SARASOTA, Fla. - Even after getting hit around to the tune of 10 runs in 3 2/3 innings in this afternoon's 12-3 loss to the Orioles, Edwin Jackson still had a positive attitude and a bit of a smile on his face in the Nationals clubhouse. Jackson insists that today's outing, as well as his other spring struggles, don't bother him. The key, he says, is that he threw strikes - 53 of them among his 75 pitches - and forced the O's hitters to put the ball in play. "Games like this don't...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta met with reporters have going five innings and throwing 72 pitches. Here are the highlights: "I settled in a little more as the game went on. Was throwing across my body a little bit at the start of the game. Felt uncomfortable there for a little while, but I was able to get outs. Had that walk in the first. Other than that, I forced contact. Got behind a few guys, but even the 2-0, 2-1 counts, was able to make quality pitches away. Got some ground balls, got...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dontrelle Willis made his Orioles debut this afternoon, and his control issues weren't left behind in Phillies camp. Willis walked the first three batters he faced and threw a wild pitch. He almost escaped the jam when Jesus Flores popped up and Corey Brown grounded to second base, but the throw to first was late and a run scored. Third baseman Mark Reynolds committed a throwing error that scored another run and extended Willis' stay on the mound. Steve Lombardozzi flied to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles had interest in Edwin Jackson over the winter, but they weren't willing to give him more than a three-year deal. They gave him quite a beating today. Jackson allowed 10 runs (seven earned) and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings, and the Orioles have built a 10-1 lead over the Nationals. Jackson walked two, struck out four and threw 75 pitches. Matt Wieters has singled twice, homered and driven in five runs. He began the day batting .129 with one homer and one RBI. Only...

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's been an up-and-down afternoon for Edwin Jackson. The Nationals' starter gave up one run in the first inning after allowing three straight hits, but followed that up with a stellar second frame, retiring the side in order and striking out two of the three Orioles he faced. Then, in the third, things started to unravel for Jackson. The righty gave up a leadoff single to second baseman Robert Andino and subsequently allowed Andino to scoot over to second on a throwing...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta threw 28 pitches in the top of the first inning today, only 14 for strikes. He allowed two hits and walked a batter, and the Orioles quickly trailed the Nationals 1-0. Arrieta's fastball was mostly 94 mph. I saw him hit 95 with at least one pitch. The Orioles tied the game in the bottom half on two-out singles by Wilson Betemit, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters. Jones was thrown out at the plate after Betemit scored. Jones reached on an infield hit. He's batting...

SARASOTA, Fla. - After putting what seems like a couple thousand miles on my rental car over the last 24 hours, I'm all set up here in the press box at Ed Smith Stadium for the Battle of the Beltways, Florida Edition. I've smacked my MASNsports.com colleague Roch Kubatko around a little bit, and now that that important piece of business is out of the way, I can pass along some Nationals injury updates. Manager Davey Johnson said today that the Nationals are going to put closer Drew Storen...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Edwin Jackson will take the hill when the Nationals play the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on MASN/MASN HD as part of the Orioles' spring schedule. Here's the Nationals' lineup. SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa CF Rick Ankiel 1B Chad Tracy C Wilson Ramos DH Jesus Flroes LF Corey Brown RF Brett Carroll 3B Steve Lombardozzi RHP Edwin Jackson

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dontrelle Willis could make his Orioles debut this afternoon against the Nationals. He's listed as one of the available pitchers, along with Darren O'Day, who's been sidelined with a strained groin muscle. Reliever Jason Berken will appear in his first game Sunday against the Phillies in Clearwater. He's been recovering from a hamstring injury. Tsuyoshi Wada is slated to pitch in his second Grapefruit League game Tuesday against the Twins in Sarasota. Wei-Yin Chen is...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Given the choice to play or sit, Nick Markakis decided to stick to his original schedule. He won't play today against the Nationals at Ed Smith Stadium. Manager Buck Showalter wrote out two lineups yesterday, including one with Markakis serving as the designated hitter. He left the decision to Markakis. "I was supposed to have off today on the original schedule, so we're going to stick with it and have a couple days off and get back in there," Markakis said. For the...