Lannan done after three innings, Ankiel goes yard

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - All things considered, John Lannan's first start of spring went just fine. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible, but Lannan worked his way through three innings tonight against the Mets, allowing one run and three hits, walking one and striking out one. The run came in the first when Lannan allowed a leadoff walk to Mets center fielder Andres Torres, allowed Torres to steal second base and then gave up an RBI single to second baseman Daniel Murphy. But Lannan settled down from there. The lefty benefited from a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play in the first, and after retiring the side in order in the second, stranded runners at first and second in his final inning of work. Lannan threw 43 pitches, 27 for strikes. If you had Rick Ankiel in your pool for who would hit the Nationals' first home run of spring training (if there are such pools), collect your money. Ankiel tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning when he went yard off Mets righty Dillon Gee. It was an opposite-field blast for Ankiel, who later walked and stole a base in the fourth inning. That guy wants a job. Bryce Harper is now 3-for-6 this spring, with all three hits coming on ground ball singles. Harper singled up the middle in the second inning, then walked in the fourth after working the count full and fouling off a pitch. Dan Kolko was named MASNsports.com's Nationals beat writer after spending the last four years covering the Baltimore Ravens for MASN and also serving as the Web site's deputy managing editor. A University of Delaware graduate originally from Silver Spring, Md., Dan grew up a die-hard baseball fan and is thrilled for the opportunity to cover the Nationals. Before joining MASN, Dan worked in production at Comcast SportsNet in Bethesda, Md., and also interned at the "George Michael Sports Machine" in Washington, D.C. Follow Dan Kolko on Twitter: @DanKolko