PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Another day, two more hits for Bryce Harper. The Nationals' top prospect is now an impressive 4-for-7 in Grapefruit League play after tonight's 3-1 Nats win over the Mets, a game in which Harper went 2-for-2 with a walk. But those four hits might not have come the way many people would expect. All four have been ground ball singles, not mashed home runs or smoked line-drive doubles. That's of no matter in Harper's mind. "They're hits. That's all that matters,"...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Let's start with left-hander Brian Matusz, who allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three over two innings. "I felt really good," he said. "It felt nice to be back out there on the mound and let it fly a little bit. I felt strong. Threw a lot of strikes, attacked the zone. It felt really good to be back out there. "The Pirates executed really well and took advantage of the mistakes I made and put the ball in play. But overall I felt like I attacked the zone...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - This spring is a little different for John Lannan. Instead of going into Grapefruit League competition knowing that he's got a spot in the Nationals' rotation all but guaranteed, Lannan is now aware that his chances of making the Nats' starting five are dependent on how he performs in spring training. Still, Lannan says he's approaching this spring as he would any other. "I compete every year," Lannan said in the Nationals clubhouse moments ago. "I've competed...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gregg gave up a single to the first batter he faced. Then he gave up a fly ball that put two more runs on the board for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Matt Hague followed Yamaico Navarro's single with a bomb to left field, increasing the Pirates' lead to 5-1. Gregg bounced back to strike out the next three batters - Pedro Alvarez, Gorkys Hernandez and Garrett Jones - but he probably didn't do much to win back the fans who lost patience with him last season. At least Gregg...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - All things considered, John Lannan's first start of spring went just fine. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible, but Lannan worked his way through three innings tonight against the Mets, allowing one run and three hits, walking one and striking out one. The run came in the first when Lannan allowed a leadoff walk to Mets center fielder Andres Torres, allowed Torres to steal second base and then gave up an RBI single to second baseman Daniel Murphy. But Lannan settled...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Three of the first four batters reached against Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz tonight, and the Pirates grabbed a quick 2-0 lead. That's the bad news. Here's the encouraging part: Only one ball was hit hard - an RBI rope double by Josh Harrison that followed a bloop single by leadoff hitter Alex Presley. Matt Hague delivered the second run with one out on a ground ball that scooted between shortstop J.J. Hardy and third baseman Mark Reynolds. Matusz got called third...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitching coach Rick Adair says his son, Travis, is doing well after being hit in the back of the head during batting practice this morning. A CT scan came back negative, and Travis returned to the Ed Smith Stadium complex with the rest of his teammates following a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. "I didn't see it," Rick Adair said. "I just walked in and he was walking in, too. But he'll be fine." Travis Adair suffered a major concussion at age...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - A day that started with Chien-Ming Wang's strong intrasquad start continues here as the Nationals prepare to take on the Mets at Digital Domain Park. It was just a 75-minute drive south from the Nats' facilities in Viera here to the Mets' complex, which, from my perspective, is actually fairly nice considering I had multiple people tell me it's "a dump" on my way in. To be fair, though, this is only the third spring training stadium I've stepped foot in since...

The Orioles and OriolesREACH will conduct a free baseball skills clinic for pre-registered Sarasota youth on the main field at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday, April 7 at 2 p.m. The clinic is open to youth ages 8-14 who reside in Sarasota County. Those interested must complete an application form available now at Ed Smith Stadium or at www.orioles.com/sarasota and clicking "Community Calendar." Print and mail the completed form to Ed Smith Stadium, Attn: April 7 Clinic, 2700 12th Street ,...

Single-A Potomac Nationals Player of the Year Danny Rosenbaum is getting a lot of attention as spring training moves along and with good reason. The Xavier Musketeer southpaw put up top numbers in the Nationals' system in 2011, going a combined 9-6 with a 2.52 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) and 171 1/3 innings, striking out 135 and walking 52. Rosenbaum told me in last month he wanted to come into camp slimmer and was excited to get this season started. Double-A Harrisburg Senators pitching...