Patterson sharp as Nationals cruise

03/16/2006
Tigers at the plate: Reggie Taylor drove in a run with a double to right-center field off left-hander Valerio De Los Santos in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Nationals' lead to 3-1.
Nationals at the plate: Wiki Gonzalez drove in the first run in the bottom of the second inning with a sacrifice fly to score Ryan Church. Damian Jackson knocked in the second run in the fourth inning with a single to left. Marlon Byrd, who leads the Nationals with nine RBIs, drove in Wiki Gonzalez with a double that gave the Nats a 3-0 lead. Nick Johnson and Ryan Zimmerman hit back to-back home runs off Kevin Hodge in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Hodge gave up five runs.
Tigers on the mound: Starter Jordan Tata gave up a run in two innings, but the run was not earned. Tata walked four batters and struck out one. Preston Larrison and Lee Gardner gave up one run apiece.
Nationals on the mound: Right-hander John Patterson pitched five shutout innings, striking out six batters and walking two. Both Mike Stanton and Felix Rodriguez pitched an inning without allowing a run.
Grapefruit League records: Tigers 9-7; Nationals 4-13-1.

Source: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/