Nats trail Astros 2-1 in fifth

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

March 03, 2012, 9:38am

Comments

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Nationals trail the Astros 2-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning. Successive doubles by Roger Bernadina and Jesus Flores off Brett Myers in the top of the fifth plated the Nats' first run of the Grapefruit League campaign. The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a two-run homer by Chris Johnson off Ross Detwiler. With one out, Detwiler walked Jack Cust and Johnson followed with a blast to center. Fly balls have been tricky today at Osceola County Stadium, with a couple of drives of Nationals' bats that looked like sure homers getting knocked down by the swirling gusts. Rick Ankiel had to settle for a two-out triple on a drive to straightaway center in the first, Flores had a lined shot to left go for a leadoff double in the second and Ian Desmond's hard-hit ball to left ended up being a fly out in the fourth. Nationals starter Edwin Jackson struggled in his two-inning stint, throwing only 12 of his 28 pitches for strikes. He was bailed out by a pair of double plays after allowing a hit and walking two.