A six-run 5th broke open a 3-1 game to take a 9-1 lead. The Nats extended it to 16-1 with crooked numbers in the last three innings, then survived a late rush to double up the Marlins, 16-6 for their third straight win.
Mitchell Parker put together two consecutive goose eggs in his first start of the spring. He gave up a single and a walk in the 2nd before rolling a grounder to short. Gus Varland picked up the win as the pitcher of record despite giving up a run on two hits and a walk in a single inning.
Two watchlist players were in the starting lineup with Harry Ford as the first DH and Seaver King manning second base.
Ford doubled after Brady House’s second homer of the game—the first gave Washington a 3-0 lead in the 1st—and scored ahead of a Keibert Ruiz double. He struck out in the 1st and and 3rd innings.
King reached base twice on a walk and a single and scored on a wild pitch for the final run of the 5th.
Here’s how the rest of the “our guys” did:
- Jack Rogers pinch-hit for Ford and took over RF from Daylen Lile. He went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a whiff.
- Cayden Wallace followed House at 3B but was 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
- Chad Lomavita replaced Ruiz behind the place and went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a whiff.
- Sam Brown was the second DH and was 1-for-2 with a run scored.
- Dashyll Tejeda pinch-hit for Robert Hassell, drew three walks, scored twice, and had an outfield assist.
The Nationals return to West Palm Beach tomorrow night to host the Phillies. Jake Irvin is expected to make the start.