Nats get to Verlander early, Taylor homers (Nats tie 7-7)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 7, Tigers

Recap: Center fielder Michael A. Taylor banged two solo homers off Tigers ace Justin Verlander to lead the Nats over the Tigers 7-6. Taylor also added a single on the 2-for-3 day to raise his spring batting average to .324. The 23-year-old now has three home runs to go along with two triples and two doubles in the exhibition season. Right-hander A.J. Cole pitched well, giving up just one hit, a two-run homer to Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez. Two of Cole's five strikeouts came against Tigers superstar Miguel Cabrera. Joey Pankake hit a two-run homer off of Manny Delcarmen in the ninth inning to tie the game at 7-7.

Need to know: Right-hander Stephen Strasburg threw in the bullpen this morning, two days after spraining his left ankle in conditioning exercises. Nationals manager Matt Williams says Strasburg will have one more bullpen session and then make two more starts before opening day. Second baseman Yunel Escobar is scheduled to make his spring debut tomorrow. Williams expects Escobar to play three innings and hopefully get two at-bats.

On deck: Monday, against New York Yankees in Viera, 1:05 p.m on MASN HD.

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Nationals got to Tigers starter Justin Verlander in the second inning. After a walk to first baseman Mike Carp and a single by third baseman Ian Stewart, catcher Sandy Leon roped a double down the right field line give the Nats their first run of the day. Shortstop Emmanuel Burriss followed with a ground out to first that plated Stewart.

Center fielder Michael A. Taylor launched his second homer of the spring when he took a Verlander fastball deep over the right field wall to lead off the third.

Nats starter A.J. Cole struck out Tigers star Miguel Cabrera in his first at-bat of the spring. Cole has three strikeouts through two scoreless innings.

The Nats lead the Tigers 3-0 in the third.

Update: Stewart crushed a Verlander pitch off the light pole beyond the right field wall for a solo homer in the fourth. It's Stewart's third homer of the spring wgich goes along with a .300 batting average.

Taylor struck again in the fifth when he smoked another Verlander fastball over the left-center wall. It was a no-doubter that left Verlander with his head down as soon as it came off the bat. Taylor is now hitting .324 with three homers, two triples, two doubles and five RBIs.

It was a solid day for Cole. He gave up just one hit, but it was a two-run homer to Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez. He got Cabrera swinging again in the fourth. He totaled five strikeouts and two walks with one hit batter in 3 2/3 innings.

The Nats lead the Tigers 5-2 in the fifth.