Highlighted by a five-run 6th, the Nats finally got in the win column with a 9-3 win over the Braves.
Max Scherzer dispatched Atlanta on 23 pitches over two innings with a 1st-inning hiccup over the LF fence by Dansby Swanson for the lone hit and run allowed. The Nats’ ace walked none and struck out three in his spring debut. He was credited with the win.
Washington took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 2nd on a two-run single by Chris Dominguez that plated both Matts (Adams and Wieters). Two innings later, the switch-hitting catcher launched a two-run shot to put the Nats ahead, 4-1.
After giving up an unearned run in the top of the 5th – courtesy of a Jimmy Cordero walk and a Spencer Kieboom error – the second wave put the game away. Reid Brignac and Moises Sierra each drew a one-out walk to set up Kieboom’s two-run single. Osvaldo Abreu notched a one-run safety while Andrew Stevenson matched Kieboom for another two-run single that emptied the bases.
Like Scherzer, Sammy Solis was also in midseason form as he allowed the final Atlanta run on a solo HR in the 8th. NRI David Goforth wobbled through the 9th, loading the bases with one out on a single and two walks with one before getting a shallow fly to CF and a popup to third to end it.
As per usual, here’s how the Watchlist players did:
● Osvaldo Abreu, 1-2, R, RBI, K; played 2B
● Andrew Stevenson, 2-3, 2RBI; played LF
● Victor Robles, 0-3; played CF
● Jose Marmolejos, 0-2; played 1B
● Kelvin Gutierrez, 0-2, R; PH-DH
● Austin Voth, 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
● Austin Adams, 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
Quick note on Voth: He was clocked as high as 93 on the MASN broadcast radar gun, which, if accurate, is a good sign as we’d heard reports of him barely breaking 86-88 m.p.h. towards the end of last seasons.
The two teams rematch tomorrow in Lake Buena Vista with Erick Fedde scheduled to make his first appearance since last August. The game can be heard on MLB Audio with the Atlanta feed.