Nats, Astros Tie, 4-4

The regulars built a 4-0 lead after three, highlighted by three-run HR by Luis García Jr. in his spring debut. Alas, the bullpen was in midseason form, coughing up two in the 4th and two in the 5th, and the bench was unable to break through down the stretch for a 4-4 tie.

Miles Mikolas and his mustache wobbled through two scoreless in his first start of the spring, putting on four baserunners with a single and three walks. He struck out two while piling up 48 pitches, 24 for strikes.

The walks kept on coming as Mitchell Parker handed over his beer and walked three over an inning and 2/3rds, allowing two to score, and Julian Fernández put two more on in 2/3rds of inning, setting up Connor Van Scoyoc to blow the save by serving up a two-out, two-run single to the first batter he faced.

The last three pitchers combined for one walk and eight whiffs, but the scrubs managed just two hits: a leadoff safety by Orelvis Martinez in the 7th and a two-out single from Drew Millas in the 8th.

Abimelec Ortiz was the sole watchlist player in the starting lineup (García was stationed at 2B) and scored a run on a Dylan Crew single after getting plunked to lead off the 3rd.

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

• Andrew Pinckney subbed for Jacob Young and was 0-for-2 with two K’s.
• Christian “Hey It’s” Franklin took over RF from Crews and grounded out in his only PA.
• Philip Glasser replaced García at 2B and went 0-for-2.
• Yoyo Morales followed Ortiz at 1B and was 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
• Martinez pinch-hit for DH Matt Mervis and had the aforementioned single before grounding out to end the game.

The Nats (4-2-2) hit the road again and head for Port St. Lucie this afternoon to visit the Mets (4-2-1). Jake Irvin is expected to make his second spring start against Tobias Myers. The game can be seen on MLB.tv (home feed, natch).

In the better news department, we have adopted another shelter dog. Meet Whiz, an 18-month-old, 55-lb whirling dervish who’s already stationed himself in Rascal’s spot next to me in the kitchen.

He appears to be a pittie mix—we will order up a doggy DNA test like we did for Rascal and Lulu—with perhaps some whippet (whip it good?) or collie. But he’s 100% good boy, like all dogs.