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Nationals catcher Sandy Leon was all-smiles as he got dressed Monday in front of his locker, located between fellow Venezuelan receivers Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores. Leon got the call to the big leagues from Double-A Harrisburg after an unfortunate right knee injury to Ramos, who may miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Leon was not selected because he was closer geographically to where the Nationals were playing the Reds in Cincinnati, Ohio, when the injury to Ramos occurred....

Given the two blown saves Henry Rodriguez has put up over his last four outings and the spectacular manner in which the Nationals' closer has lost those games, manager Davey Johnson has been asked whether Rodriguez will continue to get the ball in save situations. He got that question after yesterday's 9-6 loss, in which Rodriguez allowed a walk-off grand slam to Joey Votto, and stated that he'll stick with the 25-year-old righty. Today, Johnson was asked whether he thinks Rodriguez's...

The last time the Orioles faced Yankee right-hander Ivan Nova they beat him and that was significant. It was Nova's only loss over his last 22 starts dating to last June 3. Tonight they face Nova in Game 1 of this brief two-game series at Camden Yards. When Nova took the mound May 2 at Yankee Stadium against the Orioles he had gone 15-0 with an ERA of 3.61 over his previous 20 starts. He took the loss that night to end his winning streak, giving up five runs and nine hits over 6 1/3. Nova...

Xavier Avery has played a lot of baseball games in his young career and has not been nervous during many of them. But he admits that he was Sunday when he made his major league debut, going 0-for-4 in the leadoff spot while playing left field against Tampa Bay. "It was great in that I got my feet wet. But I was nervous for about the first five innings, mostly on defense. Offensively, I was OK swinging the bat. But you don't want to mess up on the defensive side. Swinging the bat, I felt good...

Manager Buck Showalter believes tonight's game will start on time, but he'll know more when representatives from both teams, the umpires and head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry meet in the "rain room." There's a light rain falling and the tarp's on the field. Both teams will have to hit indoors. Tommy Hunter is scheduled to start Wednesday night's game in Kansas City. He'll probably fly out tomorrow afternoon. Left-hander Dana Eveland is available in the bullpen tonight after starting...

Former Orioles first-round pick

Sandy Leon will make his major league debut tonight as the Nationals host the Padres in the first game of a brief two-game series. He'll catch and hit eighth. Weather permitting, the game begins at 7:05 p.m. Here's the Padres lineup: CF Cameron Maybin RF Chris Denorfia LF Jesus Guzman 1B Yonder Alonso 3B Chase Headley C Nick Hundley 2B Orlando Hudson SS Jason Bartlett P Tim Stauffer Here's the Nationals lineup: SS Ian Desmond LF Roger Bernadina 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Bryce...

According to a team source, prospect third baseman Matt Purke has thrown three innings within the last week in Florida and looks to be a couple of weeks from returning to the Nationals' minor league system. Purke has been lengthened out and is building strength as he gets ready to return, according to a Nationals team source. The reason for Purke's attendance in extended spring training has not been detailed but it's certainly a good sign that he's pitching again and could be back in late...

Xavier Avery remains in the Orioles lineup tonight as the leadoff hitter and left fielder. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Nick Johnson DH Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP Nolan Reimold said he won't be examined by a team physician until later this afternoon, so no updates for now. Down on the farm, Steve Johnson allowed one unearned run in eight innings today in Triple-A Norfolk's 1-0 loss to...