The barrage began with a long home run by Bryce Harper in the 2nd, continued with two-run blasts by Neftali Soto (5th) and Andrew Stevenson (6th) and finished with Matt Skole’s solo shot as the Nats totaled four long balls in an 8-6 win over the Mets in the 2017 Grapefruit League opener.
Beginning with Gio Gonzalez, the Nats paraded seven pitchers for an inning apiece before Austin Adams and Derke Eitel imploded in New York’s three-run 8th, and Mike “No Relation to Larry” Broadway coughed up two runs in the 9th.
The “W” was credited to Matt Albers and an “H” went to Eitel despite letting in two of three inherited runners. The Nats pitchers walked nine total and struck out six.
Here’s a rundown on how the watchlist players fared:
• Rafael Bautista followed Adam Eaton in CF and went 1-2 with a run scored before he was replaced by Brandon Snyder
• Brian Goodwin subbed for Harper in RF and was 0-for-2
• Skole also walked in relief of Adam Lind at 1B to reach base twice
• Drew Ward took over for Neftali Soto at 3B and went 0-for-1 with a walk
• Raudy Read pinch-hit for DH Clint Robinson in the 9th and grounded into a 5-4-3 DP
Tomorrow, the Nats visit the Twins in Game Two of the three-game road trip to open the 2017 spring training schedule.