The Washington regulars jumped on Houston starter—and former Nats farmhand—Brad Peacock for four in the 1st and cruised to a 13-1 demolition for their third straight spring win, smacking three HRs (Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, Anthony Rendon) and collecting 18 hits total.
The Syracuse auditions continued with another eight relievers combining for the nine innings of one-run ball, beginning with Kyle McGowin (a.k.a. the other guy the Nats got from the Angels), who tossed two scoreless innings and gave up three hits and no walks or whiffs. Sammy Solis, Shawn Kelley, and Blake Treinen each put up a goose egg as in their spring debuts.
Rafael Martin lost the shutout in the 9th with a solo HR allowed and a LaLoosh-like line of two walks and three strikeouts.
Just two watchlist players saw game action. [Insert off-color, off-the-field innuendo here]:
• Rafael Bautista subbed for CF Adam Eaton and played right field. He went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
• Andrew Stevenson replaced LF Clint Robinson in left field but was hitless in two at-bats.
Tomorrow is the first of two scheduled split squad days. One contingent will host the Cardinals while the other will visit the Marlins. Both games can be heard on MLB Audio with the away feeds.