Nats Drop Another One, 4-3; First Cuts Announced
The Nats fell into a 4-0 hole in the middle innings and fell one run short, 4-3 to the Astros last night in Viera. It was the second straight defeat for the D.C. nine.
Bronson Arroyo got the start and tossed three perfect innings with three strikeouts. Houston had no problem with the next two relievers, getting Gott for two runs (and the loss) in the 4th and humoring Laffey for a pair in the 6th.
None of the watchlisters were in the starting lineup. Here’s a rundown of how they did coming off the bench (or from the ‘pen):
• Christopher Bostick subbed for Dan Murphy at 2B and went 1-for-2 and committed an error
• Matt Skole followed Anthony Rendon at 3B and was 1-for-2 with a run scored
• Trea Turner replaced Danny Espinosa at SS and went 0-for-1 with an RBI on a sac fly
• Abel De Los Santos pitched the 8th and worked around a leadoff single for a scoreless inning
• A.J. Cole gave up a two-out double in the 9th but retired the fourth batter on a flyout for a zero on the scoreboard
Prior to the game, the first set of cuts were announced with IF Wilmer Difo, LHP Matt Grace, and RHP Taylor Jordan optioned to AAA while C’s Raudy Read and Brian Jeroloman, RHPs Paolo Espino and Taylor Hill were reassigned to minor-league camp.
The early options surprise me. I suspect Difo is going to the AAA camp just so he can play full time, particularly in the field, but I thought they would give him more time around the MLB club. Grace had 26 appearances for the big club last year but didn’t even get much of a look this time around. And you have to wonder whether this was Taylor Jordan’s last real chance to show something to the Nats, with Giolito, Cole, and perhaps Voth likely now ahead of him on the call-up list. It wasn’t that long ago when people had him penciled in as the Nats’ fifth starter by now.
Anyone still doubt that Arroyo is ticketed to be the 5th starter? His stuff looked excellent yesterday. I actually would not be surprised to see Ross sent to AAA to start the season–and maybe even have the start of his season delayed so that he will be available in September and (hopefully) October since his innings limit will probably be somewhere around 180 this year.
If not, Roark is probably headed to the bullpen again.
Good points
He topped out at 81-82mph. His stuff looked “excellent” when well located against a free swinging Astros club. In his other outing this Spring he was pummeled. It’s a bit early to start writing him in as the #5.
I guess not the 82 mph was indicative of shoulder issues which continue to plague the 39 year old.