It might not have been pretty—four runs scored on an error and three sacrifice flies —but the Nats stopped a four-game slide with a 7-3 win over the Twins this afternoon.
James Wood also broke out of a mini-slump with a single, triple, and two runs scored while starting in right field. He was the sole watchlister to start.
But, not one but two watchlist pitchers made it into the game.
Jackson Rutledge, who last appeared in a game February 28, tossed three innings of one-run ball on one hit, one walk, and one Robles. He struck out two. Overall, he’s allowed three runs on six hits and five walks over seven innings while striking out seven.
Mitchell Parker kept his ERA at 0.00 with his fourth scoreless outing, allowing one hit and issuing no walks in two innings. That brings his spring (hey that rhymes!) totals to six innings, two hits, no runs (duh), no walks (wait, what?), and three whiffs.
Six watchlist players came in off the bench:
- Elijah Green pinch-ran for Victor Robles in the 6th, then led off the 9th with a walk and scored the final Washington run
- Darren Baker subbed for Luis García Jr. in the 6th and pushe Green to third with a single in the 9th. He did not get picked off like some other second baseman.
- Yohandy Morales replaced Carter Kieboom at 3B in the 6th, singled in the 7th, and drove in Green with a sac fly in the 9th
- Andrew Pinckney followed Alex Call in LF in the 6th and grounded out in the 7th
- Max Romero was the second backstop after Riley Adams and grounded out in the 8th
- Jorgelys Mota pinch-hit for DH Jake Alu but struck out in his only at-bat
The win improves Washington to 7-8 for the spring. Tomorrow, they visit Jupiter, FL to play the Cardinals. Patrick Corbin is slated to make his fourth start. The game can be heard on MLB Radio with both teams broadcasting.