LAKELAND, Fla. - It was a fairly uneventful afternoon from an offensive perspective here at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Nationals and Tigers combined for three runs on 11 hits in a 2-1 Detroit win, and all four of the hits in the Nats' column were singles. From a pitching perspective, however, Davey Johnson saw a bunch of positives. Dan Haren went four strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts. The veteran right-hander threw 61 pitches (43 for strikes), and if not...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Backup catcher Taylor Teagarden is off the injury list and back on the field. Teagarden replaced Matt Wieters behind the plate in the top of the seventh inning, his first appearance since being shut down with tightness in his lower back. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters a few days ago that Teagarden most likely would return to the lineup on Monday. Teagarden is appearing in only his third game this spring. He's 2-for-6 with two RBIs after striking out today leading...

LAKELAND, Fla. - If not for a couple defensive miscues in the second inning, Dan Haren might have had a pretty darn impressive outing. Instead, it was just pretty impressive. We'll leave out the "darn." Haren allowed two runs on five hits with two strikeouts over four innings, and he gives way to Drew Storen to start the fifth. Making his third start of spring, Haren threw 61 pitches, 43 for strikes. Haren pitched a clean, 1-2-3 first inning, but he got a couple bad breaks in the second....

SARASOTA, Fla. - The box score shows Miguel Gonzalez with one earned run allowed in two innings this afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The scoreboard has the Orioles trailing 4-0. Gonzalez labored in the second inning, facing eight batters and allowing all four of his hits, along with a walk. Nate McLouth lost his footing on a fly ball down the left field line for an error that eventually led to three unearned runs. The wind here is brutal again today. Every fly ball is an adventure,...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Johnson saw yesterday's brawl between Canada and Mexico in the World Baseball Classic and like most of us, was a bit shocked that things got to that point. "We've come close when I was managing the U.S. against Mexico, but we never got that far," Johnson said. "That was a little over the top." If you haven't seen the video of the brawl yet,

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter offered his support of minor league catcher Chris Robinson, who was directly involved in yesterday's brawl between Canada and Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Robinson drew the ire of Mexico's players for bunting in the ninth inning with his team ahead 9-3, but run differential is a tie-breaker in the WBC. When someone joked about Robinson being in the middle of an international incident, Showalter replied, "And he was...

VIERA, Fla. - How about Ross Detwiler? Making his World Baseball Classic debut last night, Detwiler worked four crucial innings, allowing just one hit and a walk with three strikeouts as Team USA beat Italy 6-2. Detwiler came on in the sixth and went the final four innings, locking things down for the Americans. The left-hander threw 51 pitches, 36 for strikes, and not only did he close out yesterday's game, but he saved the Team USA bullpen, allowing manager Joe Torre's late-inning...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado has returned to the Orioles lineup for today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. Brian Roberts is leading off. Ryan Flaherty is starting in right field. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nate McLouth LF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B Wilson Betemit DH J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson CF Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty RF Miguel Gonzalez RHP For the Pirates: Martin C Presley CF Tabata LF Alvarez 3B Walker 2B Sands RF Hawpe DH Hague 1B Barmes...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis confirmed that he will undergo an MRI on his neck Monday morning, saying that it's being done as a precaution and his condition isn't believed to be serious. Chris Tillman confirmed that he was scratched from today's start because of soreness on his left side that doesn't involve his oblique. Let's start with Markakis. "I think it's probably more of a precaution thing to see what's going on in there and identify exactly what it is that's bothering me,"...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman dazzled the Orioles and Tsuyoshi Wada encouraged them. Glass half-full. Nick Markakis will undergo an MRI on his neck, Dylan Bundy's velocity is down and Chris Tillman has been scratched from today's start with abdominal soreness. Glass half-empty. We had lots to discuss and debate yesterday. Who knew a trip to Fort Myers could bring so much information and angst? Gausman's outing against the Boston Red Sox was the highlight. He pumped upper-90s fastballs...