Zimmerman plays two innings at first base

VIERA, Fla. -- After weeks of practicing, Ryan Zimmerman played his first game at first base during a 2-1 loss to the Tigers on Sunday afternoon. He started the game at third base, but switched to first in the top of the sixth inning.

Zimmerman played two innings at first and made five putouts. The most difficult play came in the sixth inning. With a runner on first, Don Kelly hit a broken-bat grounder to Zimmerman. At first, it looked like Zimmerman would try to turn a double play, but he bobbled the ball and took the out at first instead. Zimmerman admitted he was getting used to a bigger glove.

"I felt good. It's the first time I really played over there," Zimmerman said. "I have a little ways to go, but I felt fine."

Zimmerman said it will take a few more games to get used to the positioning around the first-base bag, but manager Matt Williams liked that Zimmerman didn't panic around the bag.

Williams said he plans to start Zimmerman at first base before Spring Training is over, but most importantly, he wants to make sure that Zimmerman is comfortable at third.

"It's important for [Zimmerman] to get innings [at first base]," Williams said. "We had an opportunity today. [First baseman] Adam LaRoche had a couple of at-bats. We wanted Zim to get another one, so it turned out he could play a couple of innings over at first as well. It sounds perfect."