Houston Astros 4-2 Over The Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg Dominates; Drew Storen Struggles

Houston Astros' outfielder Trevor Crowe, a 29-year-old, '05 Cleveland Indians' 1st Round pick out of the University of Arizona, fouled off a few 1-2 pitches and lined to center off '09 no.1 overall pick (and former SDSU starter) Stephen Strasburg for a leadoff hit in the first at bat of tonight's Grapefruit League game in Viera, Florida's Space Coast Ghost Stadium. '08 St. Louis Cardinals' 1st Round pick Brett Wallace sliced a 1-2 curve to left where it got caught on the wind and curled away from a lunging 2010 Nats' no.1 overall pick Bryce Harper. Scored a hit since Harp didn't touch it. With runners on first and second and no one out, former Oakland A's first baseman Carlos Pena, who was famously traded by Brad Pitt as Billy Beane because he was making the other Athletics look bad, rolled over a 1-2 change and sent a grounder to second that advanced both runners into scoring postition with one down. Former New York Mets' top prospect Fernando Martinez had no chance catching up to a 96 mph 2-2 heater. A 1-2 bender to Rick Ankiel sent the former Nationals' outfielder out to center field with his hat and glove for the bottom of the first. Called strike three. 25-pitch opening frame for Strasburg. 2 Ks.

Houston right-hander Lucas Harrell made quick work of the Nats' in the bottom of the first, sending Stephen Strasburg back out to the mound rather quickly. Ryan Zimmerman got to do the old charge and low throw on the first ball hit to him this Spring off Astros' catcher Carlos Corporan's bat. Strasburg shaved Marwin Gonzalez's armpits with a high 90's heater up under the arms that had the 'Stros' shortstop taking deep breaths as he took a step out of the box to collect himself. The 24-year-old infielder went the other way with a grounder that Adam LaRoche backhanded and played for out no.2. Astros' second baseman Jake Elmore reached on a two-out infield single in front of Astros' starter Lucas Harrell, who was reportedly told not to swing by manager Bo Porter. He listened. Backwards K. 3 strikeouts in 2.0 scoreless. 39 pitches after a 14-pitch second by Strasburg.

Adam LaRoche was the Nationals' first baserunner when he walked with one down in the home-half of the second. Ian Desmond K'd swinging at a two-strike curve for out no.2 and Danny Espinosa grounded to first to end Lucas Harrell's second scoreless.

A diving 0-2 change away got Trevor Crowe chasing for out no.1 and K no.3 on the night for Strasburg. An 0-2 curve to Brett Wallace hit a bird on the way to the plate and fell under Wallace's bat. Out no.2, K no. 5. An 84 mph 1-1 change had veteran slugger Carlos Pena guessing. Strasburg missed with a 97 mph fastball low and away, and couldn't get the left-hander to bite on a curve, but a full-count change just wasn't fair. Swinging K for Pena. Out no.3 and K no.6 for Strasburg. 52 pitches in 3.0 scoreless after a 13-pitch, 1-2-3 3rd. Wilson Ramos, Strasburg and Denard Span went down in order in the bottom of the frame.

23-year-old Astros' outfield prospect Robbie Grossman took a 76 mph 2-2 curve for a called strike three and Strasburg's seventh K. Strasburg threw an otherworldly change* to Rick Ankiel and got ahead of the former Nationals' outfielder, but the Arm got hold of a 2-2 fastball inside and jacked it to right for a solo blast that soared over Jayson Werth's head and out for a 1-0 Astros' lead. Carlos Corporan grounded weakly to short for out no.2 of the top of the fourth. Grounder. Desmond. Out. Marwin Gonzalez did the same. Grounder. Desmond. Out. x 2. 1-0 Astros over the Nats. 67 pitches for Strasburg. Jayson Werth walked for the first time this Spring to start the Nationals' fourth, but was quickly erased on a 4-6-3 DP off Bryce Harper's bat. Ryan Zimmerman's bat, or at least the barrel of it, almost took Lucas Harrell out, but the 'Stros' starter made the play on the grounder to the mound as everything but the handle of Zim's bat flew over his head. 1-0 Houston after four.

' (ed. note - "Here's that 'otherworldly' changeup..."):

Strasburg caught the outside corner with a 94 fastball 1-1 fastball to Jake Elmore, then got the second baseman to ground to short for out no.1 of the fifth. Grounder. Desmond. Out. once again. 24-year-old Astros' outfielder Jimmy Paredes K'd swinging through a 1-2 change for K no.8 on the evening for Strasburg. Trevor Crowe took a healthy cut at a 3-1 fastball but came up empty, then he doubled to center on the full count pitch, but Crowe took a wide turn around second and Ian Desmond saw Adam LaRoche sneak in behind him and threw to the bag where the Nats' first baseman applied the tag. +Defense. +Sneaky.That's an 8-6-3 put out. 1-0 Astros after four and a half. 81 pitches for Stras after a 14-pitch fourth.

Adam LaRoche lined to center for the Nationals' first hit of the night off Astros' reliever Wesley Wright, who was promptly lifted from the game. Houston right-hander Hector Ambriz came on next and retired the next three batters in order, however and the Nationals had just one hit after 5.0 innings in Viera, Florida.

Brett Wallace flew to left on a 93 mph full-count fastball from Strasburg for out no.1 in the sixth. Strasburg just missed outside with a 1-2 fastball to Carlos Pena, then missed inside with a 2-2 bender. The Nats' right-hander's 3-2 fastball missed low and brought Davey Johnson out to the mound. 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 Ks, 1 HR, 93 P. Robbie Grossman grounded out to second for out no.2 with Craig Stammen on for Washington and Rick Ankiel K'd swinging to end the sixth. Still 1-0 Houston after five and a half.

27-year-old Seattle Mariners' 1st Round pick Josh Fields took over for the Astros in the seventh and walked Nats' catcher Chris Snyder in the first at bat. The Nationals' second "hit" of the game was a fly to center off Denard Span's bat that Robbie Grossman lost in Viera, Florida's friscilating dusklight. Second and third with no outs. Jayson Werth popped to right unproductively for out no.1, but Bryce Harper walked to load the bases in front of Chad Tracy. The Nats' HCBB and Good Squad leader grounded to first and the Astros came home for the force. Adam LaRoche stepped in with the bases loaded and two down and popped up on the first pitch he saw. Out no. thre--- the Astros let it drop. Span scores. 1-1 game. Ian Desmond singles to left. 2-1 Nats after six.

Craig Stammen threw a quick, 1-2-3 top of the seventh. Astros' right-hander Edgar Gonzalez retired the Nationals in order in the bottom of the inning. Nats' '09 1st Round pick Drew Storen took over in the eighth and gave up a leadoff single by first by Astros' infielder Jose Martinez. Trevor Crowe's second hit of the game sent Martinez around to third and with runners on the corners, 2012 no.1 overall pick Carlos Correa hit an RBI single through short to tie the game at 2-2 in the eighth. Crowe tagged and took third on a Jonathan Singleton fly to center to put runners on the corners with one down. Robbie Grossman K'd swinging at an over-the-top 2-2 slider from Storen for out no.2. With 20-year-old Astros' outfielder Domingo Santana at the plate, Correa swiped second, and Santana then walked to load the bases with two down and a broken bat single by backup catcher Rene Garcia gave the Astros a two-run lead. 4-2 Houston and a frustrated Storen after seven and half.

Chad Tracy singled off Astros' right-hander Edgar Gonzalez with one down in the Nationals' eighth. Adam LaRoche flew to left for out no.2. Zach Walters K'd swinging to end the bottom of the inning. Henry Rodriguez took over for the Nats in the top of the ninth. Carlos Rivero dropped a pop to right off Jake Elmore's bat, putting a runner on second to start the frame. Elmore swiped third with Jose Martinez up. Rivero caught Martinez's fly to right and made a strong throw home to keep Elmore at third. Trevor Crowe K'd chasing a diving two-strike change for out no.2. 18-year-old Carlos Correa popped up to second to end the top of the frame.

Chris Snyder hit a two-out single off Edgar Gonzalez to keep the game going for one more out and bring Corey Brown to the plate with a chance to tie it, but Brown grounded to second to end the game. 4-2 Astros final.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals' Third Baseman Ryan Zimmerman Makes Debut In Field Tonight vs Houston Astros

"Obviously it's a lot freer and more natural after the cleanup and things," Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman told MLB Network Radio hosts Mike Ferrin and Jim Duquette a week ago today in a discussion about his surgically-repaired right shoulder, "but we've still got about week or so of strengthening to go and everything feels great, it's just not strong enough yet. And that's just part of the process. You can't, unfortunately, rush that, and you have to kind of go through the step-by-step rehabilitation plan and once we get there we'll be good to go." A week after those comments, and a day after Nats' skipper Davey Johnson told reporters, including the Washington Post's James Wagner, that the on-field debut of the 28-year-old third baseman was close, the Nationals' released their lineup for tonight's game with the Houston Astros and a familiar name was penciled in at the hot corner:

#Nationals lineup tonight vs. HOU: Span 8, Werth 9, Harper 7, Zimmerman 5, LaRoche 3, Desmond 6, Espinosa 4,Ramos 2, Strasburg 1

' Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) March 16, 2013

Barring any injuries, setbacks or hiccups and with a decision on the Nats' Opening Day catcher still pending, that looks an awful lot like the lineup the Nationals will put out there on April 1st when they start the 2013 campaign at home in the nation's capital against the Miami Marlins.

Zimmerman's 11 for 22 with three doubles and a home run in seven games so far this Spring, but tonight's he'll take the field and test his shoulder for the first time in live action since he had surgery to repair the problem that plagued him throughout the Nationals' run at the division title last season.

Davey Johnson told reporters on Friday, as the WaPost's Mr. Wagner wrote, that Zimmerman was currently at "90 to 95 percent arm strength" and said he would talk to his third baseman this morning before deciding whether the infielder would make his debut this weekend or on Monday since Sunday was a Grapefruit League road game not likely to feature many veterans in the lineup. Zimmerman's been throwing across the diamond for over a week now as he explained in the MLB Network Radio interview last weekend, but tonight's game (which is on MASN and MLB.tv) will be the first live-action test for the one-time Gold Glove winning infielder.

After receiving a cortisone shot last June that alleviated the pain caused by inflammation in the AC joint in his right shoulder, Zimmerman finished the 2012 season strong, posting a .321/.383/.584 line with 26 doubles and 22 HRs in the final 90 games 399 plate appearances of his eighth MLB season, leaving him with a .282/.346/.478 line for the year with 36 doubles and 25 HRs in 145 games and 641 PAs, over which he was worth +4.5 fWAR. Zimmerman and the rest of the Nationals will be backing up Stephen Strasburg tonight in Viera, Florida's Space Coast Stadium as they take on the visiting Houston Astros.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals' Davey Johnson Tells Reporters "No Possibility" Of Christian Garcia Being On Opening Day Roster

Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson updated reporters on Christian Garcia earlier this week. "He feels real good, he doesn't feel any discomfort in that area," Johnson said, referring to the right-hander's wrist, where the 27-year-old pitcher suffered a partially torn tendon while throwing earlier this Spring. "We have a wrist/arm specialist in [the Baltimore] area," Johnson explained, "that he'll probably have to be examined by before we let him resume throwing." Johnson said then that Garcia would have to make a visit to the doctor before he could get back on the mound and begin catching up on the time he's missed since he was shut down in late February. Garcia's expected to go to Baltimore to see the specialist this weekend, but as the Nats' skipper explained this morning, the reliever/starter has already missed too much time to be available by Opening Day.

Johnson, in fact, told reporters this morning, including MASN's Dan Kolko and NatsInsider.com's Mark Zuckerman, that there was "no possibility" of Garcia being available by Opening Day on April 1st. Once he starts throwing again, again according to the reports, the former New York Yankees' prospect signed by the Nats in July of 2011, will likely remain at the team's facilities in Florida "'We'll probably keep him down here once he starts throwing, see where he's at,'" the manager's quoted explaining by NatsInsider.com's Mr. Zuckerman.

The Nationals had planned on stretching Garcia out this Spring in the hope that he could provide them with additional starting depth, one area the team thinks still needs to be addressed. According to both the MASN and NatsInsider.com reports, that plan hasn't changed. The right-hander started the 2012 campaign, his second in the organization, at Double-A Harrisburg where Garcia was (1-0) with seven saves, a 1.80 ERA, 1.30 FIP, six walks (2.70 K/9) and 28 Ks (12.60 K/9) in 18 games and 20.0 IP. The right-hander then moved up to Triple-A Syracuse, where he saved 14 games and posted a 0.56 ERA, 1.87 FIP, 11 walks (3.06 BB/9) and 38 Ks (10.58 K/9) in 27 games and 32.1 IP before he was called up to the nation's capital where he put up a 2.13 ERA, a 3.73 FIP, two walks (1.42 BB/9) and 15 Ks (10.66 K/9) in 13 G and 12.2 IP.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Puerto Rico Eliminates Team USA With 4-3 WBC Win; Washington Nationals' Ross Detwiler And Gio Gonzalez Headed Home To Viera

Cleveland Indians' infielder Mike Aviles' two-out RBI single in the top of the first gave Puerto Rico an early 1-0 lead over the United States in their Round 2 matchup in the World Baseball Classic. Tonight's win-or-go-home WBC game didn't have half of the boisterous, instrument-wielding crowd that turned out to watch the Dominican Republic beat the U.S. last night or even the one that watched Gio Gonzalez shut Puerto Rico down earlier this week in the US squad's 7-1 win on Tuesday night in Miami's Marlins Park.

Team USA right-hander Ryan Vogelsong was up in the zone early in the game, giving up three singles in the first and after a 1-2-3 second, surrendering a leadoff walk and a two-out double by Carlos Beltran in the third. The double play the Giants' starter got from Jesus Feliciano after the leadoff walk to his teammate Angel Pagan is all that kept the Americans from trailing by two after Beltran's hit. The St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder was stranded at second instead one out later when Yadier Molina popped out to end the third.

Nelson FIgueroa, 38, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks this past December, last pitched in the majors with the Houston Astros in 2011. FIgueroa pitched at Triple-A with the Yankees and Red Sox' top affiliates in 2012. Tonight in Miami, the right-hander held the U.S. team off the scoreboard through the first five innings, giving up just one hit and one walk while throwing 69 pitches, 47 for strikes and preserving Puerto Rico's 1-0 lead. The U.S. turned to 28-year-old Indians' right-hander Vinnie Pestano with one on and two out in the top of the sixth, after Vogelsong gave up a one-out walk to Carlos Beltran and got a flyout to center from Yadier Molina...

Ryan Vogelsong's line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R*, 2 ER*, 2 BB, 1 K, 73 P, 43 S.

A single off Pestano by Mike Aviles and back-to-back walks by Chicago White Sox outfielder Alex Rios and one-time Pirates' first baseman Carlos RIvera, respectively, loaded the bases and then forced in a run* to make it 2-0 Puerto Rico before 31-year-old White Sox' minor leaguer Andy Gonzalez's two-run double to left gave the U.S. a 4-0 lead after five and a half. Nelson Figueroa was approaching his pitch limit when Jimmy Rollins singled with one down in the bottom of the sixth, but one out later the Philadelphia Phillies' shortstop was caught stealing with Ryan Braun at the plate to end the Puerto Rican starter's 6.0 scoreless inning of work.

Figueroa's line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 Ks, 82 P, 57 S.

The United States finally got on the board in the seventh after Figuerao was out of the game. Joe Mauer tripled to center off Puerto Rican lefty (and 22-year-old Indians' prospect) Giovanni Soto with one down. Mauer then scored the United States' first run on an RBI single to left by Giancarlo Stanton. 4-1 Puerto Rico. Ben Zobrist grounded into a force at second for the second out of the frame, but Eric Hosmer's two-out single brought the tying run to the plate in the person of Adam Jones, prompting Puerto Rico's manager Edwin Rodriguez to go to the pen for right-hander Jose De La Torre, a 27-year-old Boston Red Sox' prospect, who got Adam Jones looking on a questionable (it wasn't a strike) called strike three to end the U.S. rally. Still 4-1 PR.

Former Marlin and current D-Back Heath Bell threw a scoreless eighth, giving up one hit. De La Torre returned in the bottom of the inning and gave up back-to-back one-out singles by Jimmy Rollins and Brandon Phillips. A double by the third base bag by Ryan Braun brought Rollins around to make it 4-2. De La Torre was replaced by lefty Xavier Cedeno, a 26-year-old Houston Astros' pitcher, who walked Joe Mauer to load the bases... with one out... for Giancarlo Stanton... Puerto Rico brought on 31-year-old right-hander Fernando Cabrera. Stanton worked the count full in an eight-pitch at bat that ended in a pop to short left. Two outs. Ben Zobrist got ahead 3-1 on Cabrera, and walked to force in run no.3, 4-3 Puerto Rico.

The fourth pitcher in the eighth, J.C. Romero, came out of the pen, and got a groundout to second by Eric Hosmer that ended the eighth. Still 4-3. Braves' closer Craig Kimbrel pitched around a leadoff single in a scoreless top of the ninth. J.C. Romero stayed on for Puerto Rico and retired the U.S. hitters in order for the save. 4-3 Puerto Rico and the U.S. is eliminated from the WBC.

What does this all mean for Washington Nationals fans? Well, it means that Nats' lefties Gio Gonzalez and Ross Detwiler will be heading back to Viera, Florida to rejoin the defending NL East champs for the last two weeks of Grapefruit League action. Nationals' skipper Davey Johnson discussed the scheduling should the U.S. lose tonight with reporters this morning including the Washington Post's James Wagner, who wrote that Gonzalez, the 2012 21-game winning left-hander who threw 5.0 scoreless vs Puerto Rico Tuesday night, would pitch on his regular rest on Sunday afternoon when Washington travels to Lakeland, Florida's Joker Marchant Stadium to take on the Detroit Tigers.

As for Detwiler, who threw 4.0 scoreless in relief of Ryan Vogelsong on Saturday night and never pitched again in the WBC, the WaPost's Mr. Wagner wrote, "[Pitching Coach Steve] McCatty and Johnson would have to find a spot for Detwiler based on whether ' and how much ' he pitches tonight." Veteran right-hander Chris Young has been filling Detwiler's spot in the Nationals' rotation while the 26-year-old left-hander has been with the U.S. team.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals 6-3 Over Houston Astros On Micah Owings' Grand Slam; Yes That Micah Owings

Chris Young's second start for the Washington Nationals this Spring began with Houston Astros' infielder Marwin Gonzalez, who hit two home runs in 219 major league plate appearances last season, taking the Nats' right-hander deep to right, into the wind and over the outfield wall for a leadoff home run and an early 1-0 'Stros' lead. In Young's first start for the Nationals, after signing a minor league deal on February 22nd, the 33-year-old, nine-year veteran surrendered three hits, three walks and three runs in 3.0 IP against the Miami Marlins. After giving up the leadoff blast and having Astros' first baseman Brett Wallace reach on a wind-aided error by Jayson Werth in right, Young recovered and retired the next three batters in order in a relatively quick opening frame. 1-0 Astros.

'09 Cleveland Indians' 1st Round pick Alex White, a right-hander acquired by the Astros from the Rockies this past December in a trade that sent RHP Wilton Lopez to Colorado, was also part of the July 2011 Ubaldo Jimenez deal between the Rockies and Indians. White made 23 appearances, 20 of them starts with the Rockies last year. His third start and fourth appearance this Spring started with Denard Span grounding out to second in the bottom of the first, but Jayson Werth took the Astros' right-hander yard in the next at bat, hitting his first home run of the Spring (6 for 23) and tying the game at 1-1. Ryan Zimmerman was 10 for 20 with two doubles and home run in Grapefruit League action after he hit a two-out, two-base hit one out before White escaped the first. 1-1 after one.

Chris Young walked the first batter he faced after the Nationals tied it up in the bottom of the first, putting Rick Ankiel on in the top of the second, but Young retired the next three Astros in order in a scoreless inning of work. Ian Desmond entered play today 8 for 21 in 12 Grapefruit League games and he was 9 for 22 when he singled to start the Nats' second. Wilson Ramos collected his fourth hit in 12 ABs one out later when he singled to center, moving Desmond to second and the Nats' shortstop took third on a pitch in the dirt Astros' catcher Jason Castro couldn't corral. With runners on the corners, Steve Lombardozzi came through with an RBI single, his 8th hit and 7th RBI in 16 games and 38 PAs. 2-1 Nationals after two.

After retiring eight-straight batters following the leadoff home run and ROE in the first, Chris Young issued his second walk of the game to Astros' outfielder Chris Carter in the top of the third, bringing Houston's DH Carlos Pena up with a runner on and two down. A two-out "infield" single to the outfield grass in right by Pena put two on with two out, but a Justin Maxwell fly to Bryce Harper in left ended the top of the frame with the Nationals still up by one. 2-1 Washington. Ryan Zimmerman was 2 for 2 today with two doubles after a two-out, two-base hit in the Nationals' third. 11 for 21 on the Spring. But Zim was stranded when Adam LaRoche K'd swinging to end the third.

Former National Rick Ankiel collected his 11th hit in 24 Spring Training ABs in the top of the fourth when he doubled (for the third time this Spring) off Chris Young to start the inning. Ankiel took third on another hit, this one by Astros' catcher Jason Castro, who singled on the next pitch Young threw, sending Ankiel to third, but two outs later, both runners were still on the corners after Young struck Matt Dominguez out and popped Marwin Gonzalez up to Adam LaRoche at first. Two down and a sharp grounder to short by Marwin Gonzalez strands two. Grounder (or low liner). Desmond. Out. 2-1 Nationals in the fourth. Alex White retired the Nats in order in the fourth, setting Desmond, Espinosa and Lombardozzi down in order in a quick inning of work.

' Chris Young's Line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks, 1 HR.

Zach Duke, the lone lefty in the Nats' pen, issued a two-out walk to Carlos Pena in the top of the fifth. Pena stole second on new Nats' catcher Chris Snyder with Justin Maxwell at the plate and an error by Duke on a Justin Maxwell grounder put runners on the corners with two down and Rick Ankiel up. Justin Maxwell stole the second base of the inning off Snyder (and Duke, I guess), but Ankiel K'd swinging to end the Astros' half of the inning. Houston lefty Wesley Wright got Denard Span looking on three pitches for the first out of the Nationals' fifth. Jayson Werth singled to center for his second hit in three at bats. Bryce Harper was 1 for 3 today (and 17 for 39 this Spring) after hustlin', hustlin' to first on a grounder to third and beating Astros' third baseman Brett Wallace's throw to first. Two outs later, however, both runners were stranded when Wright retired Zimmerman and LaRoche to end the fifth.

Duke's sixth went a bit smoother as the left-hander retired the Astros in order. Houston right-hander John Ely retired the Syracuse crew: Zach Walters, Carlos Rivero and Chris Snyder in order in the bottom of the sixth. Rafael Soriano came out for his fourth inning of work this Spring in the top of the seventh. Brandon Laird connected for a leadoff single to start the inning and 6'8'', 250 lb Astros' slugger Nate Freiman hit a two-run blast out on the jet stream to right-center to give Houston a 3-2 lead in the 7th. First runs allowed by Soriano this Spring. The new Nats' closer retired the next three Astros in order, but Houston was ahead 3-2 after six and a half. Steve Lombardozzi and Corey Brown on singles and Tyler Moore on a fielder's choice, all reached safely to start the Nationals' seventh and Micah Owings, who entered today's game 6 for 18 w/ three doubles and a HR this Spring, hit an opposite field Grand Slam to right field off John Ely to give the Nationals a 6-3 lead in the seventh.

Nats' right-hander Henry Rodriguez came out for the top of the eighth. Chris Marrero caught a foul pop off Astros' catcher Carlos Perez's bat for out no.1. Rodriguez issued a one-out walk to 29-year-old Houston outfielder Trevor Crowe, who stole second with Che-Hsuan Lin at the plate, but the Nats' flame throwing right hander got Lin looking for out no.2 and got a groundout to third from Jake Elmore to end a scoreless eighth. The Nationals came up empty against RHP Jose Valdez in the bottom of the frame, and took a three-run lead into the top of the ninth.

Tyler Clippard came on in the Astros' ninth. Brandon Laird flew to left for out no.1 Nate Freiman K'd looking. Two. And Clippard got infielder Jose Martinez flew out to Corey Brown to end the game. 6-3 Nationals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

WBC GameThread: USA vs Dominican Republic From Miami, Florida's Marlins Park

Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that he didn't know what Team USA Manager Joe Torre and Pitching Coach Greg Maddux had in mind for 26-year-old Nats' lefty Ross Detwiler, who's scheduled to throw today but not starting for the U.S. entry in the second round of the 3rd installment of the World Baseball Classic. Former New York Mets' and current Toronto Blue Jays' knuckler R.A. Dickey is scheduled to start in tonight's WBC Round 2 matchup with the Dominican Republic. Detwiler came on in relief of Ryan Vogelsong this past Saturday in the U.S. team's win over Italy, throwing four scoreless in which he allowed just one walk and one hit, while striking out three and throwing 51 pitches total, 36 of them strikes. No one told the Nats' skipper how Detwiler would be used, but he's well-rested and as Johnson said, "I'm sure that everybody will be available in that game, that's a big game for them."

MLB.com's Barry Bloom wrote Thursday morning that, "The Americans are going with Dickey, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner," who gave up six hits and four runs in 4.0 IP in his first WBC start last Friday against Mexico, and the U.S., "... will have Ross Detwiler in the wings."

"If Dickey's knuckleball is again flat," Mr. Bloom contined, "as it was against Mexico when he allowed an Adrian Gonzalez two-run homer and [allowed] the Mexicans to take an early 4-0 lead, Torre will certainly go quickly to the 'pen."

Dickey told reporters, including MLB.com's Mr. Bloom, that he wasn't worried about his knuckleball being flat. "'It's not unlike the regular season,'" the veteran right-hander said, "'when sometimes you struggle for an outing and you get it back for four or five days later.'" U.S. Pitching Coach Greg Maddux told reporters on Wednesday that he was confident Dickey would be fine in his second WBC outing:

"Well, I think you let Dickey go out there and do his thing. He's got a very unique pitch and he's had a lot of success with it, and you just kind of support him the best you can and hope he throws it correctly. The scouting reports are kind of out the window when he pitches. His knuckle is unpredictable and it does unpredictable things."

Though Davey Johnson didn't know exactly how Detwiler would be used, the Nats' 70-year-old skipper said he was given one bit of information about the plans for the other Nationals' lefty in the WBC. If the US Team makes it to the World Baseball Classic's third championship game, the nation's capital will get to watch Gio Gonzalez pitch again. "They tell me [Gonzalez] is probably scheduled to pitch the last game," Johnson said, if the U.S. makes it to the championship. No matter how things turn out, Johnson, who has a long history with Team USA baseball and the international game, said that playing in the WBC, much like last year's postseason run, can only help his pitchers gain experience.

"Any time you get to pitch on an international level like this one which has grown into a great event, it's a great experience," the Nationals' manager explained, "No.1, there is a lot of pressure on you just representing your country and double that pitching in your hometown," as Gio Gonzalez did this week. "I think that any experience like this is nothing but great," Johnson said, "It was great for Detwiler. Great for Gio. And hopefully they'll bring home a championship." If they get there, Johnson, who had Gio Gonzalez available for Game 5 of this past October's NLDS, thinks U.S. skipper Joe Torre will be in a good position heading into the tournament finale.

"I love the way it's setting up for Joe," Johnson said, before making an assumption about which team the U.S. might meet. "Because Japan's obviously, they've won it twice, so he's setting up to have a good left-hander to go possibly against them in the finals and that's perfect." Ross Detwiler will try to remain perfect in the WBC as well if and when he takes the mound tonight in Miami, Florida's Marlins Park. The U.S. vs the Dominican Republic. 7:00 pm EDT from Miami. Who's Watching the WBC?

' Here's Team USA's Lineup for tonight's game against the Dominican Republic:

#TeamUSA's lineup for tonight's @wbcbaseball game against the Dominican Republic at 7pm ET on @mlbnetwork @mlb twitter.com/USABaseball/st'

' USABaseball (@USABaseball) March 14, 2013

' Here's the Dominican Republic's Lineup:

Here is the lineup the Dominican Republic will go with tonight. twitter.com/USABaseball/st'

' USABaseball (@USABaseball) March 14, 2013

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo Talks Anthony Rendon; Plans For 2011 1st Round Pick In 2013

Anthony Rendon's eighth inning home run today in the Washington Nationals' split-squad game against the Houston Astros put the traveling Nats up 7-5 in what ended up being a 9-7 win on the road in Kissimmee, Florida's Osceola County Stadium. Rendon was 4 for 5 with a double and the home run, leaving the 22-year-old, 2011 1st Round pick 12 for 32 (.375/.412/.875) with four doubles and four home runs in 13 Grapefruit League games. In an interview with ESPN980's The Sports Fix hosts Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro this afternoon, Nationals' General Manager Mike Rizzo was asked if it was a sign of the times that a player who was having that hot a start was not going to make the Opening Day roster as Davey Johnson assured [over-] enthusiastic reporters a week or so back.

As the Nats' 52-year-old GM and Executive Vice President of Baseball Ops explained, however, even back then, just a few years ago when the team wasn't winning divisions or talking World Series seriously, Rendon would not have made the Opening Day roster. "I really don't think he would [make it]," Rizzo said, "If I was the general manager, even if it was years back -- you know, Anthony is a terrific talent, he's got a great skill set, he's going to be an impact player in the very-near-future, but he's a guy without many professional at bats due to injury."

A partial fracture of his left ankle, suffered rounding third in just his second minor league game last April paused Rendon's first pro season until late July when he returned to the Nats' system. Overall, on the year, the former Rice University infielder whose previous injury history caused him to drop to sixth overall in the 2011 Draft where the Nationals selected him, got in just 43 games at four levels of the Nats' organization, posting a combined .233/.363/.489 line with eight doubles, four triples and six home runs in 163 plate appearances.

As Rendon explained it in an interview on 106.7 the FAN in D.C. back in January, it wasn't until he finished the season and went to the Arizona Fall League that he finally felt comfortable at the plate. "I was really just trying to find out where I was at," Rendon said, "And just trying to learn how to hit again and when I got to Arizona it just started clicking and I started trying to feel normal again and I just started going back to the basics, trying to square up the baseball, put the barrel on it and just let the ball work for [itself]." At the so-called finishing school for the game's top prospects, Rendon posted a .338/.436/.494 line with 10 doubles, a triple, 15 walks and 14 Ks in 77 at bats over 22 games.

Now he's back in Spring Training with the Nationals for the second time and both he and the Nats want a full, healthy season on the field this year. "We think he's a quick-to-the-big-leagues guy," Rizzo told ESPN980's Mr.'s Sheehan and Loverro this afternoon, "We said that from the day we drafted him. We were fortunate and had the guts enough to take him out of the draft and rehab him and get him healthy and we think that once he gets some more professional at bats under his belt he's going to be an asset to us and be an impact player for us."

"But," the Nats' GM explained, "I think it would be too soon to rush him to the big leagues, because even in days gone by, he's still a guy that has an extremely high ceiling and I would hate to rush a guy like that to the big leagues and set him back in his developmental curve. So we, I still think we would take our time with him and do the right thing and develop him properly because there's so much at stake with him that we need to develop him properly, because he's got a chance to be really, really good."

A sure sign that Rendon's a quick-to-the-majors-type of player? His jersey number? Seriously? When Rizzo was asked on ESPN980, the GM answered seriously and just explained how the team felt about Rendon when they drafted him. "We think Anthony has a chance to be an impactful player for us," Rizzo said, "We thought so the first time I saw him in high school and then his early days at Rice University. Kris Kline and Roy Clark, our guys who run our amateur draft, do a great job identifying the impact-type of guys in the draft and we had [Rendon] on the board, he was really strong on the board and opportunity knocked and we took a risk, but we thought that the reward outweighed the risk and we took him sixth and gave him a major league contract because of what we thought we had and how quickly he could make it to the big leagues."

"Suffice it to say, we're comfortable with the pick and we love the player," Rizzo explained, "But with that said, he hasn't done anything yet. And we're trying to get his feet wet in professional baseball."

In an interview with ESPN.com's Buster Olney broadcast early this morning, however, the Nats' General Manager actually talked about the fact that Rendon didn't end up with one of the no.89 jerseys you sometimes see prospects wear in Spring Training. How'd the Nationals' prospect end up being assigned the no.6?

"When we signed him, we signed him to a major league contract and he was on the 40-Man roster and his first Spring Training here he certainly wasn't as comfortable as he is right now and when our clubhouse man, Mike Wallace, talks to the players and picks out numbers [there] certainly is a pecking order and Anthony is certainly one of our bright, up-and-coming stars and I guess they negotiate a number that it's going to be. And you're right, it's not no.96, it's no.6, I think because we're going to have to be buying jerseys in the near future with his name on the back of it."

Now where will Rendon play? That's another topic altogether...