Gio Gonzalez makes quick work of Braves in first outing (Nats lose 2-1)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Braves 2, Nationals 0

Recap: Gio Gonzalez looked good in his first outing of the exhibition season. He gave up one hit, a double to Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt, but was otherwise stellar in two innings of scoreless work that also included a strikeout. Overall, Gonzalez threw just 19 pitches with 11 for strikes. Tony Gwynn Jr. was 2-for-2 on the day with a double while starting in center field. The Nats had seven hits on the day and scored their only run on a two-out ground-rule double by Steven Lerud in the ninth. But the Nats stranded the winning run on second to end the game. Tanner Roark allowed two runs in two innings. Relievers Craig Stammen, Matt Grace, Evan Meek, Taylor Hill and Eric Fornataro combined to hold the Braves to five hits over five scoreless innings.

Need to know: Nationals center fielder Denard Span underwent surgery this morning to repair a right core muscle. Manager Matt Williams said Span will be on the shelf for four to six weeks before he can resume baseball activities. Max Scherzer will make his second Grapefruit League start tomorrow when the Nationals travel to Jupiter, Fla.

On deck: Tuesday at Miami Marlins in Jupiter, 1:05 p.m.
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VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez looked good in his first outing of the exhibition season. He gave up one hit, a double to Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt, but was otherwise stellar in two innings of scoreless work that also included a strikeout.

Overall, Gonzalez threw just 19 pitches with 11 for strikes. Gonzalez's start means every member of the Nationals rotation has had an opportunity to pitch at least once in this early Grapefruit League season. Manager Matt Williams has said that he plans to ramp up the starters' workloads gradually. Stephen Strasburg was the only one of the five to reach the 40-pitch mark.

Tanner Roark took over on the mound in the third inning and promptly served up a two-run homer to deep right off the bat of Braves outfielder Eric Young Jr. Roark settled down in the fourth inning, retiring the Braves in order with one strikeout. In three total innings of work this spring, Roark has surrendered five runs on six hits, including two home runs, and one walk.

Tony Gwynn Jr. delivered the Nationals' first hit of the day on a line drive up the middle in the third. Gwynn started in center field today and should see a lot of action there with this morning's news of Denard Span's abdominal muscle surgery.

The Braves lead the Nats 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth.