Tough transition to second so far for Rendon

WASHINGTON -- Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon has started only 26 Major League games, but he already ranks second on the team with eight errors. Only Ryan Zimmerman (11) has more.

Rendon bobbled a ground ball in the seventh inning on Tuesday night, extending the inning and allowing a run to score. Rendon is a third baseman by trade and had played only a few games at second since Little League before replacing Danny Espinosa at the position on June 5. Manager Davey Johnson said that the transition will take time.

"[At] third base you don't have to play the ball as much, and I think he doesn't realize how much time he has that he can learn to play the ball more," Johnson said. "But he's been doing fine."

Rendon has committed five errors in 18 games at second base since being recalled to the Nationals for a second time. In his first stint with the team, he had three errors in eight starts at third base.

The 23-year-old has more than made up for his fielding troubles with his performance at the plate. Since being recalled on June 4, Rendon is batting .392 with nine doubles and a game-winning home run.