Right-hander Nathan Karns is getting himself acclimated quickly at spring training. In his first two games, Karns did not allow a run in three innings, scattering two hits, walking two and striking out three. One of those hits was a seeing-eye single given up to Mets All-Star David Wright after quite a battle. "I feel like I started off on the right foot and keep going in that direction for the rest of spring training," the 25-year-old Karns said. "I want to build off of this and have a...

VIERA, Fla. - Roger Bernadina went 0-for-3 with a walk, but the Netherlands beat Cuba 6-3 last night in the opening second-round game of the World Baseball Classic. Orioles infield prospect Jonathan Schoop blasted a three-run homer and Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons had two hits as the Netherlands continued its hot play to start the WBC. Team USA opens play at 9 p.m. tonight as R.A. Dickey will take the mound facing Mexico. Ross Detwiler is scheduled to piggyback Ryan Vogelsong in...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals and Cardinals square off again today, marking the third time in six days these two teams have seen each other. This is what happens these days when your spring training facilities are on the east coast of Florida. It'll be Jordan Zimmermann getting the start for the Nationals, with an interesting group of pitchers following him to the mound: Rafael Soriano, Nathan Karns, Ryan Perry, Henry Rodriguez and Tyler Clippard. Today will be Soriano's second Grapefruit...

While the Nationals won three of their last five games, one of the most interesting parts of last week came in a loss. The loss came to the Phillies by a final score of 6-3 on Wednesday. After Stephen Strasburg plunked Chase Utley's ankle, Roy Halladay threw behind Tyler Moore. As Wednesday's game was the sole spring training meeting between the two teams, only the regular season will tell if there will be any carryover between the NL East teams. On both Tuesday and Thursday, the Nats...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are heading back to Bradenton tonight, where their first attempt to play the Pirates was washed away by rain. I drove there, set up in the press box, met with manager Buck Showalter in his office, watched him examine the outfield with the umpires, and drove back to my hotel. I still tingle over the memory. We have a night game, which means the media isn't allowed inside the Orioles' clubhouse in Sarasota before 1:30 p.m. It's almost like a day off. More...

With players battling it out for a spot on the roster, the Orioles have posted huge offensive numbers this week. Since last Friday, the Birds have won four games and lost just one, with one game versus the Blue Jays ending in a tie. Over those six games, the Orioles have posted 55 runs. Is that a lot? On the flipside, opponents posted 35. On Friday, Brian Roberts got the offense going versus the Pirates, going 3-for-3 with a home run. Yesterday's win seemed like a win ripped out of the...

Orioles minor leaguer Jonathan Schoop took a swing and produced one of the most dramatic hits so far in the World Baseball Classic. Schoop's three-run homer in the top of the sixth turned a one-run lead for the Netherlands into a four-run edge in a 6-2 upset win over Cuba in a second-round opening game. Schoop also had a single and RBI double in this game. He went 3-for-6 with four RBIs against a Cuba team that went 3-0, allowing just five total runs in the first round. He came to bat with...

The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned right-hander Mike Wright, left-handers Zach Braddock and Eduardo Rodriguez, and catchers Allan de San Miguel and Luis Martinez to minor league camp. With these reassignments, the Orioles now have 56 players at major league spring training, including 16 non-roster invitees.

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned pitchers Mike Wright, Eduardo Rodriguez and Zach Braddock, and catcher Luis Martinez to minor league camp. One more player will be cut today, but manager Buck Showalter hadn't informed him. Wright allowed one run and three hits today. Braddock still hasn't pitched after undergoing surgery last summer to repair a torn labrum, but he's finally been cleared to throw off a mound. Martinez didn't get any at-bats because of a strained oblique, but...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Prior to today, I can't recall ever seeing a left fielder make a throw all the way to first base because a runner had made a wide turn around the bag. Perhaps not surprisingly, it was Bryce Harper who gave that throw a shot this afternoon, firing a strike about 250 feet from medium-depth left field to Tyler Moore at first, in an attempt to nab Astros first baseman Brandon Laird, who had ventured about 25 feet off the base. Harper's toss was strong and right on the money,...