The Line On Cabrera

Daniel Cabrera was getting the ball over the plate. And given Cabrera's penchant for wildness, that was a good sign. At least until the Cardinals swung at those pitches. Cabrera became the first Washington starter to allow a run this spring when, in the first inning, St. Louis's first three batters touched him for a rocketed double down the line, a rolling single to right, and then a double against the left field wall.

That final double, from Albert Pujols, scored lead-off man Skip Schumaker. But it also stunted the chances for a big inning, because No. 2 hitter Yadier Molina, starting from first base, was thrown out at third.

Cabrera allowed another run in the second, though it was unearned. A two-out throwing error by third baseman Kory Casto kept the inning alive, and then Jon Jay slugged a triple into the gaping space in deep right-center.

Final line on Cabrera: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.