Washington Nationals experience 7-11 defeat against Detroit Tigers in Spring Training - MLB Update
Edwin Jackson concedes four earned runs in a game his club Washington Nationals lost 7-11 to Detroit Tigers at Space Coast Stadium in Melbourne, Florida on March 18, 2012 in their Grapefruit League encounter.
Despite taking a two run lead in second, Nationals were easily superseded in third by Tigers who then went on a rampage in fifth to take their lead to an unassailable level. While Nationals’ batters kept chasing the lead steadily, their pitchers never supported
them.
Jackson though stayed on the mound for four innings, hardly was he able to contain runs and hits. While grabbing three strike-outs, he was thrashed a hit seven times.
As it looked that the game is slipping away from their hand, Nationals sent Chad Durbin to the mound. Inauspiciously for him, his fate proved even worse as in only one inning he pitched, he was hammered five runs along with five hits.
However it was more the result of fielding errors than his poor pitches that he gave up five runs.
Ian Desmond, impressed with one RBI and one hit he managed in three at-bats. He is one of the top prospects for the Nationals, but in the last couple of games, he had lost his balance on the plate, something that concerned Davey Johnson heavily.
Bryce Harper downs his team again with an ordinary show and while facing five at-bats he generated only one dead-rubber hit and completed one run. In the game against New York Yankees and the one he played today, he had no clue on numbers of occasions, especially
in front of left hand pitchers (LHP).
As he has now been sent to Triple-A Syracuse, only time will tell at which time of the season will he make an entry. Fortunately for him however that Johnson is extremely hopeful of him playing a major role at later part of the season. He is looking forward
to see him doing away with his bugs and flaws at the earliest.
"The timing to me just wasn't quite right," Johnson said. "It's close. Real close. I'd like to have his bat in this lineup, I've made no secret of that. As far as I'm concerned, he doesn't really need to work on a whole lot."
After having a great Spring Training start, Nationals have lost their path altogether now. Their tally of losses have now reached eight, their fielders are not stepping up on right occasions, to make matters worse their star prospects are either on the verge
of severe injuries or not showing up their best on the field.
They will be looking for one or two wins in the next couple of games to get their momentum back.
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