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...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The nagging injuries in Orioles camp have claimed another victim. Chris Tillman was scratched from Sunday's start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Sarasota because of abdominal soreness, according to manager Buck Showalter, who met with reporters following tonight's 5-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Miguel Gonzalez, who was supposed to follow Tillman to the mound, will make the start. Tillman, who's allowed two runs and five hits in two appearances covering 4 1/3...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Dylan Bundy returned to the ballpark tonight where he debuted in the Grapefruit League last spring. He won't leave here feeling all warm and fuzzy. Bundy wasn't pleased with his performance for the Orioles tonight. The two walks in two innings. Only 18 strikes among his 35 pitches. The drop in velocity. "Two walks. I'm never happy with that," he said. "Leave a fastball up in the zone and he (Mitch Maier) hits it down the line. But really, the two walks are about the...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Dylan Bundy was tagged with an unearned run tonight in his two innings against the Boston Red Sox. Bundy allowed one hit, a two-out double by Mitch Maier in the second, walked two and struck out one. His fastball was mostly 90-92 mph, according to the NESN radar gun readings. The run scored when right fielder Conor Jackson had trouble picking up the ball on Maier's hit, allowing Will Middlebrooks to race home and tie the game at 1-1. Bundy issued a two-out walk to Jackie...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - So, anything interesting happen today in the World Baseball Classic? Reporters here were glued to the press box televisions as the brawl unfolded between Canada and Mexico, and Orioles farmhand Chris Robinson was directly involved in it. Robinson bunted for a hit with Canada leading 9-3 in the ninth. I'm pretty sure that's a violation of baseball's unwritten rule. Also, Robinson slid hard into second base earlier in the game, so Mexico's players already were irritated...