The Nats burst from the gate to score three in the 1st and two in the 3rd then held off a late charge from the Mets to win 7-4.
Max Scherzer dominated New York’s regulars with nine K’s and just one hit allowed over five shutout innings for the win. Veterans Ryan Madson and Joaquin Benoit were “working on some things” for all four Mets runs in the 7th and 8th innings before Tim Collins cut things short in the 9th to earn the save.
Victor Robles and Jose Marmolejos continue to get reps in place of ailing regulars. Both were 1-for-3 with an RBI while playing CF and 1B, respectively.
Likewise, Andrew Stevenson and Rafael Bautista came off the bench to pinch-run and take the field (left and right). Bautista scored a run in Bryce Harper’s stead while Stevenson smacked a two-run double in the 6th to give the Nats a 7-0 lead before Madson and Benoit did their neck stretches.
Today is the final off day in Florida. They’ll play the next three in West Palm Beach against the usual suspects (Astros, Cardinals, and Mets) before heading to Jupiter (FL, natch) to play the Cards and Marlns on Sunday and Monday.