Cabrera signed a $2.6 million, one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, who handed him a spot in the starting rotation. In his second appearance Friday, the 27-year-old showed that a change of scenery did not necessarily produce unfamiliar results.

Cabrera gave up four hits, walked two and allowed four steals in two innings, and the Nationals absorbed a 6-2 defeat. Although two spectacular catches by left fielder Roger Bernadina limited the damage against Cabrera to one run, his high pitch count reduced his scheduled three-inning stint by one third.

He threw 30 pitches in the first inning and 46 overall, barely half (24) strikes.

Asked what it was like to face his former teammates, Cabrera replied, "When you play so long for one team and now you're on the other side, it feels weird."

His duel against Aubrey Huff was both interesting and somewhat predictable. Huff fouled off several pitches before drawing a walk on a 3-2 pitch, then on the next pitch lumbered into second with a stolen base.

"It was funny, 'cause I always told Cabby every night on the plane, 'If I ever face you, I'm going to stand there, walk and steal on the first pitch,"' Huff recalled. "He said, 'Aw, shut up Huffy.'

"If I walked, there was no doubt in my mind I was going to steal whether I'd be safe or out," Huff said. "A good throw would've killed me. But it worked out. Pretty funny."

Said Cabrera: "He got me today."

Cabrera went 48-59 with a 5.05 ERA during his stay in Baltimore. He issued 478 walks in 147 games, hit 51 batters and never came close to being the overpowering, imposing pitcher that his 6-foot-9 frame would suggest.

"I know Daniel did the best he could all the time, his effort was good, his work habits were very good," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "I can't fault his approach one bit. Obviously people will say he didn't live up to what the expectations were, but that's not for me to say."

Nationals manager Manny Acta expects Cabrera to flourish this season, in part because he's now pitching for a team in the NL East.

"We feel just getting him out of the American League East and not having to face the Red Sox and Yankees and Toronto and a DH every single day, and a bigger ballpark in D.C." will help, Acta said.

Washington pitching coach Randy St. Claire has been working with Cabrera to lengthen his stride before throwing, but that might have attributed to Baltimore's four stolen bases with Cabrera on the mound. In the first inning, Adam Jones swiped third with little difficulty.

"As soon as I got on second, I was going," Jones said.

Although the results weren't exceptional, Cabrera had no real complaints about his effort.

"I was working on some stuff, working offspeed behind the count," he said. "I walked a couple guys but I feel great. That's more important."

The Nationals face the Orioles six times during the regular season, so there's a good chance Cabrera will get another shot at his former friends.

"I hope everything's good for him because he's a good guy," Baltimore pitching coach Rick Kranitz said. "I hope he has a great year. That's how much I like the guy."

Notes: Nationals RHP Shawn Hill was examined by Dr. James Andrews, and the team said he has no structural elbow damage but does have some inflammation. He was given anti-inflammatory medication, and the Nationals said he should resume throwing in a few days.