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.