WASHINGTON - The sun is out, the game has started and Adam Jones has launched his 10th home run deep into the left field seats, but I wanted to pass along a few comments from manager Buck Showalter. On Jeremy Accardo: "He was trying to make some adjustments to get a little more movement, get guys off him. I mean, he had a lot of balls squared up off him that were at people, too. His numbers were actually, going into last night, a little better than he actually pitched. We keep a thing about...

Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond stole two bases Friday and now has a career-high 20 stolen bases in his first 64 games of the season. Last year, he had 17 stolen bases in 154 games. The Nationals are being more aggressive on the basepaths and taking advantage of Desmond's speed to put pressure on the opposition to not make mistakes. Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said the team is running more this season, but they have to be careful with Desmond because he is still nursing a sore left...

WASHINGTON - Jeremy Guthrie tested his sore back by playing catch today, making 40 throws and expanding the distance to 90 feet. Guthrie was diagnosed yesterday with a mild strain. He hopes to throw a bullpen session tomorrow and make Tuesday night's start in Pittsburgh. "I'll see how my body feels, but tomorrow's my bullpen day," he said. "It's improved. It's improved every day. I won't say it's completely gone, but it's improving every day." Challenged to give reporters a...

WASHINGTON - Blake Davis didn't receive an invitation to spring training this year. He remained in a utility role at Triple-A Norfolk, mostly playing right field but also getting starts in the infield. He wasn't a leading candidate to make his major league debut this summer. Anything can happen in this game. Davis, 27, had his contract purchased and will be on the bench for today's game against the Nationals. He batted .284 (52-for-183) with five home runs and 24 RBIs in 49 games with the...

The Orioles announced today that they have recalled right-hander Brad Bergesen and selected the contract of infielder Blake Davis from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for Bergesen and Davis, the Orioles optioned infielder Ryan Adams to Norfolk and designated right-hander Jeremy Accardo for assignment. Bergesen, 25, has appeared in 10 games (nine starts) for the Orioles this year, going 1-6 with a 5.36 ERA (50.1IP, 30ER). In three starts for the Tides, Bergesen was 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA (22.0IP,...

WASHINGTON - Blake Davis will wear No. 28. Following in the footsteps of Radhames Dykoff. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Derrek Lee 1B Luke Scott LF Mark Reynolds 3B Robert Andino 2B Brian Matusz LHP For the Nationals: Werth RF Desmond SS Zimmerman 3B Morse 1B Espinosa 2B Hairston LF Rodriguez C Zimmermann RHP Bernadina CF

I left my house yesterday at 1:32 p.m. I arrived home at 1:32 a.m. I didn't plan it that way. Manager Buck Showalter suggests that we "sleep fast." Well, it went quickly for me. I'm ready to get back in my car and make the hour-long drive to Nationals Park, where the clubhouse will have a different look. Brad Bergesen is back. That shuttle must be getting old for him. And Blake Davis has reached the majors for the first time after being a fourth-round pick in 2006 out of Cal-State...

This had to be one of the ugliest Orioles losses of the year. They had numerous chances to score more than four runs. They had poor relief pitching. They allowed three unearned runs. They had 18 hits and somehow managed to turn that into four runs. It was another game where a Mark Reynolds' mistake was glaring. After the game, Buck Showalter would not pin the loss on Reynolds' throwing error in the last of the fifth, but that fueled Washington's four-run inning. Showalter correctly said...

Nationals' shortstop Ian Desmond was back to batting in the second hole after hitting ninth Thursday. Desmond's timely hitting, speed on the bases and crafty glove helped guide Washington to an 8-4 win in their series opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park. Desmond had two hits, two stolen bases, a run and two RBIs in his final three at-bats as the Nationals came back from an early 2-0 deficit to beat the Birds. Even with Desmond batting all over the lineup, he feels the...

WASHINGTON - Rookie Zach Britton carried a shutout into the fifth inning before surrendering four runs, only one earned, and piling 32 pitches on his left arm. He was removed for a pinch-hitter and settled for a no-decision. Britton deflected the attention away from third baseman Mark Reynolds' costly throwing error on a sacrifice bunt. "Obviously, it's easier to throw when you got an out, but you know, errors happen," he said. "I knew you guys would probably bring it up, so I might as...