Davey Martinez spent most of the evening sweating in the dugout, this despite the heavy coat he was wearing on a deceptively chilly mid-April evening on South Capitol Street. His Nationals had opened up an early lead on the Giants but couldn't add on, and so now the second-year manager had to figure out how he was going to get the requisite outs necessary from his beleaguered bullpen while protecting only a two-run lead. Then Matt Adams and Kurt Suzuki made life a whole lot easier on Martinez...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - If David Hess had any shot at getting deeper into his start tonight against the Rays, he needed to soften the contact against him. Think pillow instead of pillar. Everything that Hess threw was tattooed, with exit velocities in the first inning of 115.4, 102.3, 105.6 and 108.9 mph - the latter resulting in a three-run homer by the University of Maryland's Brandon Lowe on a ball that traveled 409 feet, according to Statcast. Hess allowed another run in the second and...

The Nationals produced a couple of loud at-bats versus Giants starter Jeff Samardzija in the first inning to break out to a big early advantage. Following an Adam Eaton walk, Juan Soto slammed a two-run shot to right field. It was the third homer of the season for Soto and came on a first pitch. One batter later, Howie Kendrick launched a no-doubter over the left field wall for his third homer of the season. The Nationals led the Giants 3-0 after one inning. In the second inning, Wilmer Difo...

Right-hander David Hess (1-2, 3.32 ERA) gets the start tonight as the Orioles play the second game of their three-game set at Tropicana Field. The Tampa Bay Rays won 4-2 last night to improve to 13-4, while the Orioles are now 7-11 on the year, 6-5 on the road and 2-3 on the current road trip. The Rays have the best record in the majors and their plus-40 run differential also tops all teams. Tampa Bay leads the American League East by 5 1/2 games. The total division lead in the sport's other...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A short bench for the Orioles has reached its tiniest stage with Chris Davis unable to play due a stomach virus. Manager Brandon Hyde needs length from his starters. He won't get it from his bench, which is down to infielder Hanser Alberto and backup catcher Pedro Severino. It's risky to use the second catcher, leaving Hyde with Alberto and fingers crossed. "Options are a little short," Hyde said. "It's part of it. This happens a lot throughout the year where things...

In making some changes to his lineup for tonight's game, Davey Martinez had a couple of goals in mind: * Get Matt Adams and Howie Kendrick, both swinging hot bats in recent days, in the lineup. * Give Brian Dozier, who fouled a ball off his toe Tuesday night, a breather. * Move Anthony Rendon, the team's best hitter to date this season, up to try to give him more at-bats and more early opportunities to give the Nationals a lead. The end result of all that is the lineup card that Martinez will...

Shortstop Trea Turner had his workout gear, glove and baseball cleats on for batting practice Wednesday prior to the Nationals' game with the Giants at Nats Park. Turner fielded grounders at shortstop, but did not throw the ball. He had no wrap or tape bandaging on his broken right finger prior to heading to the field. "He's actually keeping his legs in shape," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's doing everything he possibly can without using his index finger. That's where we...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Davis feels much better at the plate. It's his stomach that's keeping him out of the lineup. Davis was scratched yesterday due to a stomach virus and he's on the bench for tonight's game against the Rays. He's in the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field, but unable to play unless there's significant improvement in his physical condition. "I don't think there's really a whole lot I can do," Davis said this afternoon. "You just have to let it run its...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Davis is out of the Orioles lineup tonight after being a late scratch yesterday due to an illness. The Orioles are carrying a three-man bench. If Davis isn't available, manager Brandon Hyde's late-inning options are further compromised. Renato Núñez is making his first start in the field this season by replacing Davis at first base. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter. Joey Rickard is in right field, with Dwight Smith Jr. in left and Cedric Mullins in...

Davey Martinez has stuck with a pretty consistent lineup since opening day. When he's made changes, he's simply plugged in a Matt Adams or a Howie Kendrick or a Kurt Suzuki into the same spot in the batting order as the regular said player is replacing. But after struggling to score runs Sunday and again Tuesday night, Martinez is going with a different look. Adams and Kendrick and Suzuki are all in there against Giants right-hander Jeff Samardzija. But the order has changed, with Anthony...