CHICAGO - Adam LaRoche has given the Nationals a 2-1 lead here in the fourth inning with a two-run homer off the right-field foul pole. That's one way for LaRoche to put his stinker of an opening day behind him. The homer came on a 2-2 pitch from Cubs starter Matt Garza, who tried to blow a 95 mph fastball past LaRoche on the inner half. LaRoche stayed inside the ball, however, and was able to keep it fair - barely. The blast from LaRoche was his first since April 24 of last season, and is...

Checking in with more notes from Orioles opening day win a few hours before the second game of the season tonight at Camden Yards. * It was 20 years ago yesterday when Rick Sutcliffe pitched a five-hit shutout as the Orioles opened Camden Yards by winning by two runs, 2-0. On Friday, they won by two runs, 4-2 as the pitching staff allowed six hits. * Only 11 players from last year's opening day 25-man roster are on that roster right now. They are Robert Andino, Jake Arrieta, Kevin Gregg,...

CHICAGO - After homering yesterday while on his rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg, Nationals outfielder Michael Morse is heading up to New York today to get some treatment on his strained lat. Morse, who was scheduled to have today off, will meet with a specialist and receive treatment and some massage on his lat, according to manager Davey Johnson. Morse will rejoin the Senators tomorrow and is eligible to come off the DL and suit up for the Nationals as early as April 10. Johnson...

CHICAGO - Gio Gonzalez won't benefit from the same wind blowing in from center that Stephen Strasburg did on Thursday, as it's a much milder day here at Wrigley Field than it was opening day. They're calling for a high of 67 degrees here today, and while the breeze might pick up later on, the flags above the center field scoreboard are barely waving back and forth. Manager Davey Johnson has written in the same lineup for today's ballgame that he did on Thursday, while Cubs manager Dale...

Tonight marks the first major league game that Tommy Hunter has pitched in the month of April. Hunter spent parts of four seasons in the bigs beginning in 2008, but he always was recalled or activated from the disabled list after April. He's faced the Twins three times, allowing eight runs and 13 hits over 14 2/3 innings, with four walks and 10 strikeouts. Joe Mauer is 3-for-6 against him with a home run and two RBIs. Hunter was going to be the second or fourth starter for the Orioles, and...

CHICAGO - After going hitless two days ago in their first rehab appearance of the season, both Michael Morse and Rick Ankiel homered last night for Double-A Harrisburg in the Senators' 5-2 win over Bowie. Minor league rehab assignment, major league power. Ankiel played center field yesterday for Harrisburg, while Morse served as the DH. Morse, who is recovering from a strained lat, will be eligible to come off the DL and return to the Nats as early as Tuesday, while Ankiel could rejoin the...

Nationals outfielders Rick Ankiel and Michael Morse slammed home runs as Double-A Harrisburg earned its first win of the season, 5-2 at Bowie on Friday night. Ankiel crushed a two-run shot off of Bobby Bundy in the first inning, and Morse hit a solo homer in the fifth. Ankiel is recovering from a quad injury, while Morse appears ready to go after a lat injury bothered him early in spring training. Morse also added a double, finishing 2-for-3. Morse was the designated hitter and Ankiel...

I guess right-hander Dylan Bundy could have had a better pro debut. He could have struck out all nine batters he faced. He didn't quite do that, but he was very impressive nonetheless when he took the mound last night in Asheville, N.C., for his first game in the O's organization. Scheduled to pitch three innings, Bundy retired the Tourists in order three straight times with six strikeouts to pitch Delmarva to a 7-2 win in the Shorebirds South Atlantic League season opener. Bundy's debut...

Orioles 2006 first-round draft pick Billy Rowell, who has struggled the last few years as a hitter, has agreed to take a shot at pitching. He has been taking part in the beginnings of a throwing program the last two days in Sarasota and will continue with that for about a month. At that point, the Orioles will decide if he has made enough progress to pitch in extended spring training games. If he advances past that, he could possibly join a minor league affiliate as a pitcher later this...

Nick Markakis got the Orioles off to a fast start today, delivering a two-run homer off Carl Pavano in the last of the first inning as the Orioles beat the Twins 4-2 on opening day. Markakis went 2-for-3 and had a triple and three RBIs and it was a great sign to prove he is healthy for the season after being limited early in camp. He had abdominal surgery in January. He said hitting the homer was nice, but also noted that he hit it out to left center field. Nick Markakis talks with Gary...