The Orioles announced after tonight's game that they have optioned catcher Luis Exposito to Triple-A Norfolk. Exposito, 26, did not appear for the Orioles in two games since being recalled on Sunday. He has played in 16 games for the Tides this season, batting .218/.254/.273 in 59 plate appearances. A corresponding roster move will be made tomorrow.

After giving up just one run in each of his last two Triple-A starts, Zach Britton gave up one on his second pitch tonight. His evening never got too much better, as the Orioles lost 6-2 to Seattle in the opener of a three-game series. Former Oriole Joe Saunders got the win tonight, pitching a complete-game four-hitter. Michael Saunders hit a belt-high fastball out for a 1-0 lead off Britton, who gave up 10 hits and six runs over six innings. He walked two and fanned two and threw 101 pitches...

ATLANTA - Stephen Strasburg isn't the only one to have some health concerns coming out of tonight's game. Jayson Werth dealt with hamstring cramps tonight, an issue that worsened as the game went on. He told manager Davey Johnson before an eighth inning at-bat that if he reached base, he'd need to have a pinch-runner take over. During the at-bat, Werth fouled a ball off his left ankle. He then struck out for the second out of the inning and was replaced in right field by Roger Bernadina in...

Orioles left-hander Zach Britton experienced a little bit of everything tonight in his first major league start of 2013. The home run he allowed on his second pitch of the night. The 34-pitch fourth inning. The easy nine-pitch fifth inning. The three-run sixth inning, and the bruise he probably sustained on his left arm from the home plate umpire. Strange night indeed. Britton allowed six runs and 10 hits in six innings, with two walks, two strikeouts and a wild pitch. He totaled 101...

ATLANTA - The Nationals lost to the Braves 3-2 tonight, but that result took a backseat after the game when manager Davey Johnson said that Stephen Strasburg was dealing with some forearm tightness. Strasburg went six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with four walks and eight strikeouts. He struggled with his fastball command throughout the game but managed to limit the damage. "That was a tough one, but the main thing, I was a little concerned about Strasburg," Johnson said....

Denard Span is no Michael Morse. Morse had the kung-fu warm-up cut - immortalized in his bobblehead - and there was his A-Ha walk-up music. Span had large shoes to fill on many levels. It did not get easier when Morse ripped up the Cactus League for nine home runs and a .357 batting average in spring training. It was reminiscent of the 2011 spring when he had his breakout season, hitting .303 with 31 home runs. There were more than a few call-ins to radio shows bemoaning the loss of Morse and...

For Orioles left-hander Zach Britton to have success tonight, he needs to keep the ball on the ground. He needs that sinker to be working. He needs to do a better job with Michael Saunders. Activated from the disabled list this afternoon, Saunders drove Britton's second pitch of the game into the right field seats to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead over the Orioles. The Mariners have hit three leadoff home runs this season. Saunders just collected the first of his career. Britton threw a 91...

ATLANTA - Stephen Strasburg's stat line will show that he allowed just two earned runs over six innings against the Braves tonight. It'll go down as a quality start. It's hard to believe Strasburg will consider this outing of much quality, though. The Nationals right-hander allowed six hits and four walks tonight. He put the leadoff hitter on in five of his six innings pitched. He got into an animated discussion with pitching coach Steve McCatty during a fifth-inning mound visit....

ATLANTA - Adam LaRoche's hitless streak is over. And you have to wonder how much of that is due to Chipper Jones. LaRoche snapped an 0-for-26 skid with a single to left in the second inning tonight. This comes just hours after LaRoche sat down and studied tape with his good buddy and former Braves star Chipper Jones. The Nationals first baseman's leadoff single started a two-run inning, as the Nats strung together four straight singles off Braves righty Julio Teheran and grabbed a 2-1...

When Zach Britton pitches in Seattle tonight, it will be interesting to track how many groundouts and how many flyouts he gets. It's not a secret that Britton has a power sinker, and when it is on, opposing batters hit on top of the ball and the groundouts start to mount. Britton went 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in three starts for Triple-A Norfolk. Over 13 2/3 innings, he gave up 13 hits with seven walks and five strikeouts. But here is an amazing stat: He recorded 29 groundouts and just one out in...