Big 5th inning carries Braves past Nationals 9-5

Sports

Discussion

February 26, 2013

Big 5th inning carries Braves past Nationals 9-5

The Associated Press Associated Press Tue Feb 26, 2013, 10:56 PM CST

MERIDIAN — KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Don't call this just another spring training start for Washington's Ross Detwiler.

    He's getting ready for the World Baseball Classic.

    Detwiler worked into the third inning in his first spring appearance for the Nationals, tuning up against most of the Atlanta starters, before a five-run fifth carried the Braves to a 9-5 victory Tuesday.

    "It always feels a little weird to be out there for the first time without a screen in front of you," the left-hander said. "I wanted to throw a lot of first-pitch strikes."

    Detwiler breezed through the first two innings, limiting the Braves to a single and pitching around an error by first baseman Tyler Moore. But he couldn't get through the third, giving up run-scoring singles to brothers Justin and B.J. Upton to tie the game at 2.

    Still, Detwiler was encouraged by his performance, especially since the Braves sent out a lineup with six expected starters for a game that was delayed an hour at the start by rain.

    "I was facing a lot of their big guys," he said after giving up five hits and striking out two in 2 2-3 innings. "I'm pretty happy I got to face those guys this early."

    The Braves batted around in the fifth, erasing a 3-2 deficit against loser Ryan Perry.

    Jordan Parraz led off with his first homer of the spring, Evan Gattis doubled to left-center and Freddie Freeman drove in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle. Juan Francisco also singled in a run before the Nationals finally made a pitching change with the bases loaded and still only one out. Brandon Mann walked Ramiro Pena with the bases loaded, and Joey Terdoslavich closed the big inning with a sacrifice fly.

    Perry went 1 2-3 innings, giving up six hits, five runs and two walks.

    Atlanta starter Mike Minor struggled through the first, throwing 28 pitches and allowing two runs. The Braves worried he wouldn't even be able to get in his scheduled two innings, since he was on a 40-pitch count, but he breezed through an easy second with just 10 pitches.

    "The thing that was impressive was the way he came out in the second inning and went 1-2-3," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

    Bryce Harper doubled twice and had three of Washington's 10 hits, raising his average to .750 (6 for 8) in the early days of spring training. Ian Desmond had two hits and two RBIs.

    Dusty Hughes claimed the win for the Braves, who pounded out 15 hits and walked five times. Gattis had two more hits, raising his spring average to .556 and bolstering the non-roster invitee's bid to make the team. Francisco and Ramiro Pena had two hits apiece.

    Gonzalez has been impressed with Pena, who is getting extra playing time at shortstop with starter Andrelton Simmons having already left camp to play in the WBC for the Netherlands.

    "He's a utility guy with a little offense to him," the Braves manager said. "I like what I've seen."

    NOTES: The Nationals made two errors. ... The Braves are holding out reliever Eric O'Flaherty until next week, wanting to give him some extra rest because of lingering back issues. ... Washington manager Davey Johnson said C Wilson Ramos, coming off knee surgery, won't be allowed to slide until at least March 6. He must pass that test before he can even get in spring games as a designated hitter. "I've said he was game ready for the last week, but what do I know?" Johnson said. "I want to get him swinging the bat a little bit."

Text Only

Sports

Oh, so close
The Newton County Cougars will have to keep waiting for their first Class 4A state title, dropping the deciding Game 3, 7-2, to Lewisburg at Trustmark Park on Saturday.

May 26, 2013 1 Photo
(PHOTOS) Newton County Class 4A State Championship Finals Slideshow from game three of Newton County in the Class 4A State Championship against Lewisburg.
May 25, 2013
Title Fever
For the Newton County Cougars, their final game of the season couldn’t be bigger: state title or bust.
They forced a Game 3 in the Class 4A championship series with a 2-1 win over Lewisburg in 10 innings on Thursday night at Trustmark Park.

May 25, 2013 1 Photo
Saints' Rob Ryan Ready for defensive challenges
May 24, 2013
Sanchez flirts with no-hitter in win
May 24, 2013
East Central names Mays offensive coordinator
Mickey Mays was recently named offensive coordinator at East Central Community College in Decatur, announced head football coach Ken Karcher.
Mays is a former assistant to Coach Karcher, having served on his Liberty University staff as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator.

May 24, 2013
(PHOTOS) Newton County Class 4A State Championship Slideshow from games one and two of the MHSAA Class 4A State Championship.
May 24, 2013
Not done yet
After being shutout less than 24 hours earlier, the Newton County Cougars used a 10-inning affair to force a Game 3 in the Class 4A championship series, topping Lewisburg, 2-1, in Game 2 at Trustmark Park.

May 23, 2013 1 Photo
Hollins focused on Spurs, not his contract
Lionel Hollins has been more successful than any Grizzlies coach and will be a free agent after June 30.
He has the Grizzlies in the Western Conference finals for the first time and has won more games with this team than any other coach.

May 23, 2013
Slive focused on future after big changes
Mike Slive sprawls in a comfy arm chair, propping his feet on a coffee table between one massive tome on Winston Churchill and an even thicker "Encyclopedia of Southern Culture."
He's relaxed and feeling awfully good about the state of the Southeastern Conference.
It's a rare moment of calm for the SEC's cerebral commissioner, but he can afford it since his "A pile" of things to do has gotten considerably slimmer over the past two years.

May 23, 2013
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Discussion

Big 5th inning carries Braves past Nationals 9-5

Site Map

Contact Us