Bronson Arroyo turns in a strong outing (Nats lose 4-3)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Astros 4, Nationals 3

Recap: Bronson Arroyo threw three hitless innings in his first start of the spring, retiring the Astros 1-2-3 in each frame. Trevor Gott relieved him and coughed up Marwin Gonzalez's two-run homer in the fourth. Ben Revere had two more hits, upping his spring average to .583. Sac flies by Matt den Dekker in the sixth and Trea Turner in the seventh, followed by Jhonatan Solano's RBI single, rallied Washington from a 4-0 hole.

Need to know: When Revere was caught stealing in the third, it marked the first time in 14 attempted thefts that a Nationals baserunner has been nabbed this spring. Dusty Baker has emphasized the running game and the Nationals have responded.

On deck: Friday, vs. Mets in Viera, 1:05 p.m.
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VIERA, Fla. - Perhaps those concerns over right-hander Bronson Arroyo after he struggled in his first spring training outing were unfounded. We'll have to wait and see. In fact, that was the pregame message from Nationals manager Dusty Baker when asked whether the veteran had a legitimate chance at cracking the starting rotation as a non-roster invitee to camp.

"Bronson knows how to pitch," Baker said with confidence before Arroyo faced the Astros. "I'll tell you more in a couple weeks. When he gets stronger and throws more and more, then we'll have at true evaluation."

Given a longer leash - and his first start of the spring - to prove he was on the mend from July 2014 Tommy John surgery, Arroyo carved up the Houston lineup over three spotless innings. He needed only 43 pitches and dispatched the Astros in 1-2-3 fashion in each frame, striking out three hitters in a row at one juncture. He threw 28 of his 43 pitches for strikes.

"It was nice," Arroyo said. "Results are always good, especially when you're not on the team. You know, when you have a guaranteed contract on the ballclub, results don't matter at all. You go out there and try to get your work in, you feel things out. For me, it's a little bit of both now. I have to feel good and at the same time get results. So it was nice to get results, have nine batters up and nine down."

Given his comeback from Tommy John surgery, Arroyo understands he's in the midst of a process.

"I'm trying to build physically every day because I'm coming off surgery," he said. "My feel and my command is great, but you're trying to get to a point where you can throw four, five, six innings and come out and not feel like you've done so much damage to your body that you can't turn it around in four days. My goal here is to try to be able to build up and continue to be a starting pitcher that is not going out there and pitching five innings and feel like he's throwing 12."

That his feel and command are coming along is a good indication he's moving in the right direction, Arroyo said. But he knows he's not yet where he wants to be.

"I can still create and make shapes with the ball, which for me is the most important thing, and I still have the ability to throw strikes," he said. "That's fine, but I need to continue to get stronger out on the mound and feel like I can handle the pounding what's to come over six months, starting every fifth day. As they go to four, five or six (innings), that's where it's going to happen. Not pitching for a year and a half, close to two years, and being 39, it's a bit of a question mark. ... I'm trying to get that stamina and the ability to go out and feel strong every time you're out there, not feel good one day and feel terrible the next."

Baker was quick to point out that Arroyo has prospered even though he can't be considered a power pitcher.

"What I'm looking for is the same old Bronson," Baker said in his pregame media session. "I'm not looking for any more. That was plenty at the time. I'm looking at how he rebounds in between starts. His velocity has never been great, but he gets you out. I think people put too much emphasis on velocity."

In a relief outing March 4 against the Marlins, Arroyo was charged with a blown save when he allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over two innings. In fairness, working out of the bullpen isn't something Arroyo is used to; he last pitched in relief in 2004.