LAKELAND, FLA. — It was not a good day on the bases for the Nationals on Monday against the Detroit Tigers in a come-from-behind 5-4 victory.
Starting center fielder and leadoff hitter Brian Goodwin walked in the third and then was picked off first base.
Andrew Stevenson, a speedy outfielder who made his big league debut last year in 28 games, was picked off second in the fifth inning after he reached on a bunt single.
Washington first-year manager Dave Martinez, the bench coach last season for the Chicago Cubs, wasn’t overly concerned with the blunders. He said spring training is about getting to know his players and what they are capable of – or not capable of perhaps.
That said, those mistakes will be addressed once the team gets back to West Palm Beach.
“Tomorrow we will talk about what happened,” Martinez said after the game on Monday.
And Moises Sierra was thrown out trying to steal second base in the second inning.
The Nationals got three runs in the top of the eighth inning, including a two-run double by outfield prospect Juan Soto.
Martinez continues to be impressed by Soto and outfielder Victor Robles, who started in right and was hitless in three bats and is batting .222 this spring.
Very few projected starters made the trip for the Nationals from their base in West Palm Beach to Lakeland, a drive of about 170 miles.
The starting lineup did include second baseman Wilmer Difo and first baseman Matt Adams. Adams, expected to be the backup first baseman, is hitting .350 this spring.
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