Garcia's big day at the plate, Ribalta's case for bullpen job, Brzykcy's knee issue

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals have a long day ahead, with a split-squad, day-night, two-city doubleheader coming up against the Marlins. Before we get to that, though, a look back at some other noteworthy events from Sunday’s 7-6 loss to the Mets in Port St. Lucie …

* Luis Garcia Jr. had his best offensive day of the spring, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. In the process, he raised his Grapefruit League batting average to .400, his OPS to 1.167.

Garcia did this despite striking out in his first at-bat, whiffing at a changeup from Clay Holmes. (To be fair, Holmes was doing that to everyone, totaling eight strikeouts in only 3 2/3 innings.)

Garcia wound up being the only National to record a hit off Holmes, coming back in the top of the fourth to blast a double to the gap in right-center, a 106-mph laser off a first-pitch sweeper from the New York right-hander.

Two innings later, Garcia turned on an inside cutter from reliever Grant Hartwig and ripped a sharp single through the right side of the infield, the ball leaving his bat at 104.8 mph. And one inning after that, he recorded the Nats’ first RBI of the afternoon with another sharp single to right, this one a 102.7 mph shot off a slider from left-hander Genesis Cabrera.

“He had a good day,” manager Davey Martinez said. “I’m liking his at-bats more and more against lefties, too. He’s staying in there a little better. That’s awesome.”

That’s three hits for Garcia, all of them coming off non-fastballs, all of them with exit velocities of at least 102.7 mph.

“He spread his legs out a little bit today, because he wanted to feel his hands work a little better. And it was really good,” Martinez said. “He’s really just trying to hit the ball hard in the middle of the field and working good at-bats. If he doesn’t chase, and he gets the ball up, he’s going hit the ball hard.”

* Orlando Ribalta continues to enjoy a dominant spring, perhaps making his case for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander technically took the loss because of an unearned run allowed in the bottom of the eighth, but he did far more good than bad during his two innings of work. He notched three strikeouts, including one on his final pitch of the game: a 98 mph fastball to Rowdey Jordan.

Ribalta has now made five appearances this spring, allowing only that one unearned run on one hit, striking out 10 while walking only three. It’s been a welcome sign for a guy who looked a bit overwhelmed during his brief, four-game stint in the majors late last season.

“He’s got a little more positivity, a little more conviction throwing pitches,” Martinez said. “We’re not seeing the 91s and 92s we did last year. Everything has been 95-97, touches 98. The changeup is really, really, really good. He’s just got to stay right there. But I think it’s all how he presents himself now on the mound. I think he really has confidence and knows he can do this.”

* The competition for the final few spots in the bullpen may be thinning after it was revealed Sunday that right-hander Zach Brzykcy has been dealing with a right knee issue.

Brzykcy has pitched in only one game to date, and that was way back on Feb. 25. Martinez said he has a quad tendon problem, which acts up when he steps forward to deliver a pitch.

“I don’t think it’s anything significant,” the manager said. “But it is his landing knee; it bothers him when he lands. So we’re just keeping a close eye on him.”

Brzykcy has been able to resume throwing off the bullpen mound recently, and his status is day-to-day. Martinez wouldn’t rule out the possibility he could still be ready by Opening Day, but time appears to be running out for him to make enough spring training appearances to be full-go by March 27.