PHILADELPHIA - Just like last night, the Nationals trailed the Phillies 3-0 before the first inning was complete. Unlike last night, the Nats weren't able to come back and pick up the win. Ryan Howard's three-run homer off Tanner Roark in the first put the Nats in another early hole, and the Phillies continued to add on from there, making it 7-0 by the end of the fifth. Roark was coming off a three-hit shutout his last time out, but he didn't have his good stuff today, and the Phillies...

Sometimes a player can play in one organization so long without putting up real impressive stats that you tend to overlook him when he does start to improve his game. Garabez Rosa is one of those players. On a Double-A Bowie team that has several players hitting the ball well, it is easy to overlook Rosa right now. But he is having what is so far a breakout season and his defensive versatility could lead him one day to make the back-end of a big league team's roster. Maybe even one in...

The Nationals were retired in order by A.J. Burnett in the first before watching the Phillies take an early lead on a three-run home run off the bat of Ryan Howard. After pitching his best outing in his last start, right-hander Tanner Roark is struggling early in Philadelphia. He retired Tony Gwynn Jr., but allowed a single to Jimmy Rollins, who then stole second base. Chase Utley walked, bringing Howard to the plate. He crushed an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left-center field, giving the...

Offseason acquisition Doug Fister, who is on the disabled list with a strained lat, is set to make his first regular season start in a Nationals uniform next week. Whether that start is on Wednesday or Friday has yet to be determined. Fister made a rehab start with Double-A Harrisburg last night. "Felt strong, felt right where I need to be," he said in Philadelphia. "I feel like I'm a little late obviously, but for the most part, came out of the game, felt strong, felt like I could go out...

Twins right-hander Kevin Correia had been struggling this season, but that all ended today. Correia held the Orioles to one run over seven innings as Minnesota beat the Birds 6-1 to even the three-game series at a win each. Correia began this start with an 0-3 record and 7.33 ERA over five starts. He gave up eight runs in 2 1/3 innings in his most recent start and had an ERA of 9.60 in three home starts. But this afternoon he allowed just five hits over seven innings with no walks and three...

Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen has allowed three runs in five innings this afternoon at Target Field. He just surrendered an RBI single to Twins first baseman Joe Mauer in the fifth and sits at 101 pitches as the game moves into the sixth. Why is Mauer's hit noteworthy? Because left-handers began the day batting .457 against Chen, compared to .271 by right-handers. It's not supposed to work that way. Trevor Plouffe gave the Twins a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a run-scoring double to...

PHILADELPHIA - Despite leaving last night's game against the Phillies in the eighth inning with a tight quad muscle, first baseman Adam LaRoche is listed in the Nationals' starting lineup for tonight's game. Nate McLouth will play left field against Phillies right-hander A.J Burnett. For the Nationals CF Denard Span3B Anthony RendonRF Jayson Werth1B Adam LaRocheSS Ian Desmond2B Danny EspinosaLF Nate McLouthC Jose LobatonRHP Tanner Roark For the Phillies RF Tony Gwynn Jr.SS Jimmy Rollins2B...

The Orioles' lineup for today's game in Minnesota includes catcher Steve Clevenger hitting in the fifth slot against Twins right-hander Kevin Correia. His name jumps out at me each time I see it listed so high. I'm just glad it's not in a dark alley. That's not to say Clevenger is unworthy and should be lowered. It's just odd for me to find an Orioles backup catcher in the middle of the lineup. In case you haven't noticed, they've employed a lot of catch-and-throw guys over the years....

As the Orioles take the field today at Minnesota, they do so as the first-place team in the American League East. They are 14-8 since starting the season 1-4 and they are looking for a fourth win in a row this afternoon. Will Nelson Cruz continue his hot streak today? Cruz, who hit a 424-foot homer last night, is on a real tear over the last 13 games. In that stretch, he is batting .340 with six homers and 20 RBIs. He has seven multi-RBI games. Cruz has two homers over his last four games and...

The Orioles are 11-5 at Target Field since it opened in 2010. They will try to improve that record to 12-5 this afternoon in the second game of their three-game series against the Twins. I checked on Johan Santana's start in an extended spring training game this morning and found out it didn't happen. Apparently, it rains in Sarasota, too. Santana will pitch Monday, and you know manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace will drive over there from St. Petersburg. Ubaldo Jimenez's...