SPRING REPORT: MONDAY

TIGERS 6, NATIONALS 5

LAKELAND, Fla. - Leading for most of the afternoon, Washington gave up one run in the eighth and three in the ninth to fall to Detroit.

Rookie Levale Speigner was charged with all four runs and took the loss, but Chris Booker was on the mound when things fell apart in the ninth. Summoned from the bullpen with one out in the ninth, two runners on and the Nationals clinging to a 5-4 lead, Booker immediately walked Mark Haske on four pitches to load the bases. Timo Perez then hit a game-tying sacrifice fly, and Ryan Raburn followed with the game-winning single.

Washington scored all five of its runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Cristian Guzman’s three-run homer off lefty Mike Maroth.

Starter Jason Bergmann overcame a shaky start to toss five effective innings. Speigner, who hadn’t allowed a run all spring, followed and finally succumbed in the eighth and ninth.

TEMPERATURE CHECK

Lukewarm: Jason Bergmann

Horrible in the first, solid after that

Cold: 0.00 ERA

Speigner finally gives up a run after 13 2/3 innings

Hot: Guzie

Swinging a mean bat right now

Story Continues →