New-look lineup has Lombardozzi playing third, Werth batting cleanup

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

April 25, 2013, 11:35am

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In desperate search of some more offense, Davey Johnson has inserted Steve Lombardozzi into today's Nationals lineup and moved Jayson Werth into the cleanup spot. Lombardozzi, who is off to a really strong start to 2013, batting .345 in 29 at-bats, will play third base and hit second in the new-look Nats batting order. Werth will hit fourth, with Adam LaRoche moving down to fifth in the lineup. Danny Espinosa, batting .155 on the season, remains in the lineup, batting seventh. Rookie Anthony Rendon will get the night off after starting at third base in each of his first four big league games. The Nats will look to snap their recent skid against the Reds, a team that took two of three from the Nats in Cincinnati earlier this month. The Reds, off to a 13-9 start to the season, will send right-hander Bronson Arroyo (2-1, 3.54 ERA) to the mound tonight. Gio Gonzalez will look to bounce back from two straight rough starts. On the season, the 2012 National League Cy Young finalist is 1-1 with a 5.85 ERA. For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Steve Lombardozzi LF Bryce Harper RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Kurt Suzuki LHP Gio Gonzalez For the Reds CF Shin-Soo Choo SS Zack Cozart 1B Joey Votto 2B Brandon Phillips RF Jay Bruce 3B Todd Frazier LF Chris Heisey C Devin Mesoraco RHP Bronson Arroyo