Astros Blank Nats, 3-0

Back-to-back singles with two out in the 9th brought the tying run to the plate, but Andrew Pinckney struck out looking as the Nats dropped their first 2025 Grapefruit League game, 3-0 to the Astros.

DJ Herz made his first start of the spring but was taken deep for a two-run HR following a two-out walk. He would then give up back-to-back singles before getting the last out of the 1st. He faced three batters in the 2nd, retiring two and walking one before he was lifted from the game.

Robert Hassell was the sole watchlist player in the starting lineup. He got the start in CF, as both Dylan Crews and Jacob Young were given the afternoon off. Hassell reached base on an infield single in the bottom of the 5th to lift his spring BA to .455.

Here’s how the rest of “our guys” fared:

• Cayden Wallace subbed for Luis Garcia Jr. at 2B and was hit by a pitch but did not leave the game
• Brady House replaced Jose Tena at 3B and struck out looking in his sole plate appearance
• Darren Baker appeared in LF in relief of Juan Yepez and was 1-for-2
• Yoyo Morales flipped back over to 1B on defense and had a single and a strikeout
• Pinckney followed Hassell in CF but went 0-for-2 with the aforementioned whiff
• Tyler Stuart worked a 1-2-3 seventh with a K
• Jarlin Susana retired all three batters he faced in the 8th
• Marquis Grissom Jr. let in the final Houston run on a one-out walk and a two-out single

The Nats will host the Braves on Thursday night. Jake Irvin is expected to make his second start. The game will be televised on MLB Network.