After rallying for two runs to tie the game in the top of the 9th, the Nats gave it away with a leadoff walk, an error, a wild pitch, and a two-out single for a 3-2 loss to the Braves.
Danny Rosenbaum suffered the loss as the Washington pitcher in the 9th, charged with the run while striking out one in ⅔rds of an inning. It was his second appearance of the spring.
Jordan Zimmerman marched like McClellan Sherman through the Atlanta lineup, striking out four while working around two singles and a walk, including a 1st and 3rd with two outs situation set up by an error by Tyler Moore, the first of four DC errors.
Blake Treinen was the first man out of the ‘pen and continues to impress with mid-90s heat, though he did allow three hits and a walk in his two innings.
After Ross Ohlendorf loaded up the bases and let in the first Braves run with three singles and a walk, Aaron Barrett minimized the damage with double play ball to the first batter he faced, scoring the second Braves run, and inducing a flyball by Ernesto “Ole” Mejia to end the inning.
Two innings later, Felipe Rivero tossed a 1-2-3 eighth to keep the Nats in the game.
Career backup catchers Chris Snyder and Koyie Hill homered and singled to open the Washington 9th. Eury Perez sacrificed Stephen Perez, who pinch-ran for Hill, to second. Two batters later, Michael Taylor delivered the equalizer with a single to LF to tie the game. Alas, Matt Skole struck out to the end the frame.
Here’s a rundown of how the notable minor-leaguers fared coming off the bench, with the exception of Steve Souza, who got the start in RF:
• Jeff Kobernus went 1-for-1 as the replacement for Anthony Rendon at 2B
• Jason Martinson followed Danny Espinosa at SS but was 0-for-2 with a strikeout
• Skole doubled in his first AB to go 1-for-2 at Tyler Moore’s sub at 1B
• Cutter Dykstra went 0-for-1 with a strikeout at 3B in relief of Will Rhymes
• Brian Goodwin struck out twice in two ABs while playing LF in place of Scott Hairston
• Souza went 0-for-2
The Nats are back in action this afternoon in Viera as they play host to Houston. Doug Fister is slated to make his second start. Per Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Tanner Roark will get the start. The can be heard locally on 1500 and 1580AM as Charlie Slowes and Dave Jaegler have the call.