This time, the Nats gave up four runs late rather than early to turn a 4-1 lead into a 5-4 defeat in Game 3 of 2017 Spring Training.
Tanner Roark got the start and dealt three scoreless innings to the Cards, with no walks and two hits allowed while striking out four.
The Nats scored single runs in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 8th innings while collecting 10 hits on the afternoon. They left on just seven runners while going 2-for-6 with RISP.
Here’s a rundown on how the watchlist players did:
• Rafael Bautista followed Bryce Harper in RF and went 0-for-2 with a groundout and a strikeout
• Drew Ward subbed for Anthony Rendon at 3B and grounded out in his sole at-bat in the 7th
• Matt Skole was the second 1B and rolled a 4-3 grounder to lead off the 8th
• Andrew Stevenson raised his spring BA to .429 with a pair of singles and stole a base as the replacement for Adam Eaton in CF
• Raudy Read drew a walk and popped out to second while spelling Jhonatan Solano at catcher. He did not allow a passed ball.
The Nats play their first home spring training game tomorrow, which will be broadcast live on MASN and WJFK (1580AM) at 1 p.m. and rebroadcast at 7 p.m. on MASN tomorrow night.