CHICAGO - The Orioles are 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position tonight, which largely explains why they're losing, 4-2, in the top of the ninth inning. They stranded a runner on third base in three straight innings, and left two more on base in the eighth after Matt Wieters homered. Mark Reynolds walked and Chris Davis singled with two outs, but Robert Andino struck out. The Orioles have fanned 12 times tonight, which also is contributing to the outcome. Going back to their failure to...

Entering tonight's game, Steve Lombardozzi had eight career major league hits. The Nationals second baseman is already 4-for-4 tonight, and his two-out, two-run single in the sixth gave Washington the lead just a half-inning after the Astros scored twice on Stephen Strasburg to tie the game. Ryan Zimmerman followed Lombardozzi's hit with a two-run base-knock of his own, and the Nationals now have a 6-2 lead as we go to the seventh. Making just his second start of the season in place of...

CHICAGO - The Orioles loaded the bases without scoring in the third inning, making them 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position tonight, 0-for-13 in their last three games and 12-for-69 for the season. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters singled to open the fourth, but Nick Johnson struck out. Another missed opportunity. However, Mark Reynolds followed with a double to right-center field that scored Jones and tied the game, 1-1. Chris Davis struck out, Robert Andino walked to load the bases and Endy...

I mean filthy in a good way. Stephen Strasburg has been in a zone through the first five innings of tonight's game, allowing three hits and striking out four Astros. Three of the four strikeouts have been by way of the curveball, which has been especially nasty tonight. Strasburg is getting great bite on the curve, and is buckling Astros hitters' knees with his offspeed stuff. He's needed just 61 pitches to get through the five innings and is showing no signs - zero - of wear after...

The Orioles released catcher Josh Johnson and pitcher Casey Fossum over the weekend. Both were in extended spring training on minor league contracts. Neither was currently on a roster of any of the team's minor league affiliates. Beyond that, I have no other info as to how they played or looked this spring, just that both have been released. Here are some notes about tonight's Orioles-White Sox game: * New White Sox manager Robin Ventura made his major league debut at Memorial Stadium in...

CHICAGO - Players wore hooded sweatshirts and stocking caps on the field for batting practice. This is football weather. The games should be moved to Soldier Field. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters during his pregame session in the dugout that Nolan Reimold will return to the lineup Tuesday night. Reimold homered in the ninth inning in back-to-back games in Toronto, but he didn't play yesterday because of cramping in his left leg. "Just want to be careful," Showalter said. "He'll be...

CHICAGO - Outfielder Nolan Reimold is out of the lineup again tonight, but he's available to pinch-hit. Manager Buck Showalter indicated that the cramping in Reimold's left leg is part of the reason why Endy Chavez is starting in left field. Also, Showalter said he wants to get Chavez "going," which requires a little more playing time. Reimold, who homered in the ninth inning in back-to-back games in Toronto, said his leg feels "a lot better." "We did treatment on it. I'm able to...

So far, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond has looked and played the part of a leadoff man. In the first 10 games, Desmond has reached based 19 times with 17 hits and two walks, almost reaching a clip of twice per game. Desmond's numbers have been impressive at the plate, hitting .354 with three doubles, one homer and four RBIs. In 10 games, his on-base percentage is .380 and slugging percentage is at .479. Desmond said one reason for his accelerated start has been a clear mind and a trust in...

The news on Chien-Ming Wang continues to be positive. Wang, who is down at the Nationals' complex in Viera, Fla., rehabbing his strained left hamstring, will throw a simulated game tomorrow. This will be his first time throwing to hitters since suffering the hamstring injury March 15 in a spring training start against the Yankees. The Nationals will continue to take things very slow with the veteran right-hander, but if all goes well in Wang's simulated game, he could be ready to begin a...

Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard said his shoulder is not bothering him as much as manager Davey Johnson might have led on after Sunday's loss to the Reds. Clippard said he has the usual stiffness in his shoulder, but he feels that after any outing and says he is fine. Johnson said he will look to rest Clippard and closer Brad Lidge tonight against the Astros. The pitching staff had to endure three extra-inning affairs in the four game set against Cincinnati, and Johnson wants to rest some...