Braves Slip The Nats A Mickey For A 9-5 Loss
A five-run fifth erased a 3-2 lead as the Braves handed the Nats a 9-5 loss at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.
The loss was the second in four games and was delayed by rain for nearly an hour. Ross Detwiler made his first start of the spring but was charged with two runs on five hits over two and 2/3rds innings. He walked none and struck out two.
Unlike last night, a trio of Nats regulars made the trip to the Atlanta spring training digs at Walt Disney World® Resort. However, as expected, they were soon replaced after three PAs. Here’s a rundown of how the minor-leaguers fared at the plate:
• Eury Perez went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts as the starting CF
• Michael Taylor went 0-for-2 off as Perez’s replacement
• Steve Lombardozzi replaced Danny Espinosa at 2B but went 0-for-2
• Corey Brown came off the bench and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout as the replacement RF
• Matt Skole took a shift at 1B but went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts
• Zach Walters spelled Ian Desmond at SS, going 0-for-1
• Chris Marrero was the DH for the entire game, going 1-for-3 with a walk
• Carlos Rivero started in RF but went 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts
• Destin Hood replaced Bryce Harper in LF and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout
• Anthony Rendon played the whole game at 3B and went 2-for-4 with an RBI
• Jhonatan Solano got the stert behind the plate and went 0-for-3
• Sandy Leon was Solano’s replacement, collecting an RBI double in his sole PA
Ryan Perry was the victim of the Braves big inning, as the reliever-turned-starter was charged with five runs on six hits, including a home run over just an inning and two-thirds. He walked two and struck out just one.
Brandon Mann made his first appearance of the spring, letting in the fourth and fifth runs for Perry, while walking two and striking out one. Bill Bray’s second appearance wasn’t any better than the first, as the southpaw gave up a pair of doubles in the 6th.
Jeremy Accardo and Cole Kimball pitched the 7th and 8th innings respectively, with Accardo giving up an unearned run on two hits and Kimball throwing a 1-2-3 final frame.
The Nationals return to Space Coast Stadium tomorrrow for a 1 p.m. matchup against the Miami Marlins. The game will be broadcast locally on 1580 AM.
I was wondering when they begin solidifying the minor league teams. I assume it won’t be for another month, but can’t remember.
Kimball sure seems to be getting the job done this spring. Syracuse might have a darn good pen this year.
Gotta love Rendon. He looks ready now, at least compared to many others.
Minor-league camp starts today – so, yes, it’s another month-plus until those rosters are set. By then I’ll be champing at the bit to find out who’s going where.
Kimball’s in a tough position. He’s almost certain to go to Syracuse but you have to wonder if Rizzo won’t try to sneak him through waivers, which I hate speculating on because getting taken off the 40-man is like going from a office job in Arlington to working retail in Gainesville. All he can do is continue to throw strikes, which he wasn’t doing prior to the injuries. The problem is, let’s say he’s able to get back to the 91-93 range with decent command (vs. 95-98 without), will that be enough to merit a spot?
Not too impressed with Perry. His stats at AA last year looked good but definitely dropped off as the year progressed. He was not particularly good in Arizonia and he’s not doing well this spring. Any comments on why he has not been effective, because he, at least, has the velocity.
Hard to see on the radio, but I recall from the fall that he was having difficulty with the finish of his delivery, which was leaving the pitches up. My extrapolation from that is that he’s still tinkering. There’s a reason why very few relievers are able to become starters again, especially ones that rely so heavily on velocity.