Rare day off for LaRoche, Moore starts at first

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

June 13, 2012, 6:52am

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For the first time since May 7, the last day of a four-game stretch in which he was sidelined by an oblique injury, Adam LaRoche is not in the Nationals' lineup. LaRoche will get the day off today, while rookie Tyler Moore will make his first career start at first base. First base is Moore's natural position, but he's strictly played the outfield during his time with the Nats, largely because LaRoche has been a mainstay in the Nats' lineup at first. Also, on a side note, Bryce Harper delivered quite possibly the best quote of his brief major league tenure last night when asked by a Toronto reporter whether he planned to have a postgame beer, since he is of legal drinking age in Canada. Harper's response: "That's a clown question, bro." Nicely handled. Here are the lineups for today's game: For the Nationals LF Steve Lombardozzi RF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman DH Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinsoa 1B Tyler Moore CF Rick Ankiel C Jesus Flores P Stephen Strasburg For the Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie CF Colby Rasmus RF Jose Bautista 1B Edwin Encarnacion DH David Cooper SS Yunel Escobar 2B Kelly Johnson C J.P. Arencibia LF Rajai Davis P Kyle Drabek