Red-hot Taylor launches another homer (Nats win 9-1)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 9, Tigers 1

Recap: The Nats sent their B/C squad on the three-hour trip to Lakeland to go up against the Tigers' A squad, but you wouldn't know it from what took place on the field. The Nationals exploded at the plate, with Michael A. Taylor, Raudy Read and Drew Ward all homering. Taylor, who hit the walk-off homer in Tuesday's inaugural game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, also singled in two runs and beat out a grounder to deep shortstop during a 3-for-3 afternoon. Joe Ross was sharp in his spring debut, retiring six of the seven batters he faced, including Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera. Relievers Taylor Hill and Jacob Turner each tossed two scoreless innings a piece as well.

Need to know: Outfielder Victor Robles, the Nationals' 19-year-old top prospect, played in his first-ever Grapefruit League game. He showed off his bat speed by pulling a 97-mph fastball just foul down the left field line before striking out looking at a breaking ball. He popped up to third in his other at-bat. ... Fellow outfield prospect Andrew Stevenson continues to impress. The 22-year-old doubled in a run in the top of the sixth and is now 4-for-8 this spring with a homer and four RBIs.

On deck: Thursday vs. Astros in West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.

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LAKELAND, Fla. - Michael A. Taylor is up to his old spring training tricks again.

Taylor is on fire at the plate again this afternoon against the Tigers, with three hits in his first three at-bats, including a towering home run in the top of the fourth that cleared the grassy berm beyond the left field wall.

Less than 24 hours after clubbing a walk-off homer in the Nationals' first-ever game played at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, Taylor kept up his impressive power display, taking right-hander Shane Greene deep to extend the Nats' lead over Detroit to 5-0.

That blast leaves Taylor batting a blistering .555 (5-for-9) with two homers and four RBIs so far this spring.

The outfielder already had put together an impressive at-bat two innings earlier. With the bases loaded and two out, he worked the count full against Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey, fouled off a couple of pitches and then lined a two-run single to center.

Taylor also legged out an infield single in the top of the first, beating shortstop Jose Iglesias' throw to first and then stealing second base.

This, of course, is nothing new for Taylor. One year ago, he set the Grapefruit League on fire when he hit .453 with five homers and 16 RBIs. Go back over the last three years and in 127 spring training at-bats Taylor has hit .394 with 11 homers and 27 RBIs.

Whether he's able to carry over any of this spring success into the regular season remains to be seen.

Despite sending a lineup full of backups and young players, the Nationals have outplayed the Tigers' A squad so far today. In addition to Taylor's prodigious production, Brandon Snyder and Spencer Kieboom each have driven in a run, while Jhonatan Solano has reached base three times.

Joe Ross, making his first start of the spring, was effective in his two innings of work, retiring six of the seven batters he faced (including Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez, Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez). The only baserunner Ross allowed was Nick Castellanos, who blooped a single to right in the bottom of the second.

Update: This game has featured the Nationals' B/C squad vs. the Tigers' A squad, but you wouldn't know it from anything that has taken place on the field. It's been a rout, with the Nats now leading 9-0 in the seventh inning. In addition to Taylor's fourth-inning homer, they got back-to-back shots from Raudy Read and Drew Ward in the top of the sixth. Read's homer went even farther than Taylor's did, over the picnic tables behind the berm in left field, possibly out of the stadium altogether. The young catcher flipped his bat after that blast. Relievers Taylor Hill and Jacob Turner, meanwhile, have kept the Tigers from scoring despite most of their regulars still playing.