PHOENIX - Much as he wants to hand the ball to Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle every chance he gets while holding a slim lead late in games, Davey Martinez knows those three elite relievers won't make it to September if he keeps calling their names over and over and over. No, there are five other relievers sitting in that bullpen every night, and sometimes they have to be the ones to take the mound in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and try to secure a victory for the...

PHOENIX - If the Nationals are going to insist on playing low-scoring, tight ballgames every night, Davey Martinez is going to have no choice but to ask the members of his "B" bullpen to record some key late outs every once in a while. Such was the case this afternoon at Chase Field, where Brandon Kintzler and Sean Doolittle were unavailable after pitching the previous two nights (both low-scoring victories) and Ryan Madson was being saved to pitch the ninth. So it was that Martinez asked...

The first inning bit the Orioles again in the nightcap. Always a painful spot. C.J. Cron, the second batter of the game, homered to center field off Alex Cobb to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. But the Orioles aren't taking any crap lately, and Trey Mancini's leadoff homer in the bottom half tied the score. Mancini has accounted for both of the Orioles' leadoff home runs this season. Tonight's shot traveled an estimated 406 feet to left field. The Orioles have been outscored 58-17 in the first...

Making his major league debut today, Orioles right-hander David Hess gave up a three-run homer to the fourth batter he faced. It got better for him after that. A lot better. Hess pitched scoreless ball from the second through the sixth today to get the win as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 6-3 for their fourth consecutive victory. They are 4-1 on this homestand and 12-27 for the season. The Rays have lost five straight and eight of 11. Hess got Denard Span to fly out to start his day. But two...

The David Hess cheering section in front of the press box fought to pace itself this afternoon as the right-hander made his major league debut. Shrieks, cheers and raised iPhones for photo ops upon his introduction, as the video board in center field showed him in the dugout, as he walked to the mound for his warmup tosses. Each strike drew a reaction heard 'round the ballpark. Orange and white T-shirts with Hess' name on the back, a gray game jersey. Not available in the lobby, but spotted...

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of infielder Mark Reynolds from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday and placed first baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 10-day disabled list (retroactive to May 10) with a right oblique strain. Additionally, the Nationals transferred right-handed pitcher Joaquin Benoit to the 60-day disabled list. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. Reynolds, 34, joins the Nationals after appearing in 10 games...

PHOENIX - The sore back that prevented Ryan Zimmerman from playing in five of the Nationals' last seven games has now landed him on the disabled list. The Nationals placed Zimmerman on the 10-day DL today with what the club called a right oblique strain and purchased the contract of veteran slugger Mark Reynolds from Triple-A Syracuse to take his place and provide another right-handed bat off the bench (and quite possibly in the lineup). Needing to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for...

David Hess is making his first major league start today with a chance to also make a lasting impression. The kind that keeps him with the Orioles beyond the doubleheader. Manager Buck Showalter provided another reminder that Hess isn't required to be optioned as the 26th man. He can stay with the club while someone else comes off the 25-man roster. He can move into the rotation. "Yes," Showalter said. "That's the way it works. You pitch good ... Yeah. This isn't something that's going to...

PHOENIX - With two games left to play, the Nationals have already locked up a winning record on this seven-game road trip through San Diego and Arizona. They'd like to do even better than that, though, and today they have an opportunity to take three in a row from the Diamondbacks, owners of the National League's best record to date. Stephen Strasburg takes the mound for this afternoon's game, looking to keep the train rolling after excellent starts the last two nights by Tanner Roark and...

Pedro Álvarez tested his right hamstring this morning with some light running on the field, but he remains out of the lineup for Game 1 of today's doubleheader against the Rays. The Orioles will use Mark Trumbo as their designated hitter. Álvarez came out of Thursday's game against the Royals after experiencing spasms and some cramping in the hamstring. "He moved around," said manager Buck Showalter. "We just got through doing some things. I was waiting on the lineup for a while to...