Homers by Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos accounted for five of the six runs scored in the Washington 1st, as the Nats rocketed past the Astros, 8-5 for their fifth win of the spring.
Tanner Roark, who was scheduled to relieve, instead got the start as Doug Fister was scratched with a sore elbow. The 27-y.o. turned in two and 2/3rds innings, giving up a run on a home run and four hits total. He walked none and struck out three.
Christian Garcia struck out the final batter of the 3rd but gave up two unearned runs on two hits and a walk in the 4th for his second uneven appearance out of three this spring.
Zach Walters rebounded from his (stomach) flu-like symptoms and picked up where he left off with a two-run single in the bottom of the 6th to undo the damage done by Rafael Soriano’s spring debut, a typical non-save “effort” of 1IP, 6BF, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, K. The 1-for-2 effort lowered his batting average from .857 to .778.
Here’s how the other notable minor-leaguers did coming off the bench:
• Michael Taylor replaced Denard Span in CF but was 0-for-2
• Steve Souza subbed for Jayson Werth in RF and went 0-for-1
• Eury Perez was 1-for-1 with ground-rule double, spelling Harper (presumably H-A-R-P-E-R) in LF
• Matt Skole took over 3B from Ryan Zimmerman and drew a walk, but was thrown out trying steal second behind Perez
• Sandy Leon pinch-hit for Tyler Moore in the DH spot but flew out to CF in his only AB
• Jeff Kobernus followed Jamey Carroll at 2B and fell victim to Carlos Correa’s cannon at SS on your run-of-the-mill 5-6-3 groundout in his sole PA
The Nats split the squads tomorrow with games against the Cardinals in Jupiter and hosting the Braves in Viera.