ORIOLES 4, NATIONALS 3
at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Friday, March 9

Nationals at the plate: Center fielder Darnell McDonald got hit by a pitch, moved to third on an error and scored Washington's first run on a groundout in the seventh inning. Second baseman Joe Thurston scored on a wild pitch. D'Angelo Jimenez, Ronnie Belliard, Danny Ardoin and Abraham Nunez all had hits.

Orioles at the plate: Right fielder Nick Markakis singled and scored in the first inning, then drew a bases-loaded walk to spur Baltimore's three-run third inning. First baseman Aubrey Huff drilled a two-run single in that rally. Shortstop Miguel Tejada drove in the home team's first run with a double to left field.

Nationals on the mound: Southpaw Matt Chico started and got hit hard, allowing six hits and four earned runs over 2 1/3 innings. Levale Speigner picked up for Chico and got 11 outs without allowing a run.

Orioles on the mound: Jaret Wright allowed a leadoff single in the first inning and nothing else. Jeremy Guthrie pitched two scoreless innings. Michael Doyne and Todd Williams both threw scoreless innings. Reliever Paul Shuey hit two batters, threw a wild pitch and allowed two earned runs before leaving the game with an injury.

Grapefruit League records: Nationals 2-7; Orioles 6-1-2.

Up next: The Orioles will play host to the Cardinals on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET, and Adam Loewen will make his second spring start. Loewen was impeccable last time, working two scoreless innings and retiring five batters by strikeout.

The Nationals are also back in action on Saturday, taking on the Mets at 1:05 p.m.