Rays Sting Nats for an 8-1 Loss

Tampa Bay jumped on Stephen Strasburg for three in the 2nd to erase an early 1-0 deficit and piled on five more over the next four innings for an 8-1 win over Washington.

Strasburg retired just four of eight batters faced, though three were by way of the K. He gave up three hits and one walk total in his first ST outing.

Non-roster invitees Dakota Bacus and Kevin Quackenbush combined with James Bourque for a scoreless inning apiece to close out the game.

Carter Kieboom returned to the starting lineup at third base and went 0-for-2 with a walk. He did not commit an error, making one putout on a nifty race-to-the-bag when Vidal Brujan attempted to take third against an infield shift.

Other notable minor-leaguers to appear were:

• Yadiel Hernandez also started and got off the interstate (now hitting .214) for the spring with a 1-for-3 afternoon while playing left field.
• Taylor Gushue subbed for Yan Gomes but was 0-for-2 for the game, 0-for-6 for the Spring.
• Jake Noll followed Kieboom at 3B and drew a walk in the 9th.
• Cody Wilson replaced Hernandez in LF and singled to push Noll to second, where he watched the last two outs of the game.

The Nats head back out to Jupiter to rematch against the Cardinals. Patrick Corbin is expected to make his first start of the spring.

The game can be seen on MLB.tv (St. Louis feed) and heard on MLB Audio. Barring any news of a hangnail for the local NFL team, WJFK 106.7 will broadcast the game.