PITTSBURGH — Late Wednesday night, when the Washington Nationals needed him most, Danny Espinosa walked into the ideal chance to validate his manager’s faith. He had flailed, searched and scuffled all season long. Davey Johnson worried about his second baseman, but not enough send him the bench. In the eighth inning, with the bases loaded and one out, the Nationals down by a run, the game found him.

The count ran full. And against the fourth Pittsburgh Pirates reliever of the game, Espinsoa did what he has done with more frequency than any player in the National League: He struck out. The crucial whiff served as the fulcrum for the Nationals’ 4-2 loss to the Pirates before 11,478 at PNC Park, their third straight defeat, during which they stranded five base runners in the final two innings, four of them in scoring position.

Following an electric series over the weekend against their rival at packed Nationals Park, the Nationals came here to face a nondescript opponent at an empty ballpark under a gray sky spitting intermittent rain. A letdown could have been predicted, but not to the depths Washington reached Wednesday night.

The Pirates lost starting pitcher Erik Bedard to back spasms with no outs in the second inning. The Nationals responded with two runs, four hits and 11 strikeouts off five relievers in the final eight innings. On a night stuffed with bizarre moments, odd decisions and strange plays, the Nationals’ offense rendered moot six solid innings from Ross Detwiler, who allowed three runs on seven hits.

The Nationals had another chance in the ninth inning off closer Joel Hanrahan. Ian Desmond’s one-out double put two runners in scoring position with the Nationals down by two and Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman due up. Harper popped to shallow left. Zimmerman, who the night before sparked a ninth-inning rally, struck out.

On an offense that has struck out 23 times over the past two games, he is by no means the lone culprit. But in the middle of the loss stood Espinosa, the second-year second baseman fighting to find his footing. Espinosa snapped an 0-for-10 slump in the seventh inning and scored Washington’s second run, but among hitters the Nationals counted, he has struggled more than any other.

Espinosa is hitting .189, and his .514 OPS entering Wednesday ranked 176th out of 186 qualifying major league players. Only Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox has struck out more than Espinosa, whose 39 whiffs in 123 plate appearances lead the National League.

In the spring, Johnson and hitting coach Rick Eckstein instructed Espinosa to swing easy and not try to muscle the ball. Lately, Johnson has said Espinosa was not swinging as aggressively as he’d like. Espinosa seems to be stuck in the middle, guessing at pitches and feeling for the ball. He had swung at and missed 14.9 percent of the pitches he’s seen this year entering Wednesday, fifth-most in the majors.

The most troubling aspect of Espinosa’s struggle is that it extends to last season. After the last all-star break last year, Espinosa hit .227 with a .310 on-base percentage and a .352 slugging percentage. In his last 94 games, a span of 399 plate appearances, Espinosa has 119 strikeouts, 40 walks and only six home runs. Over that span, more than half a full season, he is hitting .215, getting on base at a .301 clip and slugging .318.

Game notes: Joe Saunders is off to a tremendous start. In what was the best April of his career, Saunders gave up just three earned runs in 30 innings. … Saunders’ ground-ball rate is 54.9 percent, way up from his career average of 45.8 percent. He’s also allowing fewer line drives. … Saunders has a 2.89 ERA in four starts against the Nationals. OF Jayson Werth has hit him well, going 3 for 10 with a double, two home runs and a walk. … Edwin Jackson is with his seventh organization, one of which was the Diamondbacks, who had him for a half-season in 2010 before trading him to the Chicago White Sox for RHP Daniel Hudson and LHP David Holmberg. … Jackson has thrown well for the Nationals, striking out 26 and walking six in 25 2/3 innings. … Jackson has a 4.43 ERA in his career, with just a 1.86 strikeout/walk ratio. … Jackson faced the Diamondbacks while with the White Sox last season, giving up four runs in 6 2/3 innings. RF Justin Upton is 3 for 3 (all singles) against him.

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The 2012 MLB regular season is well underway with a full month of baseball already in the books. It is still a long road to October baseball but paths are already starting to take shape and many surprises have already occurred along the way. The beginning of the year brings promise but at this point in the season anything can still happen.

The highlight of the day will be when the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

The matchup between Arizona‘s Ian Kennedy (3-0, 3.38 ERA) and Washington‘s Ross Detwiler (2-1, 1.64 ERA) will certainly be a good one while young Nationals‘ rookie Bryce Harper adds another element of excitement to the game.

With a number of great games to be played on the day, this will be one of the better ones.

Check your local listings for game times and channel listings in your area. With MLB.TV all games are also available nationwide (local blackouts apply).

Note: All start times Eastern

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves, 12:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds, 12:35 p.m.

Seattle Mariners at Tampa Bay Rays, 1:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals, 1:45 p.m.

Miami Marlins at San Francisco Giants, 3:45 p.m.

Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.

Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 p.m.

New York Yankees at Kansas City Royals, 8:10 p.m.

Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels, 10:05 p.m.

Sources:

All data provided by MLB.com

Paul Rados is a Cleveland based freelance sportswriter and Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook.

WASHINGTON (AP)

Left-hander John Lannan asked the Washington Nationals for a trade after they demoted him to Triple-A Syracuse, and he declared in an email sent to reporters Wednesday: ”I believe that I belong in a big-league rotation.”

Under the subject line, ”Thoughts on announcement of being optioned,” Lannan wrote that he told general manager Mike Rizzo ”a trade would be the best solution for everyone in both the short and long term.”

”I am certainly disappointed in the Nationals’ decision. I met with Mike Rizzo for the second time since I received the news to tell him exactly how I feel, and my agent has also spoken to Mike,” Lannan wrote. ”I know what my rights and the team’s rights are. …”

Rizzo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Nationals open the regular season Thursday at the Chicago Cubs.

The Nationals surprisingly optioned Lannan to the minors on Tuesday, deciding to give the No. 5 spot in their season-opening rotation to another lefty, Ross Detwiler. While Detwiler spent much of 2011 at Syracuse, Lannan was making 33 starts for the Nationals, going 10-13 with a 3.70 ERA over 184 2-3 innings. He led the club in starts, wins and innings.

The 27-year-old Lannan is slated to earn $5 million in 2012. He was drafted by the Nationals in the 11th round of the 2005 amateur draft, moved quickly through their system, and was Washington’s opening-day starter in 2009 and 2010.

”I appreciate all the opportunities the Nationals organization has given me throughout the years. I’ve done a lot for this organization through some tough times. I anticipated … being part of the team’s next exciting chapter,” Lannan wrote Wednesday. ”If the Nationals feel they don’t need me or want me with the current make-up of the team, I can respect their decision. However, I’m very confident that I am capable of making a meaningful contribution to a major-league team.”

Since making his big league debut in 2007, Lannan is 38-52 with a 4.00 ERA in 128 appearances, all as a starter.

”I believe that I belong in a big-league rotation. I am a proven major-league starting pitcher, with a track record of success,” he wrote.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Tuesday that he informed Lannan of the move to Syracuse in the third inning of that day’s 8-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

”Johnny’s a good friend,” Detwiler said Tuesday after Washington’s exhibition finale. ”You never want to see a good friend leave the clubhouse. … It’s kind of bittersweet seeing Lannan go. But I also get a chance to start now.”

WASHINGTON (AP) Left-hander John Lannan asked the Washington Nationals for a trade after they demoted him to Triple-A Syracuse, and he declared in an email sent to reporters Wednesday: ”I believe that I belong in a big-league rotation.”

Under the subject line, ”Thoughts on announcement of being optioned,” Lannan wrote that he told general manager Mike Rizzo ”a trade would be the best solution for everyone in both the short and long term.”

”I am certainly disappointed in the Nationals‘ decision. I met with Mike Rizzo for the second time since I received the news to tell him exactly how I feel, and my agent has also spoken to Mike,” Lannan wrote. ”I know what my rights and the team’s rights are. …”

Rizzo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Nationals open the regular season Thursday at the Chicago Cubs.

The Nationals surprisingly optioned Lannan to the minors on Tuesday, deciding to give the No. 5 spot in their season-opening rotation to another lefty, Ross Detwiler. While Detwiler spent much of 2011 at Syracuse, Lannan was making 33 starts for the Nationals, going 10-13 with a 3.70 ERA over 184 2-3 innings. He led the club in starts, wins and innings.

The 27-year-old Lannan is slated to earn $5 million in 2012. He was drafted by the Nationals in the 11th round of the 2005 amateur draft, moved quickly through their system, and was Washington’s opening-day starter in 2009 and 2010.

”I appreciate all the opportunities the Nationals organization has given me throughout the years. I’ve done a lot for this organization through some tough times. I anticipated … being part of the team’s next exciting chapter,” Lannan wrote Wednesday. ”If the Nationals feel they don’t need me or want me with the current make-up of the team, I can respect their decision. However, I’m very confident that I am capable of making a meaningful contribution to a major-league team.”

Since making his big league debut in 2007, Lannan is 38-52 with a 4.00 ERA in 128 appearances, all as a starter.

”I believe that I belong in a big-league rotation. I am a proven major-league starting pitcher, with a track record of success,” he wrote.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said Tuesday that he informed Lannan of the move to Syracuse in the third inning of that day’s 8-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

”Johnny’s a good friend,” Detwiler said Tuesday after Washington’s exhibition finale. ”You never want to see a good friend leave the clubhouse. … It’s kind of bittersweet seeing Lannan go. But I also get a chance to start now.”

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Howard Fendrich can be reached at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

The Boston Red Sox‘ interleague schedule for the 2012 MLB season will consists of 18 combined games against the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. They have two series against Miami.

The Red Sox will begin their interleague schedule with a three-game road series against the Philadelphia Phillies from May 18 through 20. Their first home series will occur against the Washington Nationals from June 8 through June 10. They will conclude their interleague schedule with a three-game home series against the Atlanta Braves from June 22 through June 24.

Here is a brief rundown of the interleague schedule fof the 2012 Red Sox. The “Collapsed” version of this schedule will only indicate the date and opponent of each series. The “Expanded” version will indicate the date, opponent, times (eastern time zone) and TV networks for each individual game in each series.

Complete MLB schedule can be found HERE.

2012 Interleague Schedule (Collapsed)

May 18-20: at Philadelphia Phillies

June 8-10: Washington Nationals

June 11-13: at Miami Marlins

June 15-17: at Chicago Cubs

June 19-21: Miami Marlins

June 22-24: Atlanta Braves

2012 Interleague Schedule (Expanded)

May 18: at Philadelphia Phillies (7:05 p.m., NESN and CSN)

May 19: at Philadelphia Phillies (7:15 p.m., FOX)

May 20: at Philadelphia Phillies (1:35 p.m., TBS, WB17)

June 8: Washington Nationals (7:10 p.m., MASN and NESN)

June 9: Washington Nationals (4:05 p.m., MASN and NESN)

June 10: Washington Nationals (1:35 p.m., MASN and NESN)

June 11: at Miami Marlins (7:10 p.m., NESN and FSFL)

June 12: at Miami Marlins (7:10 p.m., NESN and FSFL)

June 13: at Miami Marlins (7:10 p.m., NESN and FSFL)

June 15: at Chicago Cubs (2:20 p.m., NESN and CSN)

June 16: at Chicago Cubs (7:15 p.m., FOX)

June 17: at Chicago Cubs (TBD, NESN)

June 19: Miami Marlins (7:10 p.m., NESN and FSFL)

June 20: Miami Marlins (7:10 p.m., NESN and FSFL)

June 21: Miami Marlins (7:10 p.m., NESN and FSFL)

June 22: Atlanta Braves (7:10 p.m., PTV and NESN)

June 23: Atlanta Braves (7:15 p.m., FOX

June 24: Atlanta Braves (1:35 p.m., FSS and NESN)

MLB schedules subject to change due to rainouts or any other unanticipated postponement.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months. He can be found on Twitter HERE.

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VIERA, Fla. — Wind gusts blowing out around 18 mph greeted Jordan Zimmermann as he climbed the mound Wednesday for his first start of spring training. One hundred ninety-one days had passed since the Washington Nationals right-hander pitched in a game situation, as an innings limit left him in a spectator’s role for the last month of the 2011 season.

“Fine with me,” the normally stoic Zimmermann said. “As long as I’m able to pitch every five days.”

This spring, reporters surround the lockers of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson. They ask questions about the Nationals’ yet-to-be-decided No. 5 starter (John Lannan, Chien-Ming Wang or Ross Detwiler). The focus on the Nationals’ pitching, and the excitement around it, has never been more obvious, but Zimmermann somehow has managed to avoid the spotlight. That’s also fine with him.

Wednesday afternoon, Zimmermann threw three scoreless innings in the Nationals’ 3-3 tie with the St. Louis Cardinals – the opening act to a season in which he’ll finally, mercifully, have no limitations.

He walked one, surrendered three hits, struggled to locate his fastball in the wind and showed off a slider so nasty that all three of his strikeouts came as hitters swung helplessly at it for Strike 3. Away to Eugenio Velez, inside to Zack Cox and Matt Adams. The only time he threw a changeup, a pitch he’s been working to fine-tune, Jon Jay hit it for a single. Otherwise, he was himself.

On the brink of a season in which Zimmermann is expected to throw 200-plus innings and, if his 2011 was any indication, could be one of the finest any Nationals pitcher has put together, all Washington has wanted is for Zimmermann to be himself.

As the Nationals set up their draft board in June 2007, Zimmermann’s name resided in the bottom quarter of their top 100. The Wisconsin native pitched with his jaw wired shut and down about 10 pounds when the Nationals had scouted him as a group under then-general manager Jim Bowden during a tournament in Florida. They came away unimpressed, and with the majority of his games in snowy Stevens Point, Wis., not many scouts found their way out to see him again.

But Mike Rizzo did, as did Nationals scout Steve Arnieri, and both knew there was more to the young man than had come across in the team’s first viewing. He was a bulldog, they surmised, using a term that still comes up constantly when Zimmermann’s name is mentioned. They knew they had to have him.

That was the prelude to Rizzo’s draft-room bombshell. When the board was nearly set, Rizzo watched quietly as each placard was placed before Bowden asked if it had everyone’s approval. Rizzo picked up Zimmermann’s name and slid it horizontally across the board as the room sat shocked at what the then-assistant GM was suggesting. He let it rest once Zimmermann had moved into the team’s top 15 and Bowden, siding with Rizzo and his scouting judgment, helped put out the heated argument that ensued.

Still, Rizzo had to wait as the Nationals selected Detwiler (sixth overall), Josh Smoker (31st) and Michael Burgess (49th) ahead of Zimmermann (67th). Rizzo had no intention of letting him drop further, though, and with each start in which Zimmermann has shown what he’s capable of, with each slider that dazzles or fastball that pops the mitt, Rizzo has been proved right.

Smoker, a lefty, has since been converted to a reliever and hasn’t pitched above Single-A Potomac. Burgess never played above Double-A with the Nationals and was part of the trade with the Chicago Cubs that brought left-hander Tom Gorzelanny to the Nationals in January 2011. Zimmermann, meanwhile, has a 3.84 ERA in 49 major league starts the past three seasons – including a 3.18 mark and just 31 walks in 161 1/3 innings last year.

“I think he’s a top-of-the-rotation guy,” manager Davey Johnson said earlier this spring, comparing Zimmermann’s development to that of Ron Darling, who Johnson managed on the New York Mets. In his third full season, Darling was 15-6 with a 2.81 ERA and threw 237 innings to help the Mets win the World Series in 1986.

“I think Zim is closer,” Johnson said. “I think, after what he’s done, he’ll be closer this year to being the kind of pitcher we all know he’s capable of being.”

© Copyright 2012 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Gio Gonzalez said he wanted to “jump out of the chute” in his spring debut for the Washington Nationals.

And he wasn’t kidding.

Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings, allowed only one hit and struck out two as the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-2.

Gonzalez said he was fired up for his first game as a National after being traded by the Oakland Athletics after last season.

“I wanted to get started right off the bat,” he said. “I was throwing hard and may have been a little overanxious, but I had a lot of fun out there.”

Gonzalez’s pitches were registering in the high-90s, a lot more than most pitchers want for their first spring outing. Gonzalez said the numbers might have been exaggerated, but he wasn’t sure.

“I had my adrenaline pumping,” Gonzalez said. “If that is what the radar gun says, then my arm is lying to me. Maybe the radar guns were more juiced than I was, but I’m not sure.”

Kris Medlen started for the Braves and went two innings. He gave up three hits, including the Werth homer, and gave up three hits.

Medlen is a candidate for one of the two vacancies in the Atlanta rotation. He is coming off a surgically repaired elbow. Medlen pitched only 2 1/3 innings last season after starting 14 games in 2010.

Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman also made his spring debut. He was 0-for-2, but made seven putouts. He injured his right kneecap during fielding drills on Feb. 28.

But the day really belonged to Gonzalez.

He was 16-12 last season with the Athletics and was acquired for three pitching prospects. He struggled with his control last season, but walked only one in his two innings against the Braves.

“I thought he looked great,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “He didn’t look rusty at all. I had a pitch count on him and he reached it in the second inning, but he looked strong so I let him go.”

Gonzalez was the subject of trade rumors after last season, but said Washington is a perfect fit for him and he’s looking forward to being in Washington for a long time.

“Washington is where I want to be,” Gonzalez said. “I still feel like I am fighting for a job in this rotation.”

Since John Lannan led the Nationals with 10 wins as a starter last season, Gonzalez probably doesn’t have to worry about having a spot in the rotation.

Gonzalez, 26, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, traded to Philadelphia, and then swapped back to the White Sox before being dealt to Oakland. He feels like he has found a permanent home in Washington.

“I liked the trade,” Gonzalez said. For the first time in my life, I was the main man in the trade.”

Jayson Werth, coming off a disappointing 2011 season, homered to right to put the Nationals ahead, and went 1-for-2. Chad Tracy doubled in two runs in the third to put Washington ahead, 3-0.

Brett Carroll had two hits for the Nationals.

Notes: Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro arrived in camp and will work as an adviser until March 10.Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones missed his third straight game with an injured left heel. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was nothing to worry about. .. Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann will start on Tuesday against St. Louis in Viera. Shelby Miller will start for the Cardinals. … Washington 1B Adam LaRoche was expected to play, but is slowly working his way back following surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff damage in his left shoulder. He is expected to sit out Wednesday’s game against St. Louis as well.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) Gio Gonzalez said he wanted to ”jump out of the chute” in his spring debut for the Washington Nationals.

And he wasn’t kidding.

Gonzalez pitched two scoreless innings, allowed only one hit and struck out two as the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-2.

Gonzalez said he was fired up for his first game as a National after being traded by the Oakland Athletics after last season.

”I wanted to get started right off the bat,” he said. ”I was throwing hard and may have been a little overanxious, but I had a lot of fun out there.”

Gonzalez’s pitches were registering in the high-90s, a lot more than most pitchers want for their first spring outing. Gonzalez said the numbers might have been exaggerated, but he wasn’t sure.

”I had my adrenaline pumping,” Gonzalez said. ”If that is what the radar gun says, then my arm is lying to me. Maybe the radar guns were more juiced than I was, but I’m not sure.”

Kris Medlen started for the Braves and went two innings. He gave up three hits, including the Werth homer, and gave up three hits.

Medlen is a candidate for one of the two vacancies in the Atlanta rotation. He is coming off a surgically repaired elbow. Medlen pitched only 2 1/3 innings last season after starting 14 games in 2010.

Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman also made his spring debut. He was 0-for-2, but made seven putouts. He injured his right kneecap during fielding drills on Feb. 28.

But the day really belonged to Gonzalez.

He was 16-12 last season with the Athletics and was acquired for three pitching prospects. He struggled with his control last season, but walked only one in his two innings against the Braves.

”I thought he looked great,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. ”He didn’t look rusty at all. I had a pitch count on him and he reached it in the second inning, but he looked strong so I let him go.”

Gonzalez was the subject of trade rumors after last season, but said Washington is a perfect fit for him and he’s looking forward to being in Washington for a long time.

”Washington is where I want to be,” Gonzalez said. ”I still feel like I am fighting for a job in this rotation.”

Since John Lannan led the Nationals with 10 wins as a starter last season, Gonzalez probably doesn’t have to worry about having a spot in the rotation.

Gonzalez, 26, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, traded to Philadelphia, and then swapped back to the White Sox before being dealt to Oakland. He feels like he has found a permanent home in Washington.

”I liked the trade,” Gonzalez said. For the first time in my life, I was the main man in the trade.”

Jayson Werth, coming off a disappointing 2011 season, homered to right to put the Nationals ahead, and went 1-for-2. Chad Tracy doubled in two runs in the third to put Washington ahead, 3-0.

Brett Carroll had two hits for the Nationals.

Notes: Braves Hall of Famer Phil Niekro arrived in camp and will work as an adviser until March 10.Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones missed his third straight game with an injured left heel. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was nothing to worry about. .. Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann will start on Tuesday against St. Louis in Viera. Shelby Miller will start for the Cardinals. … Washington 1B Adam LaRoche was expected to play, but is slowly working his way back following surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff damage in his left shoulder. He is expected to sit out Wednesday’s game against St. Louis as well.