Giolito allows eight hits and five runs in debut, has "a lot of stuff to work on"

Nationals top prospect right-hander Lucas Giolito made his first start for high Single-A Potomac, going 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Frederick. He allowed eight hits, seven of which were singles, and five runs, while striking out five and walking two.

Giolito faced 23 batters and got seven groundouts and one flyout with one wild pitch before 5,041 at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Va. Frederick won the game, 8-7.

After the game, he spoke to reporters about finally getting a chance to pitch in the Carolina League and said he knows what he needs to do to improve.

"It felt good to get out there," Giolito said to the assembled media. "My arm felt great, which is a good thing, it's a positive takeaway, but obviously I wish the results were a little bit better. Fastball command was, in my opinion, awful. Off-speed command wasn't there either, so yeah, I mean a lot of stuff to work on."

Giolito analyzed how it came apart early on. The Keys managed five singles in a four-run third and led 4-2.

"Kind of like a steamroll or a snowball of bad things happening," Giolito said. "A couple of weak hits, and then kind of when it was like the time to make that really good pitch, I would leave it up and they would smoke one down the middle.

"I need to be better at being low in the zone. That's where I have most of my movement in my fastball and where I get most of the outs with the angle and everything."

Giolito said he had a good feel for the curveball early but then lost it for a while. He said his changeup was better than it was in Florida while progressing in April at the Nationals' training facility.

And what does Giolito think of having to progress with Reynaldo Lopez in Viera while his teammates started the season up north this past month.

"At a certain level it's frustrating, a certain level of it is been through it before," Giolito said. "I understand the protocol of everything. I trust the system. No complaints, just got to get it going now because this is the real season."

The Nationals will most likely cap Giolito at five innings and 75 pitches to control his innings and make sure he doesn't get over-extended. He wouldn't mind going longer into games, as would any pitcher.

Giolito reached 97 mph and was at 93 mph for most of the night. His next start is likely middle of the week at Wilmington if he comes through today and tomorrow feeling good. He knows what he will focus on for his upcoming second start.

"The main thing, commanding the fastball and secondary stuff, throwing it for strikes, and then able to throw it low and get outs with it as well," Giolito said.