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JUPITER, Fla. - Nyjer Morgan's ears must have been burning this morning. Not three hours after Jim Riggleman talked about the work he's been doing on his bunting, the outfielder got his first bunt down in three attempts. And when Yadier Molina made a late throw, firing high and wide to first base, the Nationals got their first run - Alberto Gonzalez scored from first and Morgan went to third.
Morgan scored on Ian Desmond's single to left, and it's now 2-0 Nationals.
The Nationals want both Morgan and Roger Bernadina bunting more this spring, to the point where they expect Morgan to spend an at-bat a game on it. His bunt here was well-placed, just a ways in front of home, and his speed forced a hurried throw from Molina. The run was unearned, but in a way, Morgan's speed warrants an unofficial RBI. He caused the error that allowed Gonzalez to score - and that's precisely why the Nationals want him bunting.
Jordan Zimmermann hasn't been great - he's allowed four hits and a walk in three innings, two of those hits to Albert Pujols - but he got out of the third with a double play.
