Five Nationals pitchers combined to shut out the Georgetown Hoyas for a 3-0 win this afternoon.
None of the Nats runs were earned, as the Nationals pushed across runs in the first, fourth and sixth innings but only drove in one via a base hit. Brett Carroll got the Homer Simpson RBI with a HBP for the first run, as a Xavier Paul single, a walk to Bryce Error and fielding error loaded the bases with one out.
Eury Perez scored the second run in the fourth on a Sandy Leon sac fly. Perez had pinch-run for Corey Brown and took third on a steal and an error. He would score again in the sixth as the Hoyas committed their fourth error on the Dominican centerfielder’s would-be groundout to third, which advanced him to second. Zach Walters cashed in the mistake for the lone hit with RISP, as the Nationals were a woeful 1-for-12 for the game.
Matt Purke got the win with three innings of one-hit ball. According to the beat writers at the game, the former TCU southpaw touched 91-93 on the gun while walking one and striking out three.
Rafael Martin and Waldis Joaquin each tossed two innings and allowed one hit after Purke left the game. Austin Bibens-Dirkx struck out the side in a 1-2-3 eighth inning while Jeff Fulchino allowed the fourth and final Hoya safety while closing out the game in the ninth.
The five pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and walked none.
Other highlights from the boxscore:
- Jeff Kobernus went 1-for-1 with a walk
- Tyler Moore went 1-for-2 with a double
- Destin Hood and Justin Bloxom both drew walks in their two PA off the bench
The official start of the Grapefruit League begins tomorrow, with the Nationals visiting the Houston Astros in Kissimmee. Bryce Harper is expected to start in right field again, with Edwin Jackson getting the start, and Sean Burnett, Ross Detwiler, Chad Durbin, and Ryan Perry the announced pitchers to follow. The game will be broadcast on 106.7FM, while MASN is set to televise the game on Sunday, for which Steven Strasburg is the announced starting pitcher.