The Nats scored in each of their last four “ups,” capped by a four-run 8th, as they ended a three-game losing streak with a 10-7 win over the Mets.
Josiah Gray stretched past three innings in his third spring start, giving up a run on five hits and a walk while striking out four. The win went to Anthony Banda in relief while Matt Cronin worked around both the tying and go-ahead runs with three groundouts in the 9th to earn the save.
Jeter Downs got the start at second base, as the Nats appear hell-bent on trying to turn the December 2022 waiver claim into a bench player. He went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored and was also placed in CF and SS on defense.
Rule 5 claim Thad Ward suffered his first rough outing of the spring, as he let in four runs on two and two walks over an inning and a 1/3rd as the first reliever out of the ‘pen.
Four watchlist players also appeared in the game:
- Jacob Young came in on defense in the 6th and went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored
- Armando Cruz replaced Downs at SS in the top of the 8th and hit a two-run, go-ahead double in the bottom of the 8th
- Trey Lipscomb took over third base in the 7th and homered to send in Cruz and complete the four-run 8th
- Drew Millas subbed for Keibert Ruiz at catcher but was 0-for-2 and committed an error
Washington visits St. Louis this afternoon. MacKenzie Gore is slated to make his fourth spring start, opposed by Steven Matz. The game can be heard locally on 106.7FM.
As noted in the comments, UT Jake Alu and OF Jeremy De La Rosa were optioned on Friday to Rochester and Harrisburg respectively.