Heavy rains wash out Astros-Nationals

Mar 11, 2010 - 5:33 PM VIERA, Fla.(AP) -- Thursday's scheduled exhibition game between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals has been canceled because of rain.

The game, which was to pit Nationals left-hander John Lannan against Houston right-hander Roy Oswalt, was called at 12:22 p.m. EST after two hours of heavy rain swept through central Florida.

Brevard County, home to the Nationals' spring camp, is under a tornado watch until 6 p.m.

Washington RHP Livan Hernandez threw a simulated game Wednesday and is scheduled to make his spring training debut Sunday. Hernandez, signed to a minor league contract earlier this month, will pitch in relief of the scheduled starter, RHP Stephen Strasburg.