Highlighted by a game-tying grand slam off the bat of Darren Baker, the Nats scored eight times in the 9th to turn a 7-3 deficit into an 11-7 win over the Astros. It was Washington’s fourth straight win.
MacKenzie Gore was battered for five runs on nine hits, including two HRs. The 24-y.o. southpaw walked two and struck out three over four innings.
José Ferrer was the pitcher of record after giving up a run on two hits and no walks in the bottom of the 8th. He struck out one while getting the “W.”
Five watchlist players came off the bench or in from the bullpen:
- Thad Ward got the last out of the 7th while stranding two runners
- Jeter Downs subbed for Alex Call in CF in the 6th and went 1-for-3 with two whiffs
- Baker, who followed Luis García at 2B, also singled and scored a run in the 8th
- Daylen Lile replaced Corey Dickerson in LF and went 1-for-2 with an RBI
- Trey Lipscomb came in at 3B in the 7th and drew walks in both the 8th and 9th innings, scoring ahead of Cody Wilson’s two-run double in the 9th
The Nats remain in West Palm Beach this afternoon to host the Marlins. Trevor Williams is slated to make his fourth start of the spring, opposed by Sandy Alcantara.
The game will be the second of three (3) spring training games broadcast on MASN. It can also be heard on MLB.com (both teams’ feeds) and locally on 106.7FM.
The following players were released earlier this week:
- RHP Karlo Seijas
- LHP Michael Kirian
- OF Tito Polo
More releases are likely to come later this month, presumably before the Red Wings break camp for their March 31 Opening Day.