If we told you that Orioles starting pitcher Erik Bedard struck out 12 Nationals batters in a thoroughly dominating performance on Sunday, you’d have expected the O’s to cruise to their third win in a sweep of their Beltway rivals. Likewise, if we told you that both Ryan Zimmerman and Austin Kearns homered and the Nats opened with a 6-0 lead on the road in Cincinnati last night, you’d have expected a first road win in 9 tries.

Needless to say, you’d be wrong on both counts. After dropping the first two games of the Beltway series, the Nats barely got on base for the first 7 innings, as Bedard fanned batter after batter. Bedard felt his “legs going” after 7 innings and asked to be pulled. Manager Sam Perlozzo obliged, and Washington capitalized. Zimmerman’s double to centerfield off Chad Bradford drove in one, then struggling reliever Danys Baez allowed a couple hits and walked the bases full for Nook Logan to ground a single into center. The hit brought home Kearns and Belliard, giving the Nats a 4-3 lead. In the top of the 9th, closer Chad Cordero gave up a Miguel Tejada single, but “the Chief” closed up shop after that and recorded his 5th save of the season.