Nats ‘Pen Implodes; Sun Rises in East
The Nats built a 5-0 lead after three innings, with Max Scherzer laying three goose eggs across the bottom of the “Fenway South” scoreboard. In the space of 13 batters, beginning in the 4th and ending with a two-run HR to the third batter faced in the 5th (and no outs), the Red Sox erased that lead to take a 7-5 lead.
Erick Fedde, the first man out of the ‘pen, took the loss as he retired just three of 12 batters faced over the course of one-plus innings. Kyle McGowin was charged with a blown save, as he let in both inherited runners plus four more of his own while eventually getting three outs to end the 5th.
Ronald Pena got another reality check as five Boston reserves got to him for three runs on two walks and two hits (he struck out former teammate Tony Renda), as J.J. Hoover ended the Boston scoring run with two groundouts for the game’s eventual 13-5 score.
Victor Robles, Carter Kieboom, and Jake Noll were all in the starting lineup in CF, SS, and 3B respectively:
• Robles was hitless but drew a walk.
• Kieboom lofted a sac fly in the 3rd for the final Washington run.
• Noll cooled off to .750 as hoe only went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
Three more watchlist players came off the bench:
• Jose “Orange” Marmolejos flew out to RF to open the 8th.
• Luis Garcia pinch-hit for DH Pedro Severino and struck out for the second out in the 8th.
• Tres Barrera, the third Nats catcher, struck out for the third time in as many appearances for the second out of the 9th.
The loss drops Washington to .500 for the spring at 3-3. The Nats head back to Jupiter to play the Marlins with Stephen Strasburg scheduled to make his first start.
I was going to watch the game on the MLB network, but they pre-empted it for the Harper hullabaloo. I’m sorry I missed Max’s performance, but the rest of the staff was pretty bad. It’s still only ST.
The two significant things of the day: the Fedde implosion and the Martinez talk of Taylor playing as much or more than Robles, and of making Robles flip-flop between CF and RF. That would be the DUMBEST thing you could do with a young OF.
DUMB has been Martinez’a calling card ever since he first became the manager. Let’s just hope Zimmerman actually deigns to play today.
Very curious this season to see. How the networks love the Nats less then the Phillies unless Robles and Soto are pop duel matinee stars .
My birthday in 30 days , Rizzo. Sign CARGO. Nothing on Stevenson but he makes the bench liteBud
Is Cargo good enough to warrant the financial outlay when they already have far cheaper Matt Adams who seems okay in left field? I don’t think Nat’s ownership would go for it without some dropping some payroll. Zim I think is the only choice this season, they need everyone else. He made 5 million last season and did okay part-time for the Rockies last season. Have to wonder why they didn’t bring him back? But sure, Cargo over Stevenson.
For any fans heading to Fresno this summer or more importantly the players and staff in F- troop .. there is a BBQ place nearby Fresno State campus : dogpound BBQ ??
There is BBQ everywhere … unlike most of the coast people eat lots of comfort food, greasy fattening stuff in Fresno. You will see trailers everywhere off the road selling BBQ tri-tip, chorizo, etc from mobile Santa Maria BBQ’s. And I do mean everywhere. I might just find my way there to hide in the stands incognito as I did in Syracuse, nats park, space coast.
The Kimbrel rumor shoots down harmless chat about bench addition if Adams is the preferred addition
Cargo to the Mets on a minor league deal … that’s actually sad, maybe the players have a point?
Of the 27 pitchers the Nats have used thus far, 10 have ERAs north of 10.00. Bullpen depth is already a problem and we aren’t even a week into the ST games.