Funnyman Will Ferrell has played a variety of roles - from his spot-on impressions on "Saturday Night Live" to news anchor and ladies man Ron Burgundy to former president George W. Bush in a one-man show. Now the Single-A Potomac Nationals want Ferrell to play a new role. Nine of them, to be exact. With Ferrell spending this afternoon playing all nine field positions and designated hitter while appearing for 10 different teams in five Cactus League games, the P-Nats have invited him to come...

JUPITER, Fla. - Hunter Harvey struck out a batter in a scoreless eighth inning in the Orioles' 8-2 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. Henry Urrutia grounded into a double play to end the game, as the Orioles fell to 3-8 this spring. Here's a sampling from manager Buck Showalter, starting with his critique of starter Bud Norris: "Not where he's going to be, he needs to be. Got his pitch count in. He's fine, he's healthy, so we'll go from that. "It's a process. The biggest...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Mets 11, Nationals 9 Recap: Prospect A.J. Cole gave up a run on four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings in his first start of the spring. Curtis Granderson homered off Cole in the first and Michael Cuddyer took reliever Evan Meek deep in the third. Nats center fielder Michael A. Taylor delivered a two-out double in the third, scoring Nate McLouth and Danny Espinosa. Espinosa later homered in the sixth to give the Nats a 4-2 advantage. The Mets scored nine runs in...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Cardinals 8, Orioles 2 Recap: Former Oriole Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer off Bud Norris in the bottom of the third inning to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. Norris was charged with three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings, with three walks, a strikeout and a hit batter. He threw 54 pitches, 28 for strikes. The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the first on a walk, infield hit and hit batter, but Norris escaped the jam. A leadoff single, passed ball and...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - A.J. Cole labored through 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks. Curtis Granderson slammed a full-count fastball over the left field wall to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first. David Wright and Michael Cuddyer followed with singles and Cole then walked Daniel Murphy to load the bases. He eventually got John Mayberry Jr. to hit into an inning-ending double play. After another walk and a single by Juan Lagares in the second, Cole's days was done,...

JUPITER, Fla. - Bud Norris fell an out short of making it three consecutive Orioles starters to work three innings with today's outing against the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. Norris took a 1-0 lead into the third before serving up a three-run homer to former Orioles infielder Mark Reynolds following a one-out single and walk. Norris allowed three runs and four hits in 2 2/3 innings, with three walks, one strikeout and a hit batter. He threw 54 pitches, 28 for strikes. In his first two...

JUPITER, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter spent last night in a hotel near Roger Dean Stadium, avoiding the three-hour drive this morning. That's a veteran move. Showalter is hoping that Kevin Gausman can go three or four innings in Sunday's B game at Ed Smith Stadium. It's scheduled for seven innings. The next round of cuts aren't expected before Saturday. The Orioles optioned knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa to Triple-A Norfolk following yesterday's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays. "He needs...

PORT ST. LUCIE. Fla. - Right-hander A.J. Cole makes his first start of the exhibition season today. Cole, one of the Nationals' prized prospects, gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits in 2 1/3 innings against the Cardinals on Saturday. "First time out, his breaking ball wasn't as sharp as he wanted it to be, so that's part of the plan today, to be able to throw that where he wants to throw it," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "So that's probably key for him today to feel better...

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. - Nate McLouth makes his first start of the spring today, leading off as the designated hitter. McLouth received two at-bats in yesterday's game, going 1-for-2 with a single. Nationals manager Matt Williams said McLouth won't play in the field until sometime next week as he continues on a throwing program while recovering from shoulder surgery. Hitting second, Danny Espinosa should get at least two at-bats from the right side of the plate against Mets right-handed starter...

JUPITER, Fla. - The Orioles are sparing the majority of their regulars the long trip to Jupiter today. Jonathan Schoop is at second and Everth Cabrera is playing shortstop while leading off for this afternoon's game against the Cardinals. Bud Norris is making his second spring start after allowing four runs on four hits in one inning his first time out. J.P. Arencibia will start behind the plate. The reserves making the trip are Steve Clevenger, Ryan Flaherty, David Lough, Chris Parmelee,...