Fearless Difo sparks Nats, Zimmermann pitches into third (Nats roll 9-2)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 9, Tigers 2

Recap: Jordan Zimmermann gave up a run on two hits with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Thirty-three of his 47 pitches were strikes. Highly ranked prospect Wilmer Difo was 2-for-3 with a triple, double and two RBIs. Ryan Zimmerman added two doubles and two RBIs. Drew Vettleson and Matt Skoke hit late home runs.

Need to know: Anthony Rendon was a late scratch for today's game with a bruised left knee. Nationals manager Matt Williams said it wasn't overly concerned, but Rendon was experiencing some minor swelling. Nate McLouth was 1-for-2 with a strikeout in his first action of the exhibition season. Williams said McLouth will DH until next week, when he's fully cleared to throw.

On deck: Thursday, at New York Mets in Port St. Lucie, 1:05 p.m.
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VIERA, Fla. - Wilmer Difo stepped in to lead off for the Nationals against one of the game's most imposing pitchers. The 22-year-old clearly wasn't intimated, as he jumped on David Price's first-pitch fastball, driving it down the third base line for a double. After an Ian Desmond strikeout and a Bryce Harper walk, Ryan Zimmerman lined a double into the left field corner scoring Difo. Harper then scored on a Ramos grounder to short to give the Nats a 2-0 lead.

Manager Matt Williams has emphasized the importance of scoring runs in these types of situations, something the Nats struggled on at times last season especially in the National League Division Series.

Difo wasn't done. The Nats' top infield prospect then delivered a two-out triple in the second, scoring Derrick Robinson. Ian Desmond followed with a double plating Difo and the Nats led the Tigers 4-0 in the fourth.

Jordan Zimmermann breezed through the first two innings with the only blemish being a ball Hernan Perez hit down the right field line that Bryce Harper misplayed into a triple. In the third, Zimmermann gave up a double to Tigers center fielder Anthony Gose. After Gose stole third, Rajai Davis hit a sacrifice fly to put the Tigers on the board.

Williams pulled Zimmermann after 47 pitches, 33 for strikes. He gave up 1 run on 2 hits with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.

The Nats lead the Tigers 4-1 in the top of the fourth.