Stephen Strasburg made his second outing but was strafed for two runs on three hits and two walks over three and 1/3rd innings. He did, however, strike out five and hit 99 on the (more than likely juiced) stadium gun while throwing 63 pitches, 39 for strikes. Austin Adams came on to stop the bleeding as he got the last two outs in the 4th, issuing a walk, fanning one, and stranding one.
Jose Marmolejos was the only Watchlist player to get the start, as he played 1B but went 0-for-3 with two whiffs.
Here’s how the Watchlist players did yesterday:
● Victor Robles took over CF from Brian Goodwin and drove in two with an 8th-inning single. He was 1-for-2 overall.
● Kelvin Gutierrez subbed for Anthony Rendon at 3B and reached base twice with a single in the 7th and a walk in the 8th.
● Andrew Stevenson followed Bryce Harper in RF and scored in the 8th on Robles’s single after drawing a walk.
● Pedro Severino was the second catcher after Miguel Montero and grounded out in the 8th.
● Wander Suero threw two pitches in the 8th and was removed due to “left side tightness”
Prior to the game, Washington announced Austin Voth had been optioned to Syracuse while Osvaldo Abreu, Jimmy Cordero, Brady Dragmire, David Goforth, Taylor Gushue, Roman Mendez and Cesar Vargas were reassigned to minor-league camp. Today is the first of two scheduled off days in Florida (a third is the day before an exhibition against the Twins on March 27th).
Tomorrow, the Nats play the Astros yet again as the road team in West Palm Beach. Gio Gonzalez is expected to pitch while the game will be broadcast locally on WJFK 106.7FM and (*sigh*) 1580AM after the start of the Caps game.