Jayson Werth

The first boos cascaded from the Citizens Bank Ballpark stands as Jayson Werth stepped out of the on-deck circle, not knowing what to expect, ready for his first at-bat here as a Washington National. They continued, louder and louder, coming from Philadelphia Phillies fans who held aloft signs that read "$tiff" and "Welcome Back Loser" and "I only came to boo Jayson. " By late Tuesday night, when Werth's old team had again asserted its superiority over his new one, this time with a 4-1 victory, Werth and, surprisingly, Phillies fans had shown their appreciation for one another.

On Sunday afternoon, the Washington Nationals copied the formula that gave them two victories to start this season — except for the important part. Their offense stalled. Their pitching, in this case seven stellar innings from Jordan Zimmermann, kept them in the game. They staggered the Chicago Cubs in the final innings. They just never completed the comeback. In a 4-3 loss before an announced 31,973 at Wrigley Field, the Nationals nearly shocked the Cubs again after Adam LaRoche drilled a two-out home run in the top of the ninth, an offensive spasm after another punchless beginning.

Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth was a first-round pick (22nd overall) by the Orioles in the 1997 draft and was eventually traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher John Bale without having made a major league appearance in an O's uniform. He was traded to the Dodgers for Jason Frasor in 2004 and signed with the Phillies as a free agent two years ago. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog)

WEDNESDAY'S TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS Baseball Nats Jayson Werth news conference MASN1 M. bask. American@UMBC (T) MASN9 a.m. UNC-Greensboro@Wake Forest ESPNU7 Auburn@South Florida ESPNU9 W. bask. Tennessee@Baylor (T) ESPNU2:30 NBA Orlando@Denver (T) NBANoon Boston@New York ESPN7 Portland@Dallas ESPN9:30 C. foot.

All five Orioles prospects in the Maryland Fall Baseball League will play for the Bowie Nationals.The Orioles will be the coordinating affiliate for Bowie, one of four teams in the new league that will launch a 42-game schedule Sept. 22.Baysox shortstop Augie Ojeda, Frederick pitcher John Parrish and infielder Carlos Casimiro, and Delmarva catcher Jayson Werth and closer Derek Brown will play for the Nationals.Bowie also will be stocked with top prospects from the New York Yankees, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds.

Moves Baseball BLUE JAYS: Designated C Ken Huckaby for assignment. Purchased contract of OF Reed Johnson from Triple-A Syracuse. Activated former Orioles OF Jayson Werth and optioned him to Syracuse. Transferred option of P Justin Miller from Single-A Dunedin to Syracuse. CUBS: Named Ron Schueler professional scouting assistant to GM. PIRATES: Placed LF Brian Giles on 15-day DL with sprained ligament in right knee. Recalled OF Adam Hyzdu from Triple-A Nashville. RANGERS: Optioned INF Mike Lamb to Triple-A Oklahoma.

Stadium: Harry Grove Stadium, FrederickDirections to stadium: Take I-70 west to Frederick, then exit 54 (Market Street). Stadium is on the left.Class: Single-ALeague: CarolinaRecord last year: 64-76. Finished third and fourth in two halves of Northern Division.Manager: Andy Etchebarren, first seasonAffiliation: OriolesGame times: Monday-Saturday, 7: 05 p.m.; Sunday, 1: 05 p.m.Ticket prices: Box seats, $10 and $8; adult general admission, $6; children general admission, $3; . children 5 and under free.

FREDERICK -- The biggest series of the season arrives tomorrow night at Grove Stadium for the Frederick Keys, but manager Andy Etchebarren is downplaying its importance.Frederick will battle the Lynchburg HillCats in a four-game series, with the lead in the Carolina League's Northern Division possibly on the line. It will be the final series of the year between the two contenders, who must win the second half to make the playoffs after Wilmington captured the first-half crown."I'm more concerned about the last 12 games," said Etchebarren.

Baseball Blue Jays: Signed C Josh Phelps, C Jayson Werth, OF Andy Thompson, IF Ryan Freel, IF Cesar Izturis and P George Perez to one-year contracts. Optioned Phelps and C Joe Lawrence to Triple-A Syracuse. Phillies: Signed P Seung Lee and P Il Kim to minor-league contracts. Reds: Signed 1B Hal Morris to minor-league contract; invited him to spring training. Basketball Knicks: Placed C Luc Longley on injured list with left ankle pain and sore lower back and G Rick Brunson on injured list with right plantar fasciatis.

ATLANTA -- The Orioles wasted no time agreeing to terms yesterday with the first of their two first-round draft choices, signing high school catcher Jayson Werth to a deal worth $850,000 to $900,000.Werth, the 22nd overall pick of the draft, was not expected to be difficult to sign. The Orioles are still pursuing their second first-round pick, Colorado two-sport star Darnell McDonald, who already has rejected an opening bid of $2 million. Unlike McDonald, Werth had made no secret of wanting to join the Orioles though he had signed a scholarship to attend the University of Georgia.