KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo confirmed Michael Morse had a PRP injection in an attempt to stimulate healing in the left fielder's strained lat, but said he doesn't expect Morse's injury to cause him to miss an extended portion of the regular season. In fact, Rizzo says Morse might even be able to suit up when the Nats open the season against the Cubs on April 5. "I feel good about him opening day, and if not opening day, soon thereafter," Rizzo said. "That's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Robert Andino's two-out double in the bottom of the fourth inning scored Mark Reynolds, who also doubled, and increased the Orioles' lead to 5-2. The Red Sox loaded the bases with one out in the fifth against Brad Bergesen, but a double play ended the rally. Bergesen tossed three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and walking two. Kevin Gregg has replaced him in the sixth. Jason Hammel left today's game after two innings because his pitch count rose to 59. "A lot...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - A day after Davey Johnson said he wasn't worried about his team's offensive struggles, his players are pushing things a bit. The Nationals have yet to record a hit through six innings of play against the Astros this afternoon, and have just sent just one over the minimum to the plate. Their lone base runner came in the first, when Danny Espinosa walked with one out. The Astros, on the other hand, are having no trouble putting runs on the board. They've had five guys...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel stuck around for only two innings today, leaving the game with the score tied, 2-2, and his pitch count at 59. Hammel retired the side in order in the first inning, striking out two, but he allowed two runs and three hits in the second, with two walks and two more strikeouts. He needed 39 pitches to get through the inning, and Brad Bergesen replaced him to start the third. Hammel threw 36 strikes among his 59 pitches. In four outings, Hammel has allowed four...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Roger Bernadina has left today's game against the Astros after just two and a half innings, with Brett Carroll replacing him in center field. Bernadina appeared to tweak something when he tracked down a long fly ball off the bat of Astros third baseman Chris Johnson in the bottom of the second. The 27-year-old outfielder needed to quickly go back close to the warning track to make the catch. He bent down at the waist after making the grab, appearing to stretch his...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - As we inch closer and closer to opening day - and we're now under the two-week mark until the real games have arrived - guys are running out of chances to impress manager Davey Johnson and try and earn one of the final couple spots on the Nationals' roster. Things are made a little murky by the injuries to left fielder Michael Morse and first baseman Adam LaRoche, which might open another position or two on the 25-man roster if those guys need to start the season on the DL....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman faced three batters yesterday in Fort Myers, struck out all three and was done for the afternoon. Should we read anything into that one inning against the Twins? Are the Orioles considering him for a late-inning relief role? The safe answer is "not at this time." Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that the subject has been broached in the past. "That's not the first time," he said. "That's come up two years ago, a year ago. You've also got to think about...

The Washington Nationals' extensive efforts in the military community were recognized last night when the team was presented with the USO of Metropolitan Washington's Legacy of Hope Award during its 30th Annual Awards Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington, Va. Established in 2004, the award is named after famed entertainer and longtime USO advocate Bob Hope and is presented annually to an organization that exhibits extraordinary dedication to supporting our nation's service members. "As...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters this morning that shortstop J.J. Hardy will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Nationals in Sarasota. Hardy is taking batting practice despite receiving treatment for a sore right arm. "He wants to play, but I'm going to give him one more day." Showalter said. "Just want to get it resolved. It's taking just a tad longer than usual. Usually it's resolved by now. It's nothing he couldn't play with. There are a lot...

Orioles 2009 first-round draft pick Matt Hobgood is going to have season-ending surgery on his right rotator cuff after getting a second opinion from a doctor on his ailing shoulder. Hobgood, who said he had not felt right or truly free of discomfort since beginning his pro career, will be operated on April 2 by Dr. Craig Morgan of Wilmington, Del., a shoulder specialist. After an offseason where he seemed to make some progress in rehabbing his shoulder injury, Hobgood was recently shut down...