0-for-13 start gets Ian Desmond dropped in lineup - MLB

The Nationals entered spring training with Nyjer Morgan and Ian Desmond at the top of their order, but less than a week into the season, Morgan is long gone and Desmond has been dropped to seventh following an 0-for-13 start.

Desmond, who moved up to the leadoff spot when Morgan was traded to Milwaukee last month, failed to reach base safely during the season opening three-game series against the Braves. He also fanned three times as the Nationals dropped two of three games.

Switching spots with Desmond will be usual No. 7 hitter Danny Espinosa, who has opened the season 4-for-9 with a pair of doubles.

As close as the two are as hitters, it does make sense for Jim Riggleman to go with the hot hand here. My Rotoworld projections called for Espinosa to hit .242/.321/.407 this season, with Desmond at .267/.331/.404. The two were also remarkably similar this spring: both hit .290 and slugged .435. Desmond had the slightly better OBP (.364 to .353), but Espinosa more than made up for that by going 4-for-4 as a basestealer, while Desmond was 2-for-5.

HOUSTON – Yordan Alvarez hit a go-ahead three-run double in the seventh inning, and the Houston Astros rallied past the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Friday night for their first win of the season.

Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer in the sixth and made a spectacular catch at the wall in the seventh to rob Andrew Benintendi of extra bases and keep the World Series champion Astros within one run.

Eloy Jimenez hit two RBI doubles for the White Sox, both off Astros starter Cristian Javier.

Jimenez’s first double scored Tim Anderson in the first inning. In the sixth, Javier gave up three straight doubles to Benintendi, Jimenez and Joan Moncada to make it 3-0 and end his night.

White Sox reliever Kendall Graveman (0-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh on two walks and a single. Jake Diekman came on and gave up Alvarez’s double to deep left-center, a drive that just eluded Luis Robert Jr. and bounced off the wall, clearing the bases.

Four Astros relievers each worked one scoreless inning. Seth Martinez (1-0) got the win and Rafael Montero handled the ninth for his first save.

Chicago starter Lance Lynn allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

ALL IN A DAY’S REST

White Sox INF Andrew Vaughn, who hit a go-ahead two-run double in Thursday’s season-opening win, did not play. Vaughn experienced lower back issues during spring training. Gavin Sheets started at first base.

HOMETOWN HIT

Astros outfielder Corey Yulks, a Houston-area native, singled in his first at-bat and finished 1-for-4 in his major league debut.

PUT A RING ON IT

Astros owner Jim Crane and his wife, Whitney, presented the team and staff with their 2022 World Series rings in a pregame ceremony.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: LHP Blake Taylor, who is on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow strain, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land.

UP NEXT

The four-game season-opening series continues Saturday when Houston’s Jose Urquidy faces Chicago’s Lucas Giolito.