Ross showing more confidence in changeup big key to opening win

The top hitter from last season opens the game with a first-pitch triple against a young pitcher making his first ever April regular season start.

That same pitcher allowed 12 hits and eight runs in his final exhibition start.

It was the extremely dangerous Miami leadoff hitter Dee Gordon tripling on the first pitch of the game.

The Marlins scored in that inning, but never again against right-hander Joe Ross, a full seven innings of work.

The Nationals kept it close before a big seventh inning lifted them to a 4-2 victory.

Manager Dusty Baker was impressed Ross was able to get through that early dangerous moment.

"In the first inning, he got off to a little slow start, but when Dee Gordon hits that opening pitch for a triple, which sometimes he can ambush you like that, to hold them to one run, that's what I told Joe: 'You just learned damage control today because that could have turned into a three- or four-run inning,' " Baker said. "But damage control is the key, especially for a young pitcher, and after that he was masterful. He had quite a few 3-2 counts there, but a couple double plays got him out of trouble, and he made some pitches when he had to make them."

Ross said once Gordon smacked the triple, he knew he had to intensify his focus.

"Just trying to settle in as fast as I could," Ross said. "Tough first pitch of the game, guy ends up on third base. But just kind of got to regroup and see if I can get out of there with no runs. That would obviously be ideal. It's tough in that situation, so I think getting out with one was huge. The double play ball was, I think, a good start for my momentum to work for the game."

"I know it's hard when you give (a) triple to leadoff guy, but I know that guy scored," said catcher Wilson Ramos. "But after that, he threw perfect six more innings. The pitcher stayed focus on the game the whole game. He (threw) the ball really well, amazing job for him today. That's what we want."

Baker believes the influence of Ross' older brother, Padres starter Tyson Ross, helps him stay calm in big moments.

"The game appears slow to Joe anyway," Baker said. "He's 22, but he comes from a great family, his brother has been in pro ball for a while. He knows what he's doing and he's not intimidated by any situation.

"Joe pitched fantastic," said reliever Blake Treinen. "The guy did so many things well today to give us a chance to win. It's hard to think that he is, what 22, 23? Phenomenal talent and it's going to be exciting to watch what he can do this year."

Ross' line was impressive: seven innings, five hits, one run, two walks and five strikeouts. He tossed 97 pitches, 57 for strikes.

What did he feel like was working early on?

"My fastball, I was pitching a lot with my fastball," Ross said. "Slider was OK, but I wasn't quite getting the chase like I was hoping for. I think I just kind of got into a good rhythm and I felt comfortable on the mound and it kind of just went from there."

But if Ross is going to be able to get hitters out the third or fourth time around the order, he will have to work in another pitch. Sunday it was his changeup.

"Changeup was good. I think (to Justin) Bour is when I really feel it the most," Ross said. "I got some big outs with it, so it's definitely improved from last year and a little bit through spring training, so keep going forward."

Also standing out: This April 10 regular season start was his first since Sept. 6 of last season. He also hadn't started a game in nine days. Plus the rainout Saturday.

"It was tough yesterday getting rained out," Ross said. "The first thing Dusty said was, 'It always happens to you.' But just another day of rest. I felt pretty good going out there today. I don't think missing out on those starts really affected me.

"I think that it being cancelled so early kind of helped me out a little bit," Ross said later. "Usually, I'd be game ready and than it's like 'Hey, we're shutting down for today'. I think getting that early heads-up kind of helped me out. I got to relax and not get too geared up before they shut me down. But it was almost like second off-day, so that was nice."

What has been the difference with the off-speed pitch this season?

"More comfortable than last year for sure," Ross said. "More confident in throwing it, I might've shaken to it once or twice. I think just knowing that I can throw it below the zone and not just rely on fastball, slider that was big. Hopefully, I can carry that throughout the rest of the year."