The first of two spring doubleheaders saw neither squad win as the home crew was shut out, 4-0 by the Marlins and the road team was pummeled by the Mets, 13-4.
As is custom in spring training, most of the 25-man guys stayed home in Viera. Gio Gonzalez started but was charged with all four Miami runs on four hits and two walks over two and 2/3rds innings. The offense was limited to just four and four walks total while striking out 11 times.
Michael Taylor notched the only extra-base hit, a leadoff triple that neither Ian Desmond (grounder to the mound) nor Bryce Harper (popup to 2B) nor Ryan Zimmerman (grounder to 3B) could cash in to break up the shutout. Matt Skole (single), Josh Johnson (walk), and Mike Carp (walk) were the only reserves to reach base.
In Port St. Lucie, the AAAA-laden lineup was held scoreless until the 7th when Sandy Leon (1-for-2, BB) drove in two on a two-out single while Ian Stewart jumped on journeyman Erik Goeddel for a two-run blast. A report that Goeddel was seen applying at a Publix could not be confirmed.
Tanner Roark got the start vs. the Mets, but was once again ineffective — 2⅔ IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, BB, K, HR. Matt Grace (1⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, K, 1-0 IR-S) and Taylor Hill (1⅔ IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 2K, HR) were among the parade of relievers to follow Roark.
Among the notable minor-leaguers to appear…
• Shawn Pleffner pinch-hit and played 1B, going 0-for-1
• Jason Martinson pinch-ran and played SS, going 1-for-1 with two runs scored
• Randolph Oduber pinch-hit for the DH, going 0-for-1
Prior to the games yesterday, UT Jeff Kobernus was optioned to Syracuse. This morning, the Nationals optioned RHP Taylor Hill to Syracuse while reassigning RHPs Eric Fornataro, Mitch Lively & Scott McGregor to minor-league camp, which begins today. Thanks to Jack Tavenner, a.k.a. @NatsJack on the Twitters, folks interested in this year’s minor-league schedule can find it here.