Scott Sizemore’s three-run blast in the 6th broke open a 2-1 game as the Nats tripled up the Rays, 6-2 in the 2016 Grapefruit League opener.
As is custom in spring-training road games, few regulars made the bus trip. Tanner Roark got the start and turned in two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk and while fanning three.
The win went to Rafael Martin for pitching a scoreless 5th while the hold went to Sammy Solis (1-2-3 sixth) and the save went to Erik Davis, who came on in the 9th with two men on base and retired the only batter he faced on a 4-3 groundout.
Here’s a rundown of how the watchlist minor-leaguers fared:
- Trea Turner went 0-for-2 with a strikeout as he led off and played SS
- Wilmer Difo singled and scored a run but also committed two errors
- Christopher Bostick went 1-for-3 with an RBI
- Likewise for Matt Skole
- Pedro Severino replaced Jose Lobaton as catcher and went 0-for-2
- Spencer Kieboom batted 9th as the DH but struck out in both plate appearances
- Matt Grace let up two hits in the 7th but let in neither
- Austin Voth followed and allowed two hits and a walk but also struck out three
Washington makes its Viera debut today against the New York Mets with Max Scherzer expected to start. The game can be heard on MLB audio with the away feed (sorry, it’s another week until Charlie and Dave, but it’s still better than FP).