The Nationals welcomed back center fielder Denard Span, who led off and played center field Sunday for the first time this season. He had been out of the lineup since the beginning of the season while recovering from right core muscle surgery. Manager Matt Williams said it felt "normal" again with Span playing. Span went 1-for-5 with a single and run scored in the Nationals' three-run fifth. The Nats went on to beat the Phillies 4-1, clinching their first series win of the season. "No...

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg pitched a gem today. He was perfect through the first 4 2/3 innings before allowing a two-out single to Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz in the fifth. The three runs the Nats would get in the bottom of the inning would be all they would need, as they went on to win 4-1 and capture their first series of the season. Strasburg was dominant throughout the afternoon, allowing just the one run on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. "You know, that may be as...

For the Orioles, it was another good day at Fenway Park. For outfielder Adam Jones, it was another good day at the plate. Jones had four hits, including a homer, and drove in five runs to tie his career high as the Orioles beat Boston 8-3 for their seventh win in their last eight games at Fenway. The Orioles and Red Sox are both now 7-5 and tied for first in the American League East. With the game tied 3-3 in the fifth, the Orioles scored twice to go ahead by two runs. Jimmy Paredes and Jones...

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg is perfect through four innings. He's working quickly having only thrown only 32 pitches. He got Phillies second baseman Cody Asche swinging to end the first and center fielder Odubel Herrera whiffed to start the fourth. Third baseman Danny Espinosa, in only his second career start at the position, helped Strasburg with a spectacular sliding over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory on a pop fly from shortstop Freddy Galvis in the fourth. The Nats have only...

BOSTON - Adam Jones hit a ball today that cleared the Green Monster in left field and delayed flights out of Logan Airport. Jones demolished a 91 mph fastball from Red Sox starter Rick Porcello after Jimmy Paredes singled up the middle with one out. The lead didn't last long. Hanley Ramirez hit a three-run homer off Miguel Gonzalez with one out in the bottom of the first to put Boston ahead 3-2. Paredes has three hits in two games with the Orioles. Jones has five home runs and 13 RBIs to go...

It's been less than a year since the death of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn from salivary gland cancer, and Gwynn's passing has brought many calls for Major League Baseball to ban the use of smokeless tobacco. As baseball and its players association move toward another round of negotiations on a new labor agreement next year, expect smokeless tobacco to be one of the most debated issues. Smokeless tobacco - known as "chew" - is banned in the minor leagues, and MLB enacted a series of new rules...

BOSTON - Not much news to report today, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Orioles are having a quiet morning, with no other players headed to the disabled list. Fingers remain crossed. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop is in Sarasota to begin rehabbing his right knee. Shortstop J.J. Hardy hit off a tee today, but didn't take live batting practice. He'll get back in the cage Monday, and we'll continue to wait for his rehab assignment to start. "We knew it wasn't going to be really...

BOSTON - Second baseman Jonathan Schoop flew to Sarasota this morning to begin rehabbing his right knee. Ryan Flaherty gets the start at second base for the Orioles this afternoon. Everth Caberera is leading off. Delmon Young is in left field. Adam Jones ranks fourth in the American League and sixth in the majors with a .415 (17-for-41) average. He's batting third again today. For the Orioles Everth Cabrera SS Jimmy Paredes DH Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young LF Travis Snider RF Manny...

Center fielder Denard Span is back from the disabled list after recovering from right core muscle surgery and he'll bat in his normal leadoff position this afternoon for the Nationals. The 31-year-old will make his season debut after tying for the National League lead in hits last year with 184. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg returns to the mound still in search of his first win in his third try. He's allowed 11 runs on 19 hits in just 10 2/3 innings this season. For the Phillies: CF Odubel...

Center fielder Denard Span is back. The Nationals reinstated Span from the 15-day disabled list this morning and manager Matt Williams immediately placed the 31-year-old back in his familiar leadoff spot for today's game against the Phillies. Span, who was already coming off hernia surgery when he arrived at spring training, only played in the Nationals' first Grapefruit League game before exiting with an abdominal injury. He underwent another procedure on March 9 to repair his right core...