Nationals vs. Orioles: Washington falls, 2-1, in Davey Johnson's return to Baltimore Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel scythed through the Nationals" lineup, yielding five hits and no earned runs in eight innings while striking out 10 and using only 96 pitches. Jordan Zimmermann scraped out seven innings without his best stuff, allowing two runs on eight hits, taking the loss because of customarily lousy run support. The Nationals" best chance served as the most climatic moment of the game and, for Washington, also the most wrenching. In the seventh inning, singles by Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa gave the Nationals (40-28) multiple base runners for the first time all night. Roger Bernadina struck out, leaving the inning, and maybe the game, to Jesus Flores. Flores smoked a fastball toward left field, the hardest-hit ball of a Nationals bat all night. At the perfect second, shortstop J.J. Hardy leaped and snared the rocket. The crowd exploded as he landed, and the base runners flung equipment. The place buzzed for the Orioles, now 40-30, like it had not since Johnson led the Orioles to their last winning season, in 1997. Johnson had not been to Camden Yards in any official capacity in 15 years, but he holds great affection for the place. All of Johnson's children were born in Baltimore. He visited the city for a doctor's appointment three weeks ago, and he stopped by 33rd and Ednor, the former site of old Memorial Stadium, where Johnson played eight seasons. A recreation field sits there now. Johnson had been back to Camden Yards only once since Orioles owner Peter Angelos forced him out as the team's manager in 1997, hours after he was named the AL Manager of the Year. He returned for a reunion of the 1970 World Series champion Orioles. Thursday, he claimed he did not recall if he set foot in the park or not. Johnson and Angelos have not spoken in years. Their only correspondence came in 2005. Angelos sent Johnson flowers as condolence for the death of his daughter, Andrea. "It was greatly appreciated," Johnson said. Johnson has not allowed any lingering antipathy toward Angelos infect his view of the city or the team. "Managers are hired to get fired," Johnson said. All the times that I was here, they were fun times for me. I really enjoyed playing here, learning the game of baseball here. It was fun to come back and manage in the town I played in. I played in a bunch of World Series, but my only regret is that I didn't get to manage this team into the World Series. But I'm not [upset] about that. I love coming here.