Washington Nationals experience 5-8 defeat against New York Yankees in Spring Training - MLB Update
John Lannan was pounced on by New York Yankees as Washington Nationals face a 5-8 defeat at Space Coast Stadium in Melbourne, Florida on March 15, 2012 during their Spring Training Grapefruit League encounter.
Starter Michael Pineda did most of the damage to Nationals by drawing four strike-outs in over three innings. Building on pressure he created, Yankees saw another pitcher Clay Rapada coming and finishing the next one and half innings scoreless.
Game turned effectively into favour of the Yankees when Brett Marshall ended up bringing three strike-outs in just over two innings.
While pitchers did reasonably fine job, if it was not for their runners to keep bringing runs time-and-again, their effort will go in vain easily. Bill Hall while finding a hit twice on three at-bats also added two RBIs.
Two hits generated by in-fielder Justin Maxwell in two of his at-bats including a RBI and a run were no less significant.
Biggest concern surfaced in game for Nationals was an injury of their starter Chien-Ming Wang, a player who is one of their hot contenders for fifth spot in the season.
"That's probably one of the tougher plays that there is," Nationals’ first baseman Chad Tracy said. "It's tough to judge off the bat. We're taught in spring training if the pitcher can get that ball, then get it and keep going. He did the right thing, just
something happened to throw him off balance."
Unable to grapple with Russell Martin's grounder on first base and falling down on the ground, he was rushed through by a runner Martin in the process. A foot injury he had a couple of years back and that kept him out for few years from playing, Nationals
are hoping, will not come back after today's collision.
Even in the loss, Nationals batters fared extremely well especially Tracey, Steve Lombardozzi and Andres Blanco. Tracy hit twice on five at-bats and added two valuable runs to the score.
So far Nationals have been fairly even in terms of wins and losses recorded (winning five out of 11 games played) in Spring Training. More than the loss, they will be focusing on getting their likely fifth starter, Wang, fit at the earliest.
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