SARASOTA, Fla. - Danny Valencia moves back across the diamond to third base for today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton. Valencia started at first base Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin. Steve Pearce, who homered on Sunday, gets the start at first base today. Wilson Betemit is in the lineup as the designated hitter against another left-handed starter, Pittsburgh's Wandy Rodriguez. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla SS Lew Ford LF Wilson Betemit DH Steve Pearce...

VIERA, Fla. - If not for a dazzling defensive play from Mets outfield prospect Matt den Dekker, who scaled the center field wall at Tradition Field last night to bring in Anthony Rendon's deep fly, Rendon would have had himself two straight games with a two-run homer. The catch by den Dekker ended up as No. 3 on the top 10 plays on "SportsCenter" last night, and it limited Rendon to a 1-for-2 game. "Who does that?" Rendon joked after the game. "It's spring training!" A couple of...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - There wasn't much not to like about Gio Gonzalez's spring debut tonight at Tradition Field. He pitched two clean innings, worked on fastball command, showed off a sharp, bending curve and left his manager, Davey Johnson, impressed. "Gio was great," Johnson said. "He had a little rough first inning with an error behind him. He threw 25-something pitches in the first inning. But he was real efficient, more like himself in the second. And that was all he needed,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will make their shortest trip on the exhibition schedule today with a 1:05 p.m. game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton. Chris Tillman gets the starting assignment, and he's expected to go two innings unless he runs up a high pitch count in the first. Todd Redmond, Steve Johnson and Dylan Bundy also will hop on the bus. Once the Orioles return home for Wednesday night's split-squad game against the Boston Red Sox, manager Buck Showalter and his...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez was sporting a small scar on his forehead after his spring debut. Had he gotten hit on the head with a ball unbeknownst to reporters? Had he taken a tumble while taking part in fielding drills during a recent workout? Nope. Gonzalez said the scar was rug burn, the result of a bit of a wrestling match with his French Bulldog, Hollywood. Credit Hollywood with the pin. "She gave me a rug burn. I hate her," Gonzalez said. "And then I love her. And then I...

I can understand that some fans are disappointed that Brian Roberts has not been able to contribute much to the Orioles over the last few seasons. I can get that some fans doubt he can return to the form he once showed or even close to it. I can get that some fans don't think he can come back at all. But I don't get some of the almost nasty comments I see from time to time on various message boards. I can assure those fans, a seemingly small but vocal segment, that Roberts didn't get hurt...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Most pitchers throw fastballs almost exclusively in their first outing of spring in an attempt to build up arm strength and work on their location. Gio Gonzalez went a different route. Gonzalez leaned heavily on his curveball in his first inning of work, throwing at least six hammers, by my count, in a 23-pitch frame. The left-hander didn't have good fastball location, walking Brandon Hicks to put the first two batters on following a Zach Walters error, but man, his...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Two Nationals that were scheduled to make today's trip to Port St. Lucie ended up staying in Viera. Chad Tracy is dealing with a bruise on his right triceps area after getting hit by a pitch yesterday against the Marlins, and manager Davey Johnson said the Nationals' plan is to keep him out of the lineup both today and tomorrow. Tracy's injury isn't thought to be serious. Same goes for Micah Owings, the former pitcher who is trying to reinvent himself as a position...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Here are some highlights from Orioles manager Buck Showalter's postgame session with the media: On Brian Matusz: "Good. Aggressive, attacked the zone. Got a big double play ball. I thought he threw the ball well. All our guys pitched well." On Zach Clark: "I can see why people like Zach Clark so much. He's got an idea. He's a baseball player who happens to be a pitcher." On Brian Roberts getting two doubles: "He's done that before. He can do that. He's capable of...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Of the players the Nationals brought with them on today's road trip to Port St. Lucie, likely just three will find themselves on the opening day roster. Gio Gonzalez will get the ball against the Mets tonight, in a game being broadcast in the D.C. and Baltimore regions on MLB Network, but behind him will be a host of prospects with incredibly long odds at cracking the 25-man roster come April 1. Tyler Moore and Steve Lombardozzi made the trip, and veteran Chris Snyder...