The Nats dug out of a 2-0 hole with a four-run 5th and a two-run 6th to win their second 2018 Grapefruit League game, 6-2 over the Braves.
A.J. Cole made his first start of the spring and turned in two scoreless innings, though he had runners in scoring position in both frames – giving up a walk and a single with two outs in the 1st and a one-out double in the 2nd.
Austin Voth was the first man out of the ‘pen, but was not as sharp as he was on Sunday. He was torched for both Atlanta runs on four hits in just a single inning, including back-to-back-to-back singles with one out. He walked none and struck out one.
Jose “Orange” Marmolejos, one of five Watchlist players in the starting lineup, got the line moving with leadoff double and scored three batters later on Kelvin Gutierrez (1-3, 2RBI “single.” Following a Reid Brignac walk, Spencer Kieboom drove in two with a single while Brian Goodwin capped off the binge with a RBI groundout to plate Brignac.
In the 6th, Victor Robles singled with one out and Marmolejos walked. Andrew Stevenson cashed ’em in with a two-out, two-run double to complete Washington’s scoring on the day.
Enny Romero was awarded the “W” while Bryan Harper was credited with a hold. Austin Adams struck out two while pitching a scoreless 7th.
Here’s a rundown of how the Watchlist batters fared:
● Robles started in CF and went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
● Marmolejos started at 1B and scored twice while going 1-for-2 with a walk.
● Pedro Severino started at C and scored once while going 0-for-2.
● Stevenson started in LF and was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
● Gutierrez started at 3B and was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
● Taylor Gushue followed Severino at catcher and lined out in his only AB.
● Rafael Bautista subbed for Robles in CF and reached on a throwing error in his sole PA.
● Daniel Johnson took over in RF for Goodwin and struck out in the 8th.
● Osvaldo Abreu pinch-ran and played for 2B Brignac and lined out in the 9th.
The Nats head to Port St. Lucie with Max Scherzer making his second start of the spring. There is no TV or radio broadcast today.