VIERA, Fla. (AP) - Collin Balester stepped up when he needed to during a shaky spring training outing Sunday.
Balester threw three shutout innings in the Washington Nationals' 3-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers. But he allowed two hits and issued three walks."The fact is he lost his command and he got it at the right time before he gave up any runs," manager Manny Acta said. "I haven't talked to him, I don't know how down he is. It's not the end of the world and he's going to continue to pitch until the end of camp."
Alfredo Figaro combined with five relievers on a seven-hitter for the Tigers.
Figaro allowed two hits, struck out one and walked none in three innings. Fernando Rodney and Juan Rincon each worked a hitless frame before Casey Fien got six outs. Clay Rapada pitched the eighth and Scott Williamson finished.
Washington's Anderson Hernandez went 2-for-2.
Notes: Detroit LF Wilkin Ramirez finished with three hits and two RBIs. .. The Tigers also had seven hits.
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