The Nats rallied from a 3-0 deficit with a picket fence in the middle innings, but lost to the Cards on a HR in the 8th, 4-3.
Tanner Roark got the start but was not sharp, allowing the aforementioned three runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. Shawn Kelly wore the loss, giving up a solo HR to start the 8th [insert midseason form joke here] and three hard-hit balls total before St. Louis ran itself out of the inning.
Victor Robles and Jose Marmolejos once again started in center field and at first base, respectively. Robles grounded to third in the 2nd and drove in the first Washington run on a sac fly in the 5th while Marmolejos grounded out twice to the right side of the infield.
Four Watchlist players came off the bench:
● Rafael Bautista subbed for Robles again in CF and drew a pair of walks, but was thrown out trying to steal in the 7th.
● Carter Kieboom took over SS from Trea Turner and reached base on an error in the 7th and struck out to end the game.
● Andrew Stevenson was the second left fielder and drew a walk with one out in the 7th but was erased on an inning-ending DP.
● Drew Ward pinch-hit for DH Howe Kendrick and whiffed for the third out in the 8th.
The Nats fall to 7-8-2 in Grapefruit League play. Edwin Jackson is slated to start against the Tigers in Lakeland. The game will be broadcast on MLB.tv and MLB audio (Detroit feed for both).