Nats and Marlins Tie, 2-2
The Nats got single runs in the 4th and 6th to build a 2-0 lead but gave them back in the 8th and couldn’t score in their final two trips to the plate for a 2-2 kiss-your-sister tie.
Gio Gonzalez tossed two scoreless innings in his spring debut, allowing a hit and a walk while fanning two. Matt Grace blew the save with two runs (one earned) let in on three hits in the 8th.
The Watchlist players all came off the bench or out of the bullpen:
● Osvaldo Abreu subbed for Trea Turner at SS and lined out to end the 7th.
● Jose Marmolejos replaced Bryce Harper in RF and singled once in two trips to the plate.
● Kelvin Gutierrez followed Anthony Rendon at 3B but went 0-for-2.
● Rafael Bautista took over CF from Michael Taylor but was also 0-for-2.
● Wander Suero pitched around a hit and a walk in the 9th but did not allow the go-ahead run to score in his single inning pitched.
Once again, the two teams switch venues with Tanner Roark, who had been reported to pitch yesterday, expect to make his second start. The game can be heard (again) on MLB Audio with Marlins’ feed. (Get used to it: the next radio broadcast isn’t until Sunday).
Can you imagine the OF drills, where you’ve got guys like Taylor, Robles, Stevenson, and Bautista who can fly, and then Marmolejos and Adams, who lumber at best. Gotta adjust how far you’re hitting those fungos, coach!
So nice to read game recaps again after all the off the field stuff all offseason. Thanks again Luke for this.
I wonder if Kevin Long spends much (or any) time with the minor leaguers? Gutierrez, and maybe a Marmellejos and even Sagdal, Noll and Franco, seem like they might be able to get closer to their potential, increase their ceilings, with some of his instruction. That’s assuming he’s as good as his rep, but I’ll admit that Murphy’s opinion sways me towards believing it.
Good point about using Long to instruct the minor leaguers. If they can benefit from his knowledge, they become more valuable as potential Nats or trade pieces. Robles and Soto might even improve their stats.
I doubt that Long has much time to look at guys not in the major-league camp, particularly in his first year with the team when he’s got to learn the tendencies of the regulars. Gutierrez and Marmolejos are in the MLB camp, though, so Long is seeing them daily. Both are corner-position players who REALLY could benefit if Long can improve their launch angles and help them start getting balls over fences.
Now, is it possible that they’ve had Long wander over to take a look at the swings of Soto and C. Kieboom? Yeah. But I doubt he’s concerned with guys like Sagdal at this point. I do wish they were getting some spring game ABs for guys like Ward over filler like Dominguez and Reynolds, though.