PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Left-hander Nick Additon retired the side in order in the eighth inning, Tim Alderson survived a one-out walk in the ninth and the Orioles opened their Grapefruit League schedule with a 4-2 win over the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Francisco Peguero, Steve Clevenger and Alex Gonzalez each had two hits. Jemile Weeks reached base twice and scored two runs, and Gonzalez had two RBIs. Manager Buck Showalter described Chris Tillman as being "sharp" today. "There were...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP SCORE: Nationals 5, Mets 4 Recap: The Mets put up four runs on Christian Garcia in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead, but the Nats chipped away in the late innings and took the lead in the top of the ninth on Michael Taylor's RBI triple to center. Need to know: The two young Nats starters who threw today, Taylor Jordan and A.J. Cole, each impressed with two scoreless innings. And there were no apparent injuries. So that's a good thing. On deck: Saturday, home vs. Braves,...

The Nationals' accelerated development program will have all participants in camp this weekend as they continue to work toward March 4 and their first game against the Astros. There were 30 to 40 players in camp this week. The rest of the players will complete the roster by Saturday. What is it like for these advanced prospects each day while the major league players work out nearby in the complex? Low Single-A Hagerstown Suns manager Patrick Anderson took me through what a typical day is...

PORT ST. LUCIE - After being set down in order in their first 12 trips to the plate today, the Nationals got something going in the fifth inning when Wilson Ramos smoked an RBI double off the wall in left-center. The long fly ball plated Ian Desmond, who had reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. Adam LaRoche led off the inning with a single before being retired on the Desmond fielder's choice. Ramos didn't just show off his power, he also showed off his wheels when advancing...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 4, Rays 2 Recap: Chris Tillman retired six of the seven batters he faced and struck out three while focusing mostly on his fastball command. Leadoff hitter Jemile Weeks reached base twice and scored two runs in the first two innings, as the Orioles led from start to finish. Need to know: Eddie Gamboa struck out two while retiring the side in order in the sixth, and he managed to mix in a low-90s fastball with his low-60s knuckleball. On deck: Saturday,...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Jemile Weeks made a leaping catch at second base in the Orioles' first intrasquad game. He singled, walked, and moved up a base on a fly ball into right-center field in the second game. In two innings of today's exhibition opener against the Rays, Weeks has doubled, walked, stolen a base and scored two runs. Is this guy trying to tell us something? "It is a confidence-builder," Weeks said earlier today. "It's good to get out there and let them see some of your...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Taylor Jordan has gotten the Nationals' slate of spring training games off to a good start. The 25-year-old right-hander has completed two scoreless innings against the Mets, allowing just a first-inning leadoff single to left by Chris Young. Jordan struck out the left-handed-hitting Ike Davis looking to end the first inning on what looked like a good changeup on the inner half of the plate, and he then got Wilmer Flores swinging to end the second. Flores tried to...

The measure of someone's life is not it its longevity but it's about the people you touch and impact along the way. The Orioles organization is devastated today with the news that a very loved member of the family, public relations director Monica Barlow, died at just 36 after a long battle with lung cancer. You only have to spend a few moments today on Facebook or Twitter to see the many lives Monica touched. I want to take this moment to pass along my deepest condolences to her husband...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - On his first pregame bus ride as Nationals manager, Matt Williams was in a joking mood. So when he saw defensive coordination and advance coach Mark Weidemaier nodding off twice during the bus ride, he tried to sneak up on Weidemaier and snap a picture. Both times, however, Weidemaier quickly snapped up. "He opened up his eyes, so I couldn't get it," Williams said with a smile in the dugout at Tradition Field a bit ago. "We'll see what we can do on the return...

Orioles Managing Partner Peter Angelos issued the following statement regarding the passing of Orioles Public Relations Director Monica Barlow. "It was with deep sadness that I learned of Monica's passing this morning. In her 14 years with the club, she was a beloved member of the Orioles family, starting as an intern and becoming Director of Public Relations. Over the past four and a half years, the work Monica did to raise awareness and funds for cancer research was a testament to her...