Nats Rally in 8th, Win 6-4
Andrew Stevenson’s two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the 8th was the difference as the Nats beat the Mets, 6-4 Thursday afternoon.
Stephen Strasburg made his second spring start and tossed four scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out five. Matt Grace blew a 4-1 lead in the 6th as he gave up three runs on a walk and five hits while getting the last out in the 6th and the first two outs in the 7th.
The win went to Kyle Barraclough for a scoreless 8th while Henderson Alvarez wobbled through the 9th with a hit and two walks but didn’t let any of ’em in to earn the save.
Four watchlist players appeared in the game:
● Jake Noll took over 1B from Ryan Zimmerman in the 5th and went 0-for-2.
● Jose Marmolejos shifted Noll over to 3rd in the 6th and went 0-for-1 with a BB and a K.
● Luis Garcia pinch-ran and scored for 2B Brian Dozier; he singled and scored again in the 8th.
● Telmito Agustin assumed LF duties from Juan Soto and flew out in the 8th.
Patrick Corbin is scheduled for his third spring start this afternoon in Jupiter as the Nats visit the Cards. Like yesterday, the game will not be broadcast on TV or radio.
We haven’t mentioned it much here, but there is one of “our guys” making a serious bid to stick with the big club. That’s Austen Williams, who we used to watch return to Potomac every year as surely as the swallows return to Capistrano. Frankly, at this time last year, I wasn’t sure he would still be in camp. The leap forward he made in 2018 after the switch to the bullpen was remarkable.
The big club really needs a true “long man,” and Williams has been outstanding thus far in the spring. With Glover and Miller injured and Suero somewhat shaky, there may be a crack in the bullpen door. We’ll see. Even if Williams doesn’t stick right out of camp, if he keeps pitching like he did in 2018, he’ll make it back to Half Street sooner or later.
The Nats have been oddly averse to converting starters to relievers, so it’s strange to see them attempt it to Williams (granted, the writing was long on the wall for Williams’ future as a SP).
I’d really like to see them experiment with Fedde and Voth in relief, since they’ve been very bad in the upper levels/big leagues while starting the past couple years.
It’s doubly important because it’s looking like Rizzo has yet again left us thin in relief. It’s only a matter of time before he deals Garcia or Kieboom for another short-term fix that doesn’t work out.
Williams , Hoover and Copeland auditions beckon the theme song from A Chorus Line
Kids should be riding the bus to Jupiter today
Wouldn’t be surprised to see some missed-the-cut types like Istler, Mills, Keller, Ward get into today’s game.
Those four on the fence as to their April plotting ? F troop or Burg ??
Time for the Nats promotion Garden Noll knome?? Drum roll Cymbeline please , Luke
Shall we take with a grain of salt that Day , Rhinesmith and Sharp were invited to come over into the bus headed to Jupiter today ? Or are they really shining on the back fields ?
Is Rhinesmith a legit athletic enough RF?!
Rhinesmith singled off a real live major league pitcher in the ninth inning. That made me smile. He could top out at High-A and he’ll still have that story to tell his grandkids.