A pair of miscues by Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond overshadowed an impressive debut for Max Scherzer in Monday's 3-1 opening day loss to the Mets. The first fielding mistake cost Scherzer a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. With two outs and a runner on first, David Wright's pop-up behind second base was dropped by Desmond and the Mets were in business with runners on second and third. Second baseman Dan Uggla appeared early on to have a good beat on the pop up, waving away the other fielders,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles are 5-2 against the Rays on opening day and have won 13 of 20 games between them since the start of last season. They've held Tampa Bay to three runs or fewer 13 times and now lead the all-time series 149-148. Here are a few more fun facts after a season-opening 6-2 win: * The Orioles' three home runs were one short of their opening day record. They hit four in 2006 and 1982. * The Orioles have won five straight opening day games and are 40-22 all-time. *...

Chris Tillman ended the 2014 regular season pitching like an ace and he started 2015 in the same fashion today. Tillman took a shutout into the seventh, pitching the Orioles past Tampa Bay 6-2 in the season opener at Tropicana Field. Tillman went 6 2/3 innings, allowing just four hits and one run with three walks and four strikeouts. Evan Longoria homered off him in the seventh for his sixth career homer in 36 at-bats off Tillman, who threw 95 pitches, 52 for strikes. The right-hander is now...

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer is breezing through his first opening day start of his career. The only blemish is a leadoff walk to Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson to start the game. Otherwise, Scherzer has been unhittable, pitching five scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Right fielder Bryce Harper reintroduced himself to Mets starter Bartolo Colon with a monstrous solo blast to deep right-center field to lead off the fourth. It's Harper's third opening day homer of his career,...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles lineup on opening day is missing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, which doesn't qualify as breaking news. Stay with me here. Alejandro De Aza is playing left field instead of Cruz. He's leading off instead of Markakis. And he's having one heck of a day. So is Travis Snider, who's playing right field instead of Markakis. De Aza reached on an error and scored in the first inning, and hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Rays starter Chris Archer to give the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Alejandro De Aza is the first Oriole to reach base and score a run in 2015. Travis Snider collected the first RBI. Manny Machado drew the first walk. Steve Pearce was the first to strike out. Delmon Young was the first to strike out swinging. I'm just trying to cover all the prop bets, so to speak. The run was unearned after Rays starter Chris Archer made a poor throw to first that allowed De Aza to reach. Pearce struck out looking with runners on the corners and one...

The Nationals open today against the New York Mets without three important players on offense. Left fielder Jayson Werth (right AC joint surgery), center fielder Denard Span (right core muscle surgery) and third baseman Anthony Rendon (sprained left knee) were placed on the disabled list to begin the season. The earliest they are eligible to return is April 11. Manager Matt Williams, who sounded like he was battling a little bit of a cold himself, spoke about each player's current status...

Welcome to the first game blog of the new season. Leave comments here as the game goes, as instant reactions we get from fans can be interesting to track as we watch each pitch. As the Orioles begin their 62nd season since moving to Baltimore today, they open on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays. Right-hander Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA in 2014) faces right-hander Chris Archer (10-9, 3.33 ERA in 2014) in the season opener at the Trop. For about the final four months of last season, Tillman...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette continues to explore trades, in part to get the pitching staff down to 12 players and give manager Buck Showalter a full four-man bench. The Orioles also are trying to move Ryan Webb, who was designated for assignment earlier today. Webb was in uniform and signing autographs for fans beside the visiting dugout. "We're just trying to get our team in shape to start the season," Duquette said. "Sometimes it takes a little...

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced a short time ago that Nationals Park will host the 2018 All-Star Game. "I am pleased the Nationals will have the opportunity to host the Midsummer Classic for the first time since Major League Baseball returned to the nation's capital in 2005," Manfred said in a statement. "The best sporting event of the summer, which will be held one decade after the opening of Nationals Park, will add a new chapter to the long and distinguished...