Relaxed Cole makes short work of Marlins (Nats, Fish tie 2-2)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 2, Marlins 2

Recap: Right-hander A.J. Cole threw four hitless innings, walking one and fanning a pair. ... Bryce Harper and Derek Norris hit solo homers for the Nats.

Need to know: One strong spring training start can make a big difference in the stat line. Cole's effort lowered his ERA from 13.50 to 7.27.

On deck: Friday vs. Cardinals at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A.J. Cole simplified things for his third spring training start, pitching to contact, letting his fielders do the heavy lifting and keeping a quick pace.

The result: four hitless innings that lowered his ERA from 13.50 to 7.27 and made him look like a pitcher bent on making the 25-man roster out of spring camp.

"I felt pretty good," Cole said. "My last bullpen, it was a light one after the off-day. I really concentrated on getting the feel for everything and just being free and easy. It's always nice to have a great team behind you making plays. It makes it a lot easier to pitch out there."

Grant Green made a pair of sliding plays to nab speedy Dee Gordon and Ichiro Suzuki, the first two hitters of the game. Center fielder Adam Eaton was busy, running down five fly balls and recording all three outs in the second.

Cole walked only one - Matt Juengel leading off the third - and threw 29 of his 51 pitches for strikes. He had a good feel for his changeup, but didn't overuse it.

"Certain times, I was doing a little too much with it and was pushing it away outside," he said. "But I had some effective changeups in there that I think really helped in the count."

What was the difference between today and his first two starts, where Cole surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings?

"It's still early in spring training," he said. "This time out, I wasn't trying to do too much and I had a good feel for all my pitches. Really, that was the key: Getting after them, throwing strikes, trying to get ahead of the guys and not trying to do too much."

Cole put on weight in the offseason to prevent himself from tiring as the season wears on. He's found that the extra pounds serve him well in the Florida sunshine, too.

"I do feel a lot stronger here in spring training," he said. "Spring training is where you get back into everything, that's when you start feeling the soreness and all that fatigue. ... But a lot of it normal and you've got to fight through it, but I haven't felt this good since I started playing in spring training."

With Max Scherzer still yet to pitch in a Grapefruit League game while the broken knuckle on his right ring finger heals, Cole could be an important piece for the Nationals. If one of their starting pitchers isn't available when the season begins, Cole would be the next man up.

But he's aware that he's also in the mix for a bullpen spot should the Nationals decide he fits better as a swingman, capable of pitching in long relief and starting the occasional game.

"I love being a starter, but if they need me, I'm there for whatever they need me for," he said.