No. 10 Virginia Tech loses to No. 3 Boise State 33-30 at FedEx Field on Monday night.

1.    The Hokies fell to 0-22 against Associated Press top-five teams in games away from Blacksburg, Va.

2.    Head coach Frank Beamer fell to 1-18 against Associated Press top-five teams.

3.    The Hokies overcame a 17-0 second-quarter deficit but saw Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore throw the last of his three touchdown passes with 1:09 left in the fourth quarter.

4.    The Hokies rushed for just 128 yards on 44 carries (2.9 yards per carry).
     a.    Sophomore tailback Ryan Williams had two touchdown runs and a touchdown catch but finished with just 44 yards on 21 carries.
     b.    Junior tailback Darren Evans had just three carries for 12 yards.
     c.    Sophomore tailback David Wilson had just one carry for two yards.

5.    The Hokies’ defense, which featured seven new starters, allowed 168 rushing yards on 24 carries (seven yards per carry).

6.    The Hokies lost despite holding a near nine-minute edge in time of possession.

7.    Standout performers for the Hokies:
     a.    Senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 15 of 22 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns.  He also rushed for 73 yards on 16 carries.  Taylor did lose a fumble in the first quarter and was sacked three times.
     b.    Junior receiver Jarrett Boykin had six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.

8.    Good stuff from Kyle Tucker of HamptonRoads.com: “The good news for Tech is we’ve all seen this movie before.  Tech loses a big one early, gets it together, makes a run at the ACC title (maybe wins it), definitely polishes off another 10-win season.  That looks about right for 2010.  Not what the dreamers dreamed of, but still strong.”


Maryland beats Navy 17-14 in Baltimore on Monday.

1.    The Midshipmen lost despite…
     a.    …overcoming a 14-0 second-quarter deficit.
     b.    …outgaining the Terrapins by 213 yards and 15 first downs.
     c.    …holding a near 19-minute edge in time of possession.
     d.    …going 10-for-18 on third downs.  The Terps went 1-for-5.

2.    So why did the Midshipmen lose?
     a.    The Midshipmen were uncharacteristically sloppy, committing five fumbles (two were lost), missing a field goal in the first quarter and failing to get off a field goal at the end of the first half.
     b.    Senior quarterback Ricky Dobbs was held to 63 rushing yards and a touchdown on 29 carries (2.2 yards per carry).
     c.    Head coach Ken Niumatalolo (NEE-uh-MAH-tuh-LO-LO) decided to go for the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-and-goal at the one yard line with less than a minute left instead of attempting a game-tying field goal.  Senior kicker Joe Buckley, who went 10-for-13 on field goals last season, missed a 32-yarder in the first quarter.

3.    The Terps and Midshipmen combined for 673 rushing yards and just 84 passing yards.
     a.    The Terps and Midshipmen combined for eight players each with at least 53 yards rushing.
     b.    The Terps rushed for 261 yards on 34 carries (7.7 yards per carry).
     c.    The Midshipmen rushed for 412 yards on 72 carries (5.7 yards per carry).

4.    Standout performers for the Terps:
     a.    Junior safety Kenny Tate stopped Dobbs at the goal line on a fourth-and-goal with less than a minute left.
     b.    Junior quarterback Jamarr Robinson completed just two of five passes with a pick but rushed for 92 yards on 12 carries.  His speed and athleticism really shined in this game.
     c.    Junior running back Davin (DAY-vihn) Meggett had eight carries for 105 yards and a touchdown.
     d.    Senior running back Da’Rel (duh-REHL) Scott had 10 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown.
     e.    The offensive line did a nice job against the smaller Midshipmen, who are starting four new linebackers this season.
     f.    Senior Travis Baltz averaged 53 yards on three punts and made a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.  Sophomore kicker Nick Ferrara was out with a groin injury.
     g.    Senior linebacker Adrian Moten had a spectacular tackle for a loss and forced fumble on a third-and-goal at the one yard line in the second quarter, when he leaped over the Navy offensive line.
     h.    Sophomore defensive tackle Joe Vellano had three tackles for losses, including two sacks.
     i.     Senior linebacker Alex Wujciak (WOH-jack) had a team-high 18 tackles, though he was out of position on occasion.

5.    Standout performers for the Midshipmen:
     a.    Senior fullback Vince Murray had 14 carries for 112 yards.
     b.    Sophomore slotback Gee Gee (G G) Greene had seven carries for 74 yards and four catches for 59 yards, including a terrific 26-yard catch late in the second quarter.


Virginia beats Richmond 34-13 on Saturday evening.

1.    The Cavaliers did what an ACC team should do: convincingly defeat an FCS team, albeit a good one.

2.    The Cavs won their season opener for the first time since 2005.

3.    The Cavs rushed for 205 yards on 35 carries (5.9 yards per carry) thanks in part to some thunder and lightning.
     a.    6-foot-3, 255-pound senior running back Keith Payne had 16 carries for 114 yards and four touchdowns.
          i.    Payne has struggled with academic troubles.  He left the team before the start of the 2009 season and returned only after Mike London replaced former head coach Al Groh.
     b.    5-foot-8, 185-pound sophomore running back Perry Jones had nine carries for 73 yards, including a 38-yard run on the game’s first offensive play.

4.    Senior quarterback Marc Verica completed 24 of 35 passes for a career-high 283 yards and a touchdown.
     a.    Verica threw for more yards in the first half (194) than he did all of last season (156), when he started just one game. 

5.    5-foot-11 junior receiver Kris Burd had seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.

6.    6-foot-3 senior receiver Dontrelle Inman had seven catches for 88 yards.

Nationals beat the Mets 13-3 on Monday afternoon.

1.    The Nats improved to 60-78 overall and 40-63 since starting 20-15.

2.    The Nats won their third consecutive game.

3.    The Nats totaled 12 hits and eight walks and went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
     a.    Danny Espinosa, who started at shortstop because Ian Desmond is nursing his left hamstring, had a grand slam, a solo homer, an RBI single and a double.  Espinosa did commit an error during the Mets’ two-run first inning. 
          i.    Espinosa is 9-for-16 with three homers and 10 RBI in the first five games since his call-up.
     b.    Catcher Ivan Rodriguez had a two-run double and a walk and finished with three RBI and a run.
     c.    Left fielder Roger Bernadina had a single, two walks, a stolen base and three runs.

4.    Reliever Scott Olsen tossed four scoreless and hitless innings.

5.    Reliever Colin Balester recorded two strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning.

6.    Jordan Zimmerman allowed three runs (one earned) in four innings.
     a.    Zimmerman has a 3.86 ERA over three starts this season.


Orioles win at the Yankees 4-3 on Monday afternoon.

1.    The O’s improved to 52-86 overall and 20-13 under manager Buck Showalter.

2.    The O’s won their third consecutive game.

3.    Rookie Brian Matusz allowed three runs in six innings.
     a.    Matusz is 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA (six runs in 27 innings) over his last four starts.
     b.    Matusz improved to 8-12 with a 4.71 ERA over 28 starts this season.

4.    Relievers Matt Albers, Jim Johnson and Koji Uehara (oo-eh-HAH-ruh) each tossed a scoreless and hitless inning.

5.    The O’s totaled nine hits and five walks, though they went just 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
     a.    Second baseman Brian Roberts had three singles and two RBI, though he was thrown out at second base attempting to advance on each of his two RBI singles.
     b.    Rookie third baseman Josh Bell had a double, a single and a run.

Redskins finalize their 53-man roster and eight-man practice squad.

The Skins trimmed their roster to 53 on Saturday.  Surprising and/or notable cuts included those of receiver Terrence Austin, safety Tyrone Carter, linebacker Robert Henson, running back Willie Parker, offensive lineman Chad Rinehart, offensive tackle Will Robinson, running back Ryan Torain and receiver Bobby Wade. 

Also the Skins traded cornerback Justin Tryon to Indianapolis for an undisclosed draft pick.

The Skins announced a seven-man practice squad on Sunday (a team can have as many as eight players on its practice squad): Austin, offensive lineman Selvish Capers, offensive lineman Erik Cook, linebacker Rob Jackson, Robinson, safety Anderson Russell and Torain.  Linebacker Mike Balogun (BAL-uh-guhn) practiced with the Skins on Monday and is the eighth member of their practice squad.

Nationals win at Pittsburgh 8-1 on Sunday afternoon.

1.    The Nats notched their 59th victory, matching their totals from each of the previous two seasons.

2.    Jason Marquis allowed one run in six innings.
     a.    Marquis has a 2.25 ERA (six runs in 24 innings) over his last four starts.
     b.    Marquis improved to 2-7 with a 7.14 ERA over nine starts this season.

3.    Relievers Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen combined for three scoreless innings.

4.    The Nats totaled 11 hits and five walks and went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
     a.    Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman had two singles and four RBI.
     b.    First baseman Adam Dunn had a solo homer and an RBI single.
     c.    Center fielder Nyjer Morgan had a single, two walks and two runs.  He did get caught stealing for the MLB-worst 16th time this season.


Orioles beat Tampa Bay 8-7 on Sunday afternoon.

1.    The O’s won the rubber game of a three-game series for just the second time in 14 chances this season.

2.    The O’s totaled 10 hits and seven walks and went 4-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
     a.    Right fielder Nick Markakis had two RBI singles and a run.
     b.    Center fielder Corey Patterson hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBI.
     c.    Second baseman Brian Roberts had two singles, a walk, an RBI, a stolen base and two runs.
     d.    Shortstop Cesar Izturis had two singles, a walk and a run.

3.    Relievers Alfredo Simon (see-MOHN) and Koji Uehara (oo-eh-HAH-ruh) each tossed a scoreless inning.

4.    Negatives from the win:
     a.    Chris Tillman allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.
          i.    Tillman now has a 7.42 ERA over seven starts this season.
     b.    Relievers Jim Johnson and Michael Gonzalez combined to allow four runs in 1 2/3 innings.
     c.    Tillman, Johnson and Gonzalez combined to allow four homers.
     d.    First baseman Ty Wigginton committed his 18th error of the season.  He did have a single and a walk.

Nationals win at Pittsburgh 9-2 on Saturday night.

1.    John Lannan allowed one run in seven innings.
     a.    Lannan has a 2.93 ERA (14 earned runs in 43 innings) over seven starts since returning from Double-A Harrisburg on Aug. 1.
     b.    Lannan also had a double, a walk and a run.
     c.    Lannan improved to 7-6 with a 4.73 ERA over 21 starts this season.

2.    The Nats totaled 15 hits and three walks and went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
     a.    Catcher Ivan Rodriguez finished with three hits, four RBI and two runs.  He had a two-run homer and a two-run single.
     b.    Shortstop Ian Desmond had an RBI double, two singles and a run.
     c.    First baseman Michael Morse, playing for Adam Dunn (sore hamstring), had two singles, a walk, an RBI and a run.
     d.    Second baseman Danny Espinosa had two singles, an RBI and a run.
     e.    Center fielder Nyjer Morgan had two singles and an RBI.

3.    Reliever Joel (joh-EHL) Peralta tossed a scoreless ninth inning.

4.    Negatives from the win:
     a.    Desmond committed two of the Nats’ three errors and now has an MLB-worst 31 errors this season.
     b.    Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman committed his 14th error of the season.
     c.    Reliever Doug Slaten allowed one run in one inning on three hits.


Orioles beat Tampa Bay 8-4 on Saturday night.

1.    Jeremy Guthrie allowed two runs in seven innings.
a.    Guthrie improved to 9-13 with a 3.89 ERA over 28 starts this season.

2.    The O’s totaled 15 hits and two walks.  Seven Orioles players each had two hits.
     a.    Right fielder Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer.  The homer was just his ninth of the season.
     b.    Catcher Matt Wieters had a two-run double.

3.    Reliever Michael Gonzalez recorded three strikeouts in a scoreless eighth inning.

4.    A negative from the win was reliever Koji Uehara (oo-eh-HAH-ruh), who gave up two solo homers in the ninth inning.

Nationals lose at Pittsburgh 8-5 on Friday night.

1.    The Nats fell to 57-78 overall and 37-63 since starting 20-15.

2.    The Nats were managed by bench coach John McLaren as Jim Riggleman served the first game of a two-game suspension for Wednesday night’s brawl with the Marlins.
     a.    Other suspensions from the fight:
          i.    Center fielder Nyjer Morgan received an eight-game suspension for his various incidents this week.  This is in addition to the seven-game suspension - stemming from an Aug. 21 incident in Philadelphia - that he is currently appealing.
          ii.   Reliever Doug Slaten and third-base coach Pat Listach received three-game suspensions.  Listach’s suspension was reduced to two games.

3.    Livan Hernandez allowed eight runs in 4 1/3 innings in his worst start of the season.
     a.    Hernandez allowed eight hits (including a solo homer) and two walks and recorded four strikeouts.
     b.    Hernandez has allowed 20 runs in 15 innings over his last three starts.
     c.    Hernandez fell to 9-10 with a 3.81 ERA over 28 starts this season.

4.    The Nats totaled just eight hits and struck out 11 times.
     a.    Morgan went 0-for-4 and now is 10-for-50 since returning from the disabled list on August 19.

5.    Positives from the loss:
     a.    The Nats totaled five walks and went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
     b.    Second baseman and September call-up Danny Espinosa had a solo homer and an RBI double.
     c.    Shortstop Ian Desmond and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman each had a double, a single, a walk and a run.
     d.    First baseman Adam Dunn had an RBI single and now is 10-for-18 over his last six games.
     e.    Relievers Miguel Batista, Tyler Clippard and Sean Burnett combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings.


Orioles lose to Tampa Bay 4-1 on Friday night.

1.    The O’s fell to 49-86 overall and 17-13 under manager Buck Showalter.
     a.    The O’s have lost three consecutive games for the first time under Showalter.

2.    Kevin Millwood allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
     a.    Millwood fell to 3-15 with a 5.38 ERA over 27 starts this season.

3.    The O’s totaled just seven hits and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

4.    Positives from the loss:
     a.    Reliever Mark Hendrickson recorded five strikeouts in three scoreless innings. 
          i.    Hendrickson has provided scoreless relief in nine of his last 10 appearances.
     b.    Designated hitter Luke Scott had a single and two walks.
          i.    Scott is eighth in MLB with a .565 slugging percentage and 10th in MLB with a .921 OPS.
     c.    Reliever Jim Johnson struck out the only batter he faced.