WASHINGTON -- Daniel Murphy tried to set the stage for a dramatic rally, but even the first grand slam of his career wasnt enough juice to get the Washington Nationals out of their funk.Murphy hit a grand slam as part of a five-run ninth inning, but the Nationals fell short in a 10-8 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Washington has lost three in a row to Baltimore this week and six of its past nine overall.Despite that, the Nationals still lead the NL East by seven games over the Miami Marlins, and the almost-comeback had manager Dusty Baker feeling better in spite of another defeat.The thing Im proud of my team about is we lost the game, but I mean they showed a lot of fight, Baker said. If you keep fighting like that, youre going to win a lot of ballgames. I mentioned to some of the guys, good teams got to come back. And come back we did.Trailing 10-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Nationals got singles from Danny Espinosa and pinch-hitter Clint Robinson, and a walk to Jayson Werth set up Murphys 24th home run of the season, the grand slam off Parker Bridwell.Great at-bats in front of me, Murphy said. J.W .works a great at bat, Clint comes off the bench, hits a bullet and I got a pitch in the middle of the plate. Fortunately I didnt miss it.Murphys grand slam forced the Orioles to turn to closer Zach Britton, who was on a streak of 43 consecutive appearances without giving up an earned run. That ended when Bryce Harper singled and Anthony Rendon drove him in with an RBI double, the first run Britton gave up since April 30.Britton got Ryan Zimmerman to ground into a game-ending double play, making Washington starter Tanner Roark (13-7) lament his rough start. Roark said he wasnt at his best in giving up five runs, four earned, on seven hits in five-plus innings.Roark hit three of the first 14 batters he faced and allowed a two-run home run to Manny Machado before settling down.Hes usually not as erratic as he was tonight, Zimmerman said. He cant be great every single time. He did battle. Kept us in the game for five innings. Thats kind of typical of Tanner. Even when he doesnt have his good stuff, he battles and keeps us in the game. That was good to see him do that.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: OF Joey Rickard is set to see the doctor Sept. 2 to determine how his right thumb ligament injury is progressing. Manager Buck Showalter hopes Rickard will be back before the end of the season. ... LHP Brian Duensing (left elbow inflammation) threw seven pitches in an inning in the Gulf Coast League, Showalter said.Nationals: INF Stephen Drew saw an inner ear specialist to get a shot in his ear, according to team broadcaster MASN. He has been out since late July with vertigo.HARPER HOLDS MEDALSHarper became Katie Ledeckys medal holder while the swimmer threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Ledecky, who won one silver and four gold medals at the Rio Olympics, handed them to Harper before throwing to reliever Shawn Kelley.TURN, TURN, TURNWith his single in the seventh, Trea Turner tied the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise record with hits in eight consecutive plate appearances. Andre Dawson and Dmitri Young remained in the record books when Turner struck out in the ninth to finish his day 4 for 5.UP NEXTWith Chris Tillman on the disabled list, the Orioles turn to RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (5-10, 6.94 ERA) to make his first start since July 28. Hell face Nationals RHP Max Scherzer (13-7, 3.05).Gary Trent Jr. Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Damian Lillard Jersey .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. https://www.blazerslockerroom.com/Damian-Lillard-City-Edition-Jersey/ . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Zach Collins Blazers Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Skal Labissiere Jersey . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history.NRL heavyweights North Queensland and Cronulla have the premiership wobbles four rounds out from the finals, as Gold Coast learned the late season inclusion of Jarryd Hayne wont guarantee them a playoffs berth.Hayne will travel with the Titans to his home of Campbelltown to face Wests Tigers this weekend, in a match critical for the finals hopes of both sides.Meanwhile the Cowboys, the Sharks and even the Storm will seek to re-energize their title claims a month out from the playoffs.Premiers North Queenslands 26-14 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval in round 22 on Sunday tipped them out of the top four, while second-placed Cronullas 30-14 loss to Canberra on Saturday ended their 16-match unbeaten streak.Melbourne have taken the premiership lead from Cronulla. But not without worries of their own. Only some late-game brilliance from captain Cameron Smith helped the Storm to a 15-14 golden point win over South Sydney at AAMI Park on Saturday denied the Rabbitohs just their sixth win of the season.In Haynes much hyped comeback to the NRL on the Gold Coast on Sunday, it was the Titans finals hopes that took a hit despite the superstar enjoying an impressive rugby league return.The Warriors were meant to be almost bystanders in Haynes Titans debut, but the seventh-placed New Zealanders enjoyed a vital 24-14 away win.That could makee Saturday afternoons Campbelltown clash do-or-die for both sides.ddddddddddddIm looking forward to that, its the first time in my NRL career Ill be playing at Campbelltown, Hayne told Fox Sports.Being a Campbelltown boy it will be great to get back down there, I have always wanted to play there in the NRL, I have played a couple of trial matches down there but never on the big stage, so Im looking forward to that.Hayne will go head-to-head with NSW and Tigers fullback James Tedesco.We have got some momentum and some confidence as a team now and we want to keep that up, Tedesco said.There is a month to go and there is plenty to play for. We are looking forward to that and we are looking forward to playing Jarryd at Campbelltown.It will be a big game for both sides.Sixth-placed Brisbane opened round 22 with a vital 12-8 win over battling St George Illawarra in Wollongong on Thursday night.Parramatta all but ended Manlys finals aspirations with a 10-9 win at Pirtek Stadium on Friday night.Fourth-placed Canterbury have moved back into the top four courtesy of a 28-14 win over Newcastle at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.Penrith host Sydney Roosters in the final game of round 22 on Monday night at Pepper Stadium. ' ' '