VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a pair of roster moves this morning, releasing veteran utility man Kevin Frandsen and reassigning outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. to minor league camp. The 32-year-old Frandsen was signed as a free agent last March 26, a day after he was released by the Phillies, and hit .259 with a homer and 17 RBIs in his lone season with the Nats. He played four positions - first base, second base, third base and left field - and quickly became a popular member of a veteran...

VIERA, Fla. - Tuesday stood to be an awkward day for new Nationals outfielder Matt den Dekker. Less than 24 hours after the Mets traded him to the Nats, he would be suiting up in Space Coast Stadium to play against his former team. "It's a little strange," admitted den Dekker. It helped den Dekker to see some familiar faces when he showed up in the Nats clubhouse early yesterday morning. Den Dekker, 27, and Nats outfielder Michael A. Taylor both attended the Winchester Academy and in Fort...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman won't throw his first pitch tonight against the Pirates until around 7:05 p.m. because the Orioles finally are playing under the lights at Ed Smith Stadium. This is only the second night game for the Orioles this spring. They have a 6:05 p.m. start Thursday against the Braves in Orlando and a 6:05 p.m. start Friday against the Braves in Sarasota. Everyone here has to adjust their body clocks. It's spring ahead, right? Bud Norris is pitching in a Triple-A game...

Chris Tillman is dependable. He thinks that is important, and said that among all the things he can do to help the Orioles, he is most proud of the ability to take the ball every fifth day for his team. They can depend on him to do that. "For me, that is big," Tillman said. "Numbers are numbers, but when you can go out for your teammates and fans and do your job every fifth day, that is important to me. First, you have to stay healthy and manage your body. I take a lot of pride in doing...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals left Space Coast Stadium quietly in their final Grapefruit league home game. Mets starter Jonathon Niese and three other relievers combined to shut out the Nats 2-0 while only allowing six hits. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez turned in his third straight strong start for the Nationals, giving up two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. "I felt great," Gonzalez said. "The only thing I was kind of upset about was the walk, but even on the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson requested a conference call with the local beat crew today to announce that he's retiring from baseball after 10 seasons in the majors, the last three with the Orioles. Hendrickson said he's been in contact with manager Buck Showalter about a future role in the organization. He also has interest in pursuing professional golf. I'm guessing custom-made clubs. Hendrickson was 58-74 with a 5.03 ERA in 328 games in the majors, his last...

The Orioles have announced the return of the fan-favorite AT&T Fans' Choice Bobblehead promotion for 2015. Fans will once again be able to select the player they want to be immortalized in a bobblehead giveaway, scheduled to be distributed during Fan Appreciation Weekend on Sunday, October 4 to the first 25,000 fans age 15 and over. Fans can vote for any of five players who have never been featured as an Orioles bobblehead: left-hander Zach Britton, left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, right-hander...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Rays 4, Orioles 3 Recap: Kevin Gausman didn't get through the fourth inning, allowing four runs and seven hits in 3 2/3. He walked one and struck out none. Asdrubal Cabrera had an RBI double off Gausman in the first and David DeJesus homered leading off the third. The Rays added two more runs in the third on Desmond Jenning's sacrifice fly and Logan Forsythe's RBI double. Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia tossed 2 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings, walking one batter and...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Mets 2, Nationals 0 Recap: Left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He also gave up his first home run of the spring, a solo shot by Mets right fielder John Mayberry Jr. Mets pitching, led by starter Jon Niese, shut out the Nats, who were only able to collect six hits on the day. Need to know: Mets lefty Jerry Blevins returned to Space Coast Stadium for three pitches, all strikes, against Bryce Harper...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman threw 20 pitches in the top of the first inning today and fell behind 1-0 to the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. John Jaso drew an eight-pitch walk with one out and scored on Asdrubal Cabrera's double to left-center field. Manny Machado got the final out by backhanding James Loney's bouncer and making the throw from foul territory. It wasn't even close at first base. Vintage Machado. Chris Tillman stepped outside the clubhouse earlier today to meet with reporters and...