Washington's pitcher Ramon Ortiz feels good about start against Bucs

In the end, however, the Pittsburgh Pirates won, 9-1.
VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Ramon Ortiz struggled with his control during his first outing with the Washington Nationals but lasted three innings Thursday in a 9-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ortiz, vying for one of three remaining spots in Washington's rotation, allowed one run and three hits. The 32-year-old right-hander missed two months last season with a groin injury, finishing 9-11 with a 5.36 ERA for the Cincinnati Reds.
"I walked three people, but I threw the ball well. I threw the ball down," Ortiz said. "I don't feel bad about my start today. I made a lot of good pitches."
Ortiz threw 27 pitches in the second inning and had 35 through two. Pitching coach Randy St. Claire had the right-hander on a 45-pitch count, which he surpassed after getting the second out in the third inning, but St. Claire thought Ortiz was fine to finish the inning.
He ended up at 50 pitches.
Encouraging assessment
"His arm is in really good shape," St. Claire said. "He has a quick delivery and a quick arm, and I think he was slow and methodical last year. That's one thing we wanted to do, is get him back to being him."
Nationals manager Frank Robinson was a little more skeptical about Ortiz's performance.
"He had a live arm, but he couldn't find the strike zone," Robinson said. "You expect him to be a little sharper, but he'll throw better the next time out."
Ryan Vogelsong started for the Pirates, allowing one run and three hits in two innings. He threw 37 pitches and struck out one.
Brandon Duckworth worked the third and got the win.
Pittsburgh's Brad Eldred hit a solo homer in the seventh and Craig Stansberry added a three-run shot in the ninth.
Steve Watkins took the loss, giving up two runs and four hits in two innings.
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