Nats Make it to .500 with 9-5 win over Mets

The Nats struck early again and piled on late to take their third straight ST game, 9-5 over the Mets.

Joe Ross made his first appearance since last spring, going 1⅔ innings with one run let in on one hit and one walk while striking out three.

Once again the watchlist players and notable minor-leaguers were relegated to coming off the bench:

• Luis García pinch-hit for CF Victor Robles and went 0-for-1 with a walk but scored two runs. He committed an error at 2B
• Yasel Antuna pinch-hit DH Josh Bell and doubled off journeyman Stephen Tarpley to raise his spring BA to .333
• Tres Barrera pinch-ran for C Alex Avila in the 6th and grounded into a DP to end the 7th

The win improved Washington to 3-3-1 for 2021 spring training.

It’s a 6:05 p.m. start in West Palm Beach tonight against the Astros, with Stephen Strasburg expected to make his first 2021 ST appearance. The game can be heard via MLB Radio with… wait a minute… really? OK… both teams broadcasting.

It’s a small thing, but while dodging questions yesterday in his press conference, GM Mike Rizzo confirmed that Fredericksburg will be used as the Alternate Site. He also mentioned that there will also be a camp in Florida, though it was not clear if he was referring to the minor-league camp that’s expected to begin next month.

Dan Connolly, Orioles beat writer for The Athletic, reported last Friday that MASN could potentially air four spring training games apiece for the Orioles and Nationals. Among the “reasons” cited were the COVID protocols and… wait for it… money. Astros radio broadcasters noted that the Mets weren’t allowing them into Port St. Luice due to the size/layout of the press boxes.

However, Connolly notes that the latter may be the more likely explanation, particularly as teams have the right this year to shorten games to five innings through Saturday and seven innings thereafter. Connolly further cites that MASN production crew members have not been informed. He did not broach the subject as to whether MASN might use local options.