After Lucas Giolito was lit up for a pair of runs in his second inning of relief in the 8th, the Nats took him off the hook for the loss with a three-run rally in the 9th for a 6-4 win over the Astros.
The comeback gave Michael Brady the win. The architect converted IF got the last out of the 8th while stranding two runners. Aaron Laffey retired the side in order in the 9th to earn the save.
Gio Gonzalez started and struggled again with his control, walking four batters in four innings while giving up a run on a leadoff HR in the 4th. He allowed three hits total and struck out four.
Giolito came on in the 7th and gave up a leadoff single, but then retired the next three batters on flyballs. In the 8th, he struck out the first batter before walking the second. After another whiff, it looked like the 21-y.o. would escape but he then walked a second batter before giving up back-to-back singles that plated both baserunners and ended his outing.
Giolito’s final line: 1⅔ IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K. No word on how many cakes, pies, or breads baked.
Trea Turner helped spark the 9th-inning comeback with a one-out double, then scored on Clint Robinson’s two-run two-bagger. The 22-y.o. watchlist SS finished 1-for-2 to improve his spring average to .190 in relief of Danny Espinosa, who has as many hits in 2016 as most of the people reading this do.
Pedro Severino got the start at catcher and was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Isaac Ballou came off the bench and played RF and was 0-for-1 with flyout in the 9th ahead of Turner.
The Nats stay on the buses for another road trip this afternoon to visit the Marlins. Bronson Arroyo is expected to start and the game can be heard on MLB Radio.