BRAVES 10, NATIONALS 6
VIERA, Fla. — Another day, another shaky performance by the Washington pitching staff. And if somebody doesn’t step up soon, Manny Acta may have a hard time cobbling together a five-man rotation by Opening Day.
Colby Lewis was the primary culprit today, giving up four runs on six hits in a two-inning start. The right-hander prides himself on keeping the ball around the plate, but on this day he spent too much time in the strike zone. The Braves jumped all over him, rapping out four straight singles to open the game, then adding a pair of doubles in the second.
The bullpen didn’t fare much better. Emiliano Fruto served up back-to-back homers to Yunel Escobar and Ryan Langerhans in the fifth (he’s now given up three homers in 2 1/3 innings this spring) and Jermaine Van Buren was touched up by Corky Miller for a two-run shot in the seventh.
The good news? After missing three days for the birth of his daughter, Brian Schneider homered and doubled. And Travis Lee singled and drew a walk in his spring debut.
TEMPERATURE CHECK
Hot: Schneider-man
HR, 2B, 4 RBI for baby Tatum
Cold: Starting pitching
Can anyone get through three innings unscathed?
Cold: Shortstop defense
Jimenez, Wilson need to invest in Stick’em
Hot: Raccoon loose in stadium
Took 20 minutes to catch the varmint
BY THE NUMBERS
7.94
Nationals’ ERA in six spring games
9
At-bats before Nook Logan got his first hit
OVERHEARD
“I think it’s time for some of them to step up. We’re not going to hand anybody a job here.”
- Manny Acta, on his starting pitchers.
SEVEN-DAY SCHEDULE
Tomorrow: vs. Astros in Kissimmee, 1 p.m.
Thursday: vs. Astros in Viera, 1 p.m.
Friday: vs. Orioles in Fort Lauderdale, 1 p.m.
Saturday: vs. Mets in Viera, 1 p.m.
Sunday: vs. Dodgers in Vero Beach, 1 p.m.
Monday: vs. Mets in Viera, 1 p.m.
Tuesday: Off day.
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