VIERA, Fla., March 25 -- Brad Wilkerson, for now, has his wish: He is hitting lower in the order, where he likely will drive in more runs. Now, all he has to do is hit.
Wilkerson went hitless in two at-bats Friday in the Washington Nationals' rain-shortened, 5-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He is hitting just .176 this spring.
Orioles' Miguel Tejada rounds third base after hitting a home run in Baltimore's 5-1 rain-shortened exhibition victory over the Nationals. Jose Guillen accounted for Washington's only run with the team's 10th homer in 21 games.
(John Mcdonnell -- The Washington Post)
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"He's not comfortable," Nationals Manager Frank Robinson said. "He's just not in a good groove right now. He's not far off, but he's just not there yet."
Wilkerson, who hit 32 homers last season, said he usually needs about 60 or even 70 at-bats in spring training before he feels ready. After Friday, he has just 40 plate appearances. A sore back cost him some time earlier in spring training.
"I think it's just a matter of getting my timing back," Wilkerson said. "The last week's been tough just because we've been on the road a lot. I need to get my swings in the cage and work it out."
The Nationals' offense as a whole is in a bit of a slump, hitting just .270, 13th in the National League. Since scoring 17 runs in a pair of wins last weekend, Washington has scored just four runs in four games. Jose Guillen hit the team's 10th homer in 21 games Friday.
"The hitters will get there," Robinson said. "They'll get sharper. The main thing is to be ready for Opening Day."
Greisinger Dealt
The Nationals traded right-hander Seth Greisinger, a former All-Met from McLean High, to the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named. Greisinger, who lives in Alexandria, pitched in just one inning for Washington before being sent to minor league camp on March 7. A former first-round pick of the Detroit Tigers, he is trying to work his way back from years of arm problems. . . .
A club source said the Nationals are talking to former New York Mets shortstop Rey Ordoñez as a backup infielder, but are still prepared to break camp with their current team. Ordoñez last played for the Chicago Cubs last year, hitting just .164 in 23 games. . . . Endy Chavez returned to the lineup after missing three games with a sore elbow.
