2-3 innings. He gave up three runs and four hits with one walk.

Tony Watson retired the final batter of the sixth. Juan Cruz pitched a scoreless seventh, Jason Grilli worked the eighth and Joel Hanrahan the ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.

Zimmermann gave up a season-high four runs and seven hits in six innings, walking one and striking out six.

”That’s the worst I’ve seen him with his command early in a ballgame,” Johnson said. ”His location was off. He was all over the place.”

Zimmermann, who received two runs or fewer in six of his seven previous starts, was backed by better offensive support than he usually gets – three runs.

”We had runners on. We just couldn’t get a big hit,” Johnson said.

Washington left six runners on in the final four innings and had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez made a nice catch on Lombardozzi’s foul ball near the third base stands.

Rod Barajas added a two-run homer in the fourth, his third. He had three hits.

Neil Walker drove in the fifth run for Pittsburgh in the seventh on an infield out.

NOTES: Nationals OF Michael Morse, who hasn’t played this season because of an injured back muscle, will probably report to Viera, Fla., early next week to begin playing in games, Johnson said. He had hoped Morse would return to be the designated hitter when the Nationals play in Boston on June 8, but Morse told Johnson he could play a week earlier. … Washington INF Mark DeRosa is probably a week from returning from a left oblique strain, Johnson said. … The Nationals play a three-game series against the Orioles beginning Friday. Washington RHP Edwin Jackson pitches against RHP Jake Arrieta. … The Pirates open a three-game series in Detroit on Friday. Pittsburgh will send RHP Charlie Morton to the mound against Justin Verlander.