VIERA, Fla. -- Alfonso Soriano's play in the outfield
continues to be a work in progress. His offense, however, is right
on schedule.
Soriano misplayed a ball in the first inning that led to an
Astros run, but he was 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three
runs scored to help the Washington Nationals beat Houston 13-6 on
Sunday.
In the top of the first, lefty Lance Berkman hit a ball the
opposite way to left-center that Soriano misread. He charged the
ball and it carried over his head allowing Willy Taveras to score
from first base.
"I try to catch the ball, but it was a line drive going up
because of the wind," said Soriano, on a day where the wind blew
straight out to center at 12 mph.
"I see the contact, but after that when the ball passed the
infield I lost it a little bit, and I think that's why I have a
little problem."
Soriano redeemed himself, hitting the first pitch he saw in the
bottom of the first over the left-field fence.
"If we don't get down on him and show confidence in him, he's
going to learn," said starter John Patterson, who pitched 5 1-3
innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven to earn the
victory.
"It's going to take a little while, and he's going to get some
runs back with his bat. You can expect him to make some mistakes,
but we'll hang in there with him."
Nationals manager Frank Robinson continues to be understanding
of Soriano's troubles as the slugger played in just his fourth game
in his new position.
"It just goes to show you he's focused as far as his offense is
concerned," Robinson said. "The plays in the outfield, I tried to
warn anybody who would listen, it's going to be a work in progress.
He got a little lesson today, and if he learns from these things,
that's what we want. We don't want him to make the same kind of
mistakes two or three times."
The Nationals had their best offensive showing of the spring,
pounding out 14 hits behind a pair of two-run homers from both Jose
Guillen and Ryan Zimmerman.
Guillen hit his first two homers of the spring, while
Zimmerman's two gave him the team-lead in homers (five) and RBIss
(12).
"It was good to see him have a good offensive day and a good
defensive day," Robinson said of his rookie third baseman a day
after Zimmerman committed two errors. "That has to really make him
feel good and get him up on his toes a little bit."
Brandon Backe took the loss for the Astros, allowing eight runs
on 10 hits in six innings. He allowed four home runs.
Berkman led the Astros going 2-for-4 with a double and three
RBIs.
Game notes
World Baseball Classic U.S. Team representative Gary
Majewski was roughed up by the Astros, allowing four runs on three
hits while walking two and got two outs. He has a 29.70 ERA in four
appearances this spring.