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Washington Nationals Recap: Nats Defeat Tigers 8-4 In Jordan Zimmermann’s Return To Viera

By Grant Thomas

Mar 5, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training game at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws against the Detroit Tigers during a spring training game at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Nationals were able to defeat the Tigers 8-4 in a matchup that had Jordan Zimmermann facing his former team in Viera. 

Today, in Viera, The Washington Nationals out-slugged the Detroit Tigers en route to an 8-4 victory at Space Coast Stadium. Whether it was a Ben Revere two-run home run (the 27-year-old has hit just four in 2,497 major league at-bats), or two two-run homers by Tigers’ catcher Bryan Holaday, the day was full of surprises.

While Zimmermann donning Tigers’ colors wasn’t a surprise, it was certainly unsettling to see. The long-time Nats starter signed a 5-year, $110M deal with Detroit this offseason after six years with Washington.

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Stephen Strasburg got the start for the Nationals and didn’t show any mercy toward an old friend. In two innings of work, Strasburg gave up two runs on two hits, struck out five, and walked one. The only mistake Strasburg made was when he gave up a two-run home run to Holaday in the top of the second inning. The Nats’ right-hander displayed consistent command on the outside corner and displayed lots of movement on his fastball throughout the zone.

As for Zimmermann, he retired eight straight to begin his first Grapefruit league start, but left in the third after allowing a two-out single to Pedro Severino. Once Zimmermann left the game, Revere stepped up and hit a two-run home run to right off of Bruce Rondon that tied the game at two. Revere is not known for hitting many home runs, but as Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com tweeted today, he does have two of those home runs against current or former Nationals’ pitchers:

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One inning later, the Tigers would re-take the lead on Holaday’s second home run of the game, a two-run shot to left off of A.J. Cole. The Tigers’ catcher has hit three home runs in the first five games of the spring. However, the Nats would come back to tie it in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI double by Tyler Moore and a sacrifice fly by Brian Goodwin.

Tied 4-4 in the sixth, veteran Scott Sizemore hit his second home run of the spring off of Jose Valdez to give Washington a 5-4 lead. With the bases loaded in the seventh and Detroit left-hander Jairo Labourt on the mound, Jason Martinson drew a walk and drove in Brendan Ryan to increase the lead to 6-4.

After Sammy Solis got out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the top of the eighth, Matt Skole doubled the lead to 8-4 when he hit a two-run home run to right against Kevin Ziomek:

Another notable event from today’s game was that new Nats’ reliever Shawn Kelley made his spring training debut. He pitched in the top of the third and gave up one hit during the inning.

The Nats will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida. Blake Treinen gets the start for the Nationals against Deck McGuire for the Cardinals. You can watch the game on MLB Network at 1:05 PM ET.

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