The Nationals will not play an entire season without allowing a run. The Marlins will not go the whole year without having a runner touch home plate. The dreams are dead. After pitching a scoreless first inning this afternoon, Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann allowed a leadoff homer to Miami center fielder Justin Ruggiano, ending the Nationals' streak of consecutive scoreless innings to begin the season at 19. Stephen Strasburg, Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano combined for a shutout on...

Three Orioles minor league affiliates play season openers tonight, while Single-A Frederick is set to open Friday night at home against Salem. Zach Clark, who was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster over the winter, pitches tonight at Harbor Park as Triple-A Norfolk hosts Durham with Chris Archer on the mound. The Tides have lost five straight season openers. Clark went 3-1 with an ERA of 0.36 in four home starts for the Tides in 2012 and Norfolk went 44-30 at home last year. Norfolk used...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chris Davis remains on pace to hit 162 home runs this season. Davis muscled up again today in the top of the second inning, launching a changeup from Rays starter Robert Hernandez over the fence in right-center field to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Adam Jones led off with a single and Davis homered for the third time in three games. He's homered in his last 10 regular-season games. Davis is now 6-for-9 with two doubles, three homers and nine RBIs. The Orioles may...

The Orioles today announced that they have claimed right-hander Josh Stinson off waivers from Oakland and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada has been transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list, retroactive to March 31. Stinson, 25, is 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA (22.1IP, 11ER) in 20 major league games with the New York Mets (2011) and Milwaukee Brewers (2012). In seven minor league seasons in the Mets and Brewers...

Earl Weaver used to wonder how many games constitute a good start to a season. Is it just a few games or maybe 10, 20 or 40? Well, for two games, the Orioles' offense has certainly been clicking. In their first two games in St. Petersburg last June, the Orioles scored two total runs off the talented Rays' staff and they have 14 in the first two games of this series. Last year in nine games on the road against Tampa Bay, the Orioles scored 16 runs total. At this early stage, the Orioles...

Clichés, Crash Davis counseled Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh on a "Bull Durham" bus ride through baseball's bushes, are our friends. Learn them, know them, use them - and they'll return your faith in kind. Sportswriters know this, but try their best to avoid clichés, and the players that favor them. It's nothing personal, mind you., but someone who doesn't offer a pithy observation isn't much use to a scribe. I've been thinking a lot about clichés lately, trying to...

The Nationals are off to a 2-0 start with some important solo homers and quality pitching. But manager Davey Johnson also gives a lot of the credit for the first two wins to improved defense. Johnson said he notices a big difference because Ryan Zimmerman's surgically repaired shoulder has responded well. "No question about it," Johnson said. "It is kind of hard to improve on the infield. But the infield is improved because Zimm is healthier over there. You guys probably haven't noticed...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- The Orioles aren't done adding to their minor league pitching depth. Earlier today, the Orioles claimed right-hander Josh Stinson, 25, off waivers from the Oakland Athletics and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Stinson is 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 20 major league games, including one start, over parts of the last two seasons with the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He's allowed 21 hits, walked 12 and struck out 11 in 22 1/3 innings. Stinson permitted one run and...

Chris Young is back with the Nationals. After opting out of his initial minor league deal with the Nats on March 25, Young has returned to the organization, agreeing to terms on a new minor league deal this afternoon. Young, 33, will throw a couple bullpen sessions down at the Nationals' minor league complex in Viera, Fla., and then will report to Triple-A Syracuse to join the rotation there. His new deal does not contain an opt-out clause, according to a source. Young posted a 2.25 ERA in...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Infielder Wilson Betemit underwent an exploratory arthroscopic procedure on his right knee yesterday in Baltimore, and the Orioles were encouraged by the reports. Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens "cleaned up a few things," said manager Buck Showalter, and didn't find any further damage to the knee. Betemit suffered a Grade 2/3 tear of the PCL while running to second base during an exhibition game at Ed Smith Stadium. The procedure won't extend the timetable for...