ATLANTA - Think the Nationals were emotionally beat-up after being on the losing end of a 2-1 walk-off loss to their chief division opponent? Think again. They'll be just fine. "No one in here is hanging their head," Ian Desmond said afterwards. "More scratching their head than hanging their head, I guess." "It's just one of those days, one of those games," Jayson Werth said. "You can't really hang your head too much. It was a tight game. Both teams battled, and they were able to...

The Orioles' instructional league is under way at the team's spring training home in Sarasota, Fla. There are 59 players listed on the instructional league roster, with 31 pitches, five catchers, eight infielders, eight outfielders and seven players taking part in rehab. Here is the complete O's instructional league roster: Pitchers: Wilmer Aquino, Tim Berry, Parker Bridwell, Dylan Bundy, Miguel Chalas, Zach Davies, Dioni Dominguez, Gene Escat, Miguel Garcia, Kevin Gausman, Kevin Grendell,...

ATLANTA - From the Nationals' perspective, this was just one of those tip-your-hat type of games. They ran into a scorching hot starting pitcher in Atlanta's Kris Medlen, surrendered just two extra-base hits, faced arguably the best closer in the majors in the ninth and then allowed the game-winning run on an infield single, a soft line drive to right and a fielder's choice. They didn't play all that poorly, they just got beat. Ross Detwiler was pitching out of the stretch nearly the...

If you keep a scorebook at home, remove the error charged to first baseman Mark Reynolds on Sept. 9 against the Yankees. Give Robinson Cano a double. I hope you used a pencil. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an error by Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson that scored Manny Machado, who singled, advanced to second on Robert Andino's fly ball to center field and took third on Nate McLouth's fly ball to right. Machado must have heard about Coco Crisp's weak arm in...

Here are some notes on several Orioles hitters as the club begins this big three-game, weekend series at Oakland. * Robert Andino: Is 2-for-18 over his last five games and is 5-for-11 vs. Oakland. * Chris Davis: Over his past 18 games, he's batting .323 (21-for-65) with seven homers and 12 RBIs. He is 10-for-21 (.476) this year with two homers and six RBIs vs. Oakland. * Lew Ford: Has three homers over his last 29 at-bats. * J.J. Hardy: In the last 10 games, he is batting .333 (14-for-42)...

ATLANTA - They're far from the only team which can say this lately, but the Nationals are having a really tough time against Braves right-hander Kris Medlen tonight. They trail 1-0 after four innings thanks to some solid work on the mound by Ross Detwiler, but Medlen has kept the Nats out of striking distance all night so far. He has a whopping nine strikeouts through four innings, six of which have been looking. Nationals hitters have been befuddled by Medlen's pinpoint-accurate two-seam...

ATLANTA - It looks like the Nationals will be without Michael Morse for the entirety of this three-game series against the Braves. Morse did not take batting practice today, as the Nationals had originally planned. He's going to give his ailing left wrist more time to rest, and according to manager Davey Johnson, isn't likely to suit up and play until Tuesday's game against the Dodgers at the earliest. "He's still bothered by it, and I didn't think it was going to heal in 48 hours,"...

Lew Ford is starting in right field tonight, as manager Buck Showalters breaks out his right-handed lineup. However, left-handed hitting Chris Davis is the designated hitter. Matt Wieters is behind the plate and batting fourth. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth LF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Lew Ford RF Mark Reynolds 1B Chris Davis DH Manny Machado 3B Robert Andino 2B Joe Saunders LHP For the Athletics: Coco Crisp CF Jonny Gomes DH Josh Reddick RF Yoenis Cespedes LF Chris...

Is it time for the Orioles to Buck a trend (pun intended) against Oakland? It is not like the A's have been a juggernaut over the years but they have won a lot of games against the Orioles. The O's went 4-5 vs. Oakland last year and they have not won the season series since 1998, going 8-3. The Orioles are 2-14 at Oakland since 2008 and went 1-5 there last year. Also, the Orioles have lost 25 of their last 36 vs. Oakland and are just 38-80 against Oakland since 1999. That is a lot of...

ATLANTA - For the second straight game, a left wrist injury is holding Michael Morse out of the Nationals' lineup. Morse has been bothered by the left wrist for some time now, and he told manager Davey Johnson after Tuesday night's game in New York that he felt he was hurting the team by trying to play through it. The initial plan was for Morse to try taking batting practice prior to tonight's game against the Braves, and then see how he feels. Once the clubhouse opens, we'll see if that...