Washington Nationals suffer 1-5 defeat against Houston Astros in Spring Training - MLB Update
Jordan Zimmermann struggled as he went for numerous hits as the Washington Nationals faced a 1-5 defeat against the Houston Astros during their Spring Training Grapefruit League encounter at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida on March 23, 2012.
Excluding the eighth inning, Nationals went scoreless in the game. As hits were few and far between, base-runners kept waiting for their moments to find easy runs. On the other hand, Astros launched their attack as soon as Nationals’ starter Zimmermann appeared
on the mound. Hitting him eight times, they brought four-earned runs in five innings he pitched.
Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson remains un-fazed even as his sides’ losing streak in Spring Training grows further. Taking it as an opportunity to eliminate flaws, he is more concerned with players getting ready for opening day.
"I've told them it's a long spring, and I want you ready for opening day. I think we've done that," he said.
When asked about Zimmermann, he pointed to his ability to fine-tune his artillery in the guise of spending time on the mound and being hit a number of times. He was sending down change-ups, fastballs and various others and as he went for plenty remaining
stuck to his own plan.
"Today was a good tuneup for Zim. I think one more and he's going to be ready," Johnson said.
Two of Nationals’ pitchers were hit for homers in the game. Tyler Clippard threw for one inning and while he was hit three times, he conceded one home-run. Similarly, Zimmermann went for one home-run and gave up four earned runs in total.
While Nationals gave 12 hits, Astros went through hitless in most part of the game. Their starter Bud Norris never allowed a single hit let alone conceding any run as he breezed through his three innings.
When reliever Lucas Harrell followed him, Nationals found a chance to make few hits but to no avail as he also did not concede any hit in three innings.
Even as manager Johnson is extremely confident of his team’s showing during the regular season, with just five victories in total 17 games played, he needs something more than this to claim so.
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