Cards Fold Nats, 3-2

Josh Bell’s two-run HR in the 1st was all the Nats could muster as their losing streak was extended to four games with a 3-2 loss to the Cards.

Free agent pickup Michael Soroka tossed three scoreless and hitless innings in his first Grapefruit League start as a National. He walked one and struck out three.

The loss went to Marquis Grissom as he loaded the bases with two out on a single and two walks then coughed up the gamewinner on another single.

With a split squad, Daylen Lile and Robert Hassell started in left and right field, respectively. Lile walked once before he was lifted while Hassell went 1-for-4 with a strikeout and shifted to centerfield before he was replaced on defense.

Here’s how the rest of the watchlist players did coming off the bench or out of the ‘pen:

• Andrew Pinckney was the second RF and whiffed in his only plate appearance
• Elijah Green did not strike out. He also didn’t bat while subbing for Hassell in center
• Brady House replaced Paul DeJong in the 7th and grounded out in the 8th for his only at-bat
• Cayden Wallace followed Amed Rosario at second base and walked in his one trip to the plate
• Tyler Stuart struck out two, one looking in a 1-2-3 seventh
• Jarlin Susana cordero’d around two walks in a scoreless 8th while catching one batter looking

The loss drops Washington to 3-4. They’ll have a chance to get back to .500 with a split-squad game in West Palm Beach on Saturday night. Mackenzie Gore is expected to start.