Cards Triple Up Nats, 9-3
St. Louis went to town on Stephen Strasburg with four in the 1st and two in the 2nd and cruised to a 9-3 win over Washington.
Strasburg retired just six of 14 batters faced while giving up a walk and seven hits, which did not include a home run. [Insert obligatory remark about pitching from the stretch, reminder that it’s spring training here.]
Matt Skole, Brian Goodwin, and Pedro Severino were among the starters at 3B, RF, and C, respectively. Skole singled and walked in two PA’s. Goodwin struck out twice and grounded into a double play to lower his spring BA to .059 while Severino singled twice to push his mark to .571.
Here’s a rundown on how the rest of the watchlist players did:
• Rhett Wiseman subbed for Adam Lind in LF and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
• Rafael Bautista followed Michael Taylor in CF and singled in his lone AB.
• Andrew Stevenson replaced Goodwin in RF and grounded out to end the 8th.
• Raudy Read was the second catcher and whiffed to lead off the 7th.
The loss drops the Nats below .500 at 5-6 for the spring. They return to BotPB today to host the Marlins with A.J. Cole expected to make the start. The game can be heard on MLB Audio (Miami feed).
At some point during spring training, when there is a call to bring up some minor leaguers asfiller for a split squad, I really hope they bring up John Lannan for old times’ sake.
How weird would it be if at some point later this season submariner Lannan ended up back with the Nats as a LOOGY while J.D. Martin and his knuckleball suddenly found success as a substitute 5th starter?
Where is Peric to make JD his 4A player of the year. He loved him some JD back a few years ago.