MIAMI - A late offensive surge helped the Nationals pull away from the Marlins in a 9-5 series-opening win at Marlins Park. From the sixth to the eighth innings, the Nats scored seven runs on seven hits and two errors, turning a 2-2 tie into a 9-5 victory. The offense exploded for seven runs on seven hits, taking advantage of two Marlins errors to put the game away in the late stages. "If we start hitting the ball like we are capable of hitting, good things are going to happen, obviously,"...

The problems in navigating a lineup the third time through the order resurfaced for Orioles right-hander Andrew Cashner in Chicago on Monday night. Cashner will look for improvement this afternoon when he faces the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg. Cashner threw four scoreless innings to begin his night Monday, but was knocked from the game during the sixth. As the lineup turned over, Cashner issued a walk and five straight hits over the fifth and sixth innings. For the season, Cashner allows a...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - How ironic that a team slashing one of the lowest payrolls in baseball has a manager with the last name Cash. The Rays traded center fielder Denard Span and closer Alex Colomé before last night's game against the Orioles. They were in third place in the American League East, only two games below .500 and certainly within sniffing distance of a wild card, though with a substantial portion of the season in front of them. Some people call it "tanking," some call it a...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles knocked out the starting pitcher tonight after only two-thirds of an inning. They scored one run. A quick hook or a quirky plan by the opposition? Go with the latter. The Rays continue to use relievers as starters, tabbing Sergio Romo for tonight and Sunday afternoon. The Orioles turned to prospect David Hess, the more conventional move, and he responded with 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory at Tropicana Field. The Orioles have won back-to-back road...

MIAMI - Manager Davey Martinez spoke before Friday's game about how hard Michael A. Taylor has been working on having quality at-bats as he attempts to get out of a rough patch at the plate. Taylor was hitting only .157 with 22 strikeouts in his last 15 games. During batting practice, Taylor showed aggression in his swing with back-to-back homers over the center field wall, well past the 407-foot marker. That seemingly transferred to the game. In the second, facing Marlins starter José...

MIAMI - The Nationals on Friday selected the contract of right-hander Justin Miller. The 30-year-old reliever had impressed the club in the offseason and then pitched well at Triple-A Syracuse to earn the promotion. Miller has spent three years in the majors - eight games with the Tigers and 74 games with the Rockies from 2014 to 2016. He also has pitched in all or parts of eight minor league seasons. "Very impressive. Known him for a while," said Nationals manager Davey Martinez. "He's...

MIAMI - After missing the first two months of the season due to knee surgery recovery, second baseman Daniel Murphy will begin his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg tomorrow at home against Altoona, Nationals manager Davey Martinez announced this afternoon. The Senators are home through Monday against the Curve, then travel to Hartford. Martinez said that outfielder Brian Goodwin is also healthy enough to join Murphy with Harrisburg to begin his rehab assignment. "That's great news...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - With Mark Trumbo likely to be out at least another three days after receiving a cortisone injection in his right knee, the Orioles are expected to place him on the disabled list following tonight's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. A decision will be made whether to call up a pitcher or position player. There could be multiple moves if the Orioles option starter David Hess, though they'd prefer to hold onto him. Manager Buck Showalter is playing with a short...

MIAMI - The Nationals have selected the contract of right-hander Justin Miller, who has pitched for the Tigers and the Rockies but hasn't been in the majors since 2016. He takes the roster spot vacated by right-hander Erick Fedde, who was sent back to Triple-A Syracuse following his start Wednesday against the Padres. Miller, 30, is 6-foot-3, 215 lbs., and his best season was 2015, when he went 3-3 with one save and a 4.05 ERA in 34 games with the Rockies. He struck out 38 in 33 1/3 innings of...

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Justin Miller on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Miller, 30, joins the Nationals after tossing 13.2 innings of scoreless relief across nine appearances out of Triple-A Syracuse's bullpen. He struck out 23 batters, issued three walks and surrendered just three hits (3-for-43) along the way. Miller tossed more than 1.0 inning of relief in six of the...