Washington Nationals face 7-8 defeat against Boston Red Sox in Grapefruit League – MLB Update
Washington Nationals’ starter Edwin Jackson leaked runs as they lost 7-8 to Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. during their Grapefruit League contest on April 3, 2012.
Defeat cannot overshadow a near perfect momentum they picked up in the last couple of games. Even in today’s game they fought hard and at least showed enough that they are ready for the regular season. Excluding Jackson, whole team stepped up one way or
the other for contribution.
Ian Desmond, their shortstop, hit for once in three at-bats and completed one run while adding one RBI. He has been consistent throughout Spring Training, appeared down a little just at the start though.
However, as soon as manager Davey Johnson walked up to him and told what was wrong, he looked near perfect on the plate afterward.
He may have gone on further launching himself today, but he was undone by a throw out from Jason Repko. He threw toward the catcher who then tagged before he will reach there.
"I thought I was safe, but I'm healthy. That could have ended a lot worse. I was rounding third, I was just telling myself, `Hey, be careful. It's not that important.' Nothing against the catcher, but we've got nothing on the line out there," Desmond said.
In over four innings, Jackson gave up six runs, struck-out two and was hit five times.
Nationals' closer Henry Rodriguez saw his Spring Training scoreless outings tainted as he was drawn one run in the game.
Starter for Boston, Clay Buchholz, was not much different from Nationals’ starter as he conceded four earned runs in over five innings he pitched.
Jason Repko added one RBI in one hit he managed in two at-bats for Boston. Not just on the plate, in the field he made valuable throws.
"I worked hard and showed how I can help the team win, and it's in their hands, and I try not to spend too much time thinking about it," Repko said.
Instead of immersing into negatives, manager will do a great job by highlighting the strengths that the Nationals have.
Since, they are being put forward as favourites in National League East, they cannot afford losing focus in any way and therefore assertion of the positives they possess is the only way they can reclaim their confidence.
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