SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman became the first Orioles starter to pitch five innings this spring. He came out for, but didn't make it through the sixth. After shutting out the Yankees through five, Tillman allowed a leadoff homer to No. 9 hitter Francisco Arcia leading off the sixth and then was pulled for Zach Britton. It was, statistically, easily Tillman's best outing this spring as he went five-plus innings, allowing three hits and one run. He walked two and fanned five, throwing 73...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman became the first Oriole this spring to pitch into the fifth inning today, and he wasn't done. Tillman came back out for the start of the sixth and gave up a leadoff home run to Yankees first baseman and No. 9 hitter Francisco Arcia. That was the only run allowed by Tillman, who surrendered three hits, walked two and struck out five in 5 1/3 innings. Zach Britton replaced Tillman in the sixth. He allowed a single to Brian Roberts and struck out Kelly Johnson....

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 2, Marlins 1 Recap: Stephen Strasburg worked four shutout innings, matching Jordan Zimmermann for the longest outing by a Nationals pitcher this spring. Strasburg allowed two hits, walked one and fanned four. Need to know: Nationals manager Matt Williams will use the off-day Tuesday to set his rotation, but it's no guarantee that Strasburg will start the March 31 season opener in New York against the Mets. That honor could go to Zimmermann. On deck:...

VIERA, Fla. - With each day Ryan Mattheus and Ross Ohlendorf remain sidelined, Tanner Roark chances of breaking camp with the Nationals - once thought to be a long shot - improve a little more. Mattheus, a right-handed reliever, and Ohlendorf, the righty who employs the old-school windup and was mentioned as a possibility for either the bullpen or the competition for the fifth starter's spot, have spent most of spring training watching other pitchers make an impression. Manager Matt Williams...

JUPITER, Fla. - Matt Williams will manage the Nationals for the home portion of Sunday's split-squad games, when Justin Verlander and the Tigers roar into Space Coast Stadium. Triple-A Syracuse skipper Billy Gardner will manager the other split-squad game versus the Astros in Kissimmee. Williams and the Nats' major league staff will be in Viera because it's the team's second game with replay this spring - and the game's on MASN HD beginning at 1 p.m., to boot. But in order to get...

JUPITER, Fla. - Matt Williams has just over two weeks left in spring training to make good on his offseason promise to get third baseman Ryan Zimmerman in a game at first base. But Zimmerman hasn't played since Monday, and has been troubled by right shoulder and general soreness in recent days, minor maladies that have stunted Williams' plan to increase the infielder's positional resume in a game situation. Zimmerman is listed as the designated hitter for today's game against the Marlins...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter won't rule out third baseman Manny Machado for opening day. However, the news today that Machado's final knee examination won't take place on Tuesday as tentatively scheduled presents a serious obstacle in getting him in the March 31 lineup. Machado hasn't run in five days due to scar tissue breaking up in the knee, a common occurrence following surgery. "That's resolving itself pretty good right now and I think he will probably get back...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Caleb Joseph is in major league spring training for the third time. He is coming off his best offensive season in the Orioles minor leagues and trying to show Buck Showalter what he can do whenever he gets a chance. He got the start Thursday going 0-for-3 against the Yankees and is 1-for-7 with an RBI in six spring games. He is starting today's game here at Ed Smith Stadium, catching and batting eighth. Matt Wieters' sprained right ankle is probably getting Joseph a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado won't have his knee examined on Tuesday in Los Angeles, further reducing his chances of being ready on opening day. Machado hasn't run in five days because of scar tissue breaking up in the knee. It's nothing serious, but Machado can't undergo an exam by Dr. Neal ElAttrache until he's able to run. Manager Buck Showalter wouldn't rule out Machado for opening day, citing how Nolan Reimold is getting plenty of at-bats at minor league...

SARASOTA, Fla. - On opening day last year, Steve Pearce was in the Orioles' starting lineup. But he knows he's not a starter on this team and this spring training, he finds himself yet again fighting for a big league roster spot. It's life on the bubble. We're not talking about the NCAA tourney and Pearce knows the baseball version quite well. He seems to be a player always in the hunt for a bench spot, but never at the point where his roster spot is secure. "It has been something I've...