Rosenbaum returned to Nats, Zimmmermann done after six (game called in eighth)

VIERA, Fla. - Within two days, the Nationals have gotten back both players they lost in the Rule 5 draft this offseason. The Tigers returned infielder Jeff Kobernus to the Nats yesterday, and today, a source confirmed that left-hander Danny Rosenbaum has been returned by the Rockies. Rosenbaum spent last season at Double-A Harrisburg, going 8-10 with a 3.94 ERA. The 25-year-old went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight innings with the Rockies this spring, and after Colorado determined that Rosenbaum wouldn't crack their 25-man roster, they offered him back to the Nats and were able to recoup half of the $50,000 they paid for him. The Nationals will likely be quite pleased to get Rosenbaum back. They're pretty thin on quality starting pitching depth in the upper levels of their farm system, and Rosenbaum provides another option should the team need another starter because of injury. A soft-tossing lefty, Rosenbaum doesn't project as a top-of-the-rotation starter, but he gives the Nats more options, which could be an even greater need should Chris Young choose to opt out of his minor league deal in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Nats lead the Braves 7-3 after six innings here at Space Coast Stadium. Jordan Zimmermann went six strong innings, allowing just one earned run (three runs total) on six hits. He walked three and struck out four. Solid effort in poor pitching conditions. Danny Espinosa and Bryce Harper are a combined 6-for-6 with a home run (Espinosa's three-run shot in the third) and two doubles (one from both Espinosa and Harper) today. The sky has darkened significantly now as Ryan Mattheus comes in to work the seventh. The rain is a'comin. Update: And here it is. We're in a delay here in the top of the eighth with the score 9-3. Adam LaRoche smacked a two-run, opposite-field homer in the seventh and Tyler Clippard threw just a pitch or two before the wind and rain picked up and forced the umpires to call for a delay. Update II: That's it. This one has been called in the eighth. The Nats win 9-3.