Hustling For First Spring Win

In a game that featured a lot of hustle, but not much flow, the Nats made just a few more plays than the Mets for a 3-1 win tonight.

The two teams combined for eight stolen base attempts, multiple hit-and-run plays, and players trying to extend singles into doubles. Despite all the running, just four runs crossed the plate.

John Lannan got the start and turned in a workmanlike effort of one run allowed on three hits and a walk over three innings with a single strikeout. Four relievers followed, with Craig Stammen getting the win on Mark Teahen’s sacrifice fly that broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth.

Bryce Harper reached base three times with single up the middle, a full-count walk, and an infield hit to third. On defense, he was much more conservative, keeping his feet beneath him while playing error-free in right field.

Steve Lombardozzi went 1-for-3 on offense, and looked sharp on defense, turning an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the first to kill an early New York rally. He finished with three assists in four innings.

Other notable minor-leaguer lines:

• Eury Perez pinch-ran and scored the second run of the game, then doubled in his only at-bat
• Carlos Rivero went 0-for-2 and left two runners on
• Tyler Moore went 0-for-1 but played solid defense at first
• Corey Brown went 1-for-1 but committed the cardinal sin of making the final out of an inning at 3B
• Jhonatan Solano drove in the 3rd Nats run with a 7th-inning groundout but caught just one of four Mets that ran on him
• Anthony Rendon struck out and drew a walk as PH for the DH to remain hitless in spring training
• Zach Walters also struck out in his AB, but snared a grounder up the middle for one the game’s best plays on defense

Gio Gonzalez makes his spring debut tomorrow afternoon as the Nats head to the House of the Mouse (Lake Buena Vista) to take on the Atlanta Braves, with the prospects (including Harper) coming off the bench.