Washington Nationals Recap: Dan Uggla Homers In Split Squad Action
Mar 11, 2015; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals
Dan Ugglahits a line drive against the Detroit Tigers at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Today, the Washington Nationals were able to get the split of their second split squad Saturday of the spring. Down in Viera, the A squad led by starter Jordan Zimmermann took on the Miami Marlins and won their game, 4-2. In this game. there was some bad blood brewing between Zimmermann and Miami starter Henderson Alvarez. Plus, a former Marlin continued to bolster his case to make the Nats Opening Day Roster.
As for the B squad, they took on the Atlanta Braves down in Orlando. Michael Taylor got the start in center field with Taylor Jordan taking the mound. The Braves were able to win that game by a final of 5-2, Taylor still went 2-for-3 out of the leadoff spot. Before we break down the game in Orlando, let’s first talk about the game in Viera.
More from Nationals News
- Washington Nationals Tuesday Q&A
- A Washington Nationals Christmas Wishlist
- Robots in Baseball? The Possibility of an Automated Ball/Strike System in the MLB
- Washington Nationals Re-Sign RHP Erasmo Ramirez
- Washington Nationals Sign RHP Trevor Williams
The Marlins got the scoring started right out of the gate. After Dee Gordon led off the first inning with a triple to center field. Adeiny Hechavarria would drive him in on an infield single that hit the glove of Zimmermann to give Miami the early lead. That would be the only run Zimmermann would give up on the afternoon. In his fourth start of the spring, Zimmermann went five innings, gave up one run on eight hits, struck out four and walked none.
However, as I mentioned before, Zimmermann and Alvarez got into a heated exchange. In the bottom of the second inning, Alvarez hit Zimmerman in the back with two on and two out. Three innings later, Zimmerman would brush Alvarez back with a pitch. The Marlins pitcher ended that at-bat with a sacrifice bunt, but that wasn’t the end:
After Alvarez lays down a bunt and is thrown out at first then more jawing between he and Zimmermann. Alvarez hit JZ earlier. #Nats
— Chris Johnson (@ceejjohnson18) March 21, 2015
J.Zimmermann on his exchange w/Alvarez:”I said ‘Can I help you?’ he didn’t say anything so I said ‘Get back to the dugout where you belong’”
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) March 21, 2015
As for Washington’s offense, their one big inning against Alvarez came in the bottom of the third. With Ian Desmond on third and Bryce Harper on second with one out, Wilson Ramos would drive in both runners on a single to center field to give Washington the lead.
Then, Dan Uggla stepped to the plate and hit a two-run homer, his second of the spring, to extend the lead to 4-1. It was Uggla’s second home run in the last five games and he has now recorded at least one hit in his last six games, including a 2-for-3 day today.
After Zimmermann left the game, Washington’s bullpen kept the Marlins off the board for the next three innings with a combination of Craig Stammen, Rich Hill, and Aaron Barrett. The trio gave up a combined one hit and struck out three.
Miami did try to rally in the top of the ninth against reliever Rafael Martin. With two outs, Danny Black would double to right field to score Tyler Colvin and cut the lead in half. However, Martin would strike out Jordany Valdespin to end the ball game.
Another plus on the offensive side was Tony Gwynn Jr. The center fielder went 1-for-4 with a single in the seventh inning to increase his spring average to .364.
Next: Taylor's Two Hits Not Enough vs. Atlanta
Mar 16, 2015; Melbourne, FL, USA;Washington Nationals right fielder Michael Taylor (3) hits a triple to right field during the first inning a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Down in Orlando, the Nationals matched up against Eric Stults and were held off the scoreboard for the first four innings. However, the star of the day, Michael Taylor, managed to have productive at-bats against Stults.
Taylor led off the game with a double to center field and would single to left in the third inning after Jordan led off the inning with a base hit. It was a nice rebound for Taylor after the four strikeout performance he had against the Tigers on Friday.
In the third inning, after Jordan and Taylor’s singles and a Stultz wild pitch, Kevin Frandsen would drive in Jordan with a RBI groundout to shortstop. Then, Mike Carp would follow with a RBI single to center field to make it 2-0, Nationals.
As for Taylor Jordan, he was excellent this afternoon, even though Atlanta didn’t have many of their regulars due to their organization having a split squad today. Even with that being the case, Jordan gave up one hit in three innings (a single by Stults), walked one and struck out one.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Braves were able to get to reliever Evan Meek for three runs. After an Alberto Callaspo single and a Kelly Johnson double, Jonny Gomes would tie the score with a two-run single to center field. After a walk to A.J. Pierzynski, Todd Cunningham would give Atlanta the lead by scoring Gomes on a RBI single to right field.
After that third inning, Washington could not generate any offense as Atlanta’s bullpen trio of Michael Kohn, Juan Jaime, and Brandon Cunniff kept the Nats hitless for the final four innings of the game.
The Braves would tack on two more runs against Bruce Billings in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Cedric Hunter would hit a single to center to score Jose Constanza. Two batters later, Atlants would extend the lead to 5-2 on a RBI groundout to shortstop by Callaspo.
In the loss, Casey Janssen and Blake Treinen threw one hitless inning each, with Janssen recording the lone strikeout.
The Nationals will be back in action Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland at 1:05 PM ET. Justin Verlander will get the start for Detroit against A.J. Cole for Washington. Stephen Strasburg was supposed to make his fourth start of the spring, but was scratched by manager Matt Williams after spraining his left ankle. However, it doesn’t appear the injury is too serious:
AJ Cole will start in place of Strasburg against the Tigers tomorrow. Williams said Stras injured the ankle during conditioning. #Nats
— Chris Johnson (@ceejjohnson18) March 21, 2015
Williams said Strasburg’s ankle is just a little sore and he did not need a MRI. 2nd start missed for Strasburg this spring. #Nats
— Chris Johnson (@masnCJ) March 21, 2015
Next: Why Bryce Harper Should Fill-In For Span In CF