DENVER - Davey Martinez has participated in enough games at Coors Field - as a player, as a coach and as a manager - to know what kind of mindset anyone in uniform must bring to this park. "You gotta try to score as many runs as possible," he said this afternoon. "No game's ever over." So even when the Nationals scored two runs in the top of the first tonight, Martinez certainly knew that wouldn't be enough. And even when they added three more in the top of the fourth via Brian Dozier's...

The decision to select Stevie Wilkerson's contract yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk was primarily tied to the Orioles' needs through 23 games of the season. Credit goes to Wilkerson for presenting himself as an attractive option. He's become a super-utility player. He's embraced the role. No one had to do a hard sell on him. Cedric Mullins was mired in a lengthy slump and organizational concerns grew over the potential impact on his confidence and development. He needed to start over with...

Some nights a team puts up a good fight and loses. Some nights they lose and look bad doing so. The Orioles very much experienced the latter tonight as they lose 12-2 to the Chicago White Sox to fall to 8-16 overall and to 1-10 at home. They've lost six of seven and 15 of 19 since their 4-1 start. The Orioles saw their starter give up four runs in the fifth, two relievers allowed four runs each, they made two errors in the field, had a runner picked off third with the bases loaded and went...

David Hess seemed to be dropping hints early tonight that he'd more closely resemble the version of himself that stymied the Blue Jays in Toronto than the one who turned in his shortest start last week at Tropicana Field. It happened in the first inning with back-to-back called third strikes on Yoán Moncada and José Abreu, a changeup and 95 mph fastball getting Hess back in the dugout on 10 pitches. Or it could have been the five-pitch fourth inning - popup, fly ball and grounder. Blink...

DENVER - Though they don't believe Anthony Rendon will need to miss much time with a bruised left elbow, the Nationals decided they couldn't proceed any longer without any backup infielders, so they recalled Jake Noll from Triple-A today and sent reliever Austin Adams to Fresno to clear a roster spot. Rendon, who was struck in the elbow by a pitch Saturday night in Miami, has been out of the lineup since. But there were signs of improvement today: He's able to bend his arm, according to...

After being swept in a three-game series for the second time this year, the Orioles host the Chicago White Sox tonight to begin a three-game series. The Orioles (8-15) are 1-9 at home and have lost six straight at Camden Yards. Chicago (8-12) is 5-4 over its past nine games. The White Sox are 4-0 at night and 4-12 in day games. That's a lot of games in the sunshine so far for the Sox. The Orioles are 4-8 at night and 4-7 in day baseball. Chicago is 2-4 against the AL East, going 0-3 versus...

Orioles outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. said he could have played tonight, the discomfort in his right quadriceps muscle vanishing since he came out of yesterday's game. Manager Brandon Hyde wants to avoid using him in the series opener against the White Sox and likely will return him to the lineup on Tuesday. "Leg's feeling fine, feeling better than it did yesterday," Smith said. "I was walking around fine this morning. I'm available tonight." Smith is on the bench with the White Sox...

DENVER - Hello from Coors Field, where the air is not only thin but really cold. At least today, it is. The high temperature might crack 50 degrees this afternoon, and it'll be dropping down through the 40s during tonight's series opener. You'd think that would be a bad thing for hitters, but I'm not sure it's possible for any game in this ballpark to be bad for hitters. The Nationals certainly hope the altitude helps get their bats going after a sluggish weekend in Miami that at least...

Things can change fast in baseball and they have for the Orioles' Stevie Wilkerson. A player that was designated for assignment by the club late in spring training on March 23 is starting in left field tonight. And he soon could get some starts in center field for the Orioles. Wilkerson's had a hot bat going at Triple-A and his contract was selected today from Norfolk and he was added back to the 40 and 25-man rosters. Cedric Mullins was optioned to Triple-A where he will try to get his bat...

Left fielder Dwight Smith Jr. is out of the Orioles lineup for tonight's series opener against the White Sox after leaving yesterday's game with cramping in his right quadriceps muscle. Stevie Wilkerson is in left field after the Orioles selected his contract today from Triple-A Norfolk. Joey Rickard is in center and Trey Mancini is in right. Hanser Alberto is starting at third base and Rio Ruiz is playing first, with Chris Davis on the bench. David Hess has allowed 13 runs in 19 hits in his...