Gio Gonzalez learns quickly that his mechanics were rushed (Nats lose 11-5)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Tigers 11, Nationals 5

Recap: Lefty Gio Gonzalez's second spring start was a mixed bag, two poor innings sandwiched around a 1-2-3 frame. He allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings. Relievers Nick Masset and Sammy Solis were also treated rudely and were charged with three runs each. The Tigers touched Nats pitchers for five home runs. Tyler Moore hit a pinch-hit home run, which is notable because he has to perform better off the bench if he's going to secure a spot on the 25-man roster. Scott Sizemore went deep again, his third homer of the spring, which leads the Nationals.

Need to know: The Nats committed three errors in the second inning, one by third baseman Anthony Rendon and two by shortstop Danny Espinosa. If he's going to be the starting shortstop this season, Espinosa's defense must be strong enough to outweigh his frequent offensive struggles.

On deck: Thursday, vs. Astros in Viera, 5 p.m. on MASN
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LAKELAND, Fla. - With Jordan Zimmermann departed via free agency, the Nationals are counting on left-hander Gio Gonzalez to step up and fortify the middle of their rotation. Gonzalez will have to do a lot better than he did Wednesday against the Tigers, though he admits he's still trying to integrate some changes from a new pitching coach.

The worst part: Gonzalez knew what was going wrong, but had trouble combating a pace that was quicker than he wanted.

"Mechanics were a little fast and it's something (I'm) getting used to," he said. "Spring training's about stuff you want to work on and falling behind on everyone, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you're going to get hit. Especially with that lineup."

His 60-pitch outing included only 28 offerings for strikes, a ratio far from qualifying as effective. Gonzalez was behind the eight -ball early after Ian Kinsler launched a well-struck 2-1 pitch into the jet stream in left-center and over the wall for a leadoff solo homer in the first. Gonzalez then walked Justin Upton, who stole second and scored on a one-out dunker to center for a 2-0 lead. Before the inning was over, Gonzalez had issued another walk.

After a 1-2-3 second, Gonzalez was on the verge of escaping trouble in the third when his defense betrayed him. A leadoff walk was quickly erased by a 6-4-3 double play, but Espinosa muffed an easy grounder from slow-footed Victor Martinez and Gonzalez walked J.D. Martinez. Manager Dusty Baker had seen enough and called for Nick Masset out of the bullpen.

"If I was more aggressive in the strike zone, it might have been a different output," Gonzalez lamented.

The first batter Masset faced, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, crushed a three-run homer to left, making it 5-0. Mike Aviles reached on third baseman Anthony Rendon's throwing error, stole second and moved to third when Espinosa missed the throw, then scored on Andew Romine's single.

Because of the defensive miscues, only two of the four runs allowed by Gonzalez were earned, but he still allowed six baserunners (two this and four walks) and uncorked a wild pitch. Worse, be was obviously frustrated by some of the calls by home plate umpire Lance Barksdale in the first.

Gonzalez has been working with new pitching coach Mike Maddux to be more efficient with his pitches and to work at a better pace. Neither happened in his second Grapefruit League start.

"Like Mike was saying, the less they see of you, the better," Gonzalez said. "But when you go out there and showing them 60 pitches in 2 2/3, that's not good. I should have had our guys back in the dugout like in the second inning - groundball, groundball, popup in the infield."

Maddux has been preaching that a slightly more deliberate pace can be better.

"I want to slow down a little bit more," Gonzalez said. "I'm picking up the target, but it's head drifting, arm's taking forever to come back. Mike was saying in the bullpen, 'Keep your arm up, keep your arm up.' ... Just slow down. Slow your mechanics down. I forgot how you say the words - think fast with slow mechanics. It's something I'm getting used to."