The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with five international free agents: outfielder Yoel Andujar, shortstop Bryan Bencosme, outfielder Juan Evangelista, shortstop Adanlis Martinez and outfielder Brailin Mesa. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of International Scouting Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. Andujar, 16, is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound native of the Dominican Republic. He is a right-handed hitter with a large frame...

The Rockies have been desperate to get their offense going in this series. They finally were able to deliver a big inning against the Nationals and Doug Fister early in the series finale. Fister got through the first unscathed. But in the second, the Rockies started a rally with singles from Troy Tulowitzki and Corey Dickerson. With two men on in the second, backup catcher Michael McKenry slammed a three-run shot over the left field wall, to give the Rockies a 3-0 lead. It was McKenry's...

With a win tonight, the Orioles would move six games over .500 to match their season-high from May 10, when they were 20-14. They also would move above .500 at home for the first time since being 9-8 on May 12. Steve Pearce has hit three home runs in his last two games. He's never homered in three consecutive games. Pearce has collected 10 homers in 46 games and 150 at-bats. He needed 192 games and 488 at-bats to hit his first 10 in the majors. The Orioles have hit multiple home runs in...

Despite going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position the last two nights, the Orioles have scored 15 runs on 18 hits in winning the first two games of their series with Texas. The Orioles had three doubles and seven homers in the wins on Monday and Tuesday. In those games, they beat two struggling pitchers. Joe Saunders had given up 13 runs in 8 2/3 innings in his previous two starts. Nick Martinez, last night's losing pitcher, was 0-4 with a 7.62 ERA in his previous six starts. Tonight,...

Nationals manager Matt Williams was able to shed more light on what he thought Bryce Harper meant when talking about where he would like to hit in the lineup and what position he would prefer to play. Williams said he understands if Harper would want to hit higher in the lineup than sixth. "With regard to scrutiny regarding the lineup, that's on me," Williams said. "I make the lineup. And that's all that Bryce said. He makes the lineup, I'll play left field, or I'll play center. I'll...

Bud Norris threw his bullpen session today at Camden Yards and manager Buck Showalter said he should have an update later today. Norris is eligible to come off the disabled list on Monday. Showalter indicated that the right-hander would need to pitch in a rehab or simulated game before the club activated him. Norris won't go directly from a side session to the Orioles rotation. First baseman Chris Davis took some swings off a tee while Showalter and hitting coach Jim Presley offered...

After last night's game, when he hit his 26th home run on his 34th birthday, Nelson Cruz said once again that he will be skipping the All-Star Home Run Derby. "They asked me," Cruz said. "Like I've said in the past, I was in that once. I think the best thing for the team right now and for me is to stay out of that. Take that time to rest and come back strong for the second half. Try to help the team." While he has just three hits over his past 24 at-bats over the last six games, two of...

Ryan Flaherty remains at third base tonight and Chris Davis stays at first, as the Orioles try to improve to 3-0 during Manny Machado's suspension and guarantee a series win against the Rangers at Camden Yards. Davis is batting .205/.324/.402 with nine doubles, 13 homers, 41 RBIs, 39 walks and 87 strikeouts in 68 games. He's hitless in his last 19 at-bats, 7-for-62 in 18 games and 10-for-80 in 23 games. In 27 games in June, Davis was 17-for-97 (.175) with two doubles, six homers, 16 RBIs, 16...

Looks like Danny Espinosa will have to wait at least one more day to return to the Nationals starting lineup. Espinosa isn't in the lineup posted for tonight's 6:05 p.m. game against the Rockies, the last of a three-game series. Instead, Anthony Rendon is manning second base, Ryan Zimmerman is at third and Bryce Harper is in left field. Manager Matt Williams had said last night that he was considering playing Espinosa today. Instead, the lineup remains the same from 1-7 in the order. The only...

The Orioles have won the first two games of their series against the Rangers, and they're scheduled to face a pitcher tonight who's making his first major league start. Heck, T.J. McFarland already had one before last night. He's a seasoned pro by comparison. Miles Mikolas, brought up yesterday after left-hander Joe Saunders was designated for assignment, is the 11th different Texas pitcher to start this season - the most in the American League and one behind the Rockies. Mikolas, 25, is 3-1...