Nats Sweep Grapefruit League Openers

Washington won twice in the same day and the same state, tripling up the Cardinals, 6-2 on the road and edging the Astros, 2-1 at home.

Max Romero Jr’s Earl Weaver Special capped a four-run 5th to turn a 2-2 tie in the 6-2 lead and gave Eddie Yean the (dreaded) blown-save-win after blowing a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 4th

Seven pitchers appeared for the Nats, with Shinnosuke Ogasawara allowing the first St. Louis run on a home run while getting the first four outs.

Isaac “The Other Guy” Lyon and Marquis Grissom Jr. both turned in two scoreless innings to highlight the seven-pitcher parade.

Here’s how the watchlist players fared:

• Harry Ford started at catcher and went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI. He was also caught stealing.
• Phillip Glasser was the first 2B but was 0-for-3 with a run scored.
• Sam Petersen manned LF on defense and had a double, an HBP, and a run scored on offense.
• Jack Rogers started in RF and was 0-for-2 with a run scored.
• Jack Moroknek followed Rogers in RF and struck out in his only PA.
• Luke Dickerson was the first sub at SS and whiffedd in his sole AB.
• Andry Lara worked around a hit in his lone IP.

Meanwhile back at the ranch in West Palm Beach…

Eight pitchers appeared with Jake Eder getting the start, giving up an unearned run on two hits and two walks over… wait for it… two innings.

Seth Shuman got the “W” as the pitcher of record when the Nats took the lead on Jorgelys Mota’s solo HR in the bottom of the 6th.

Holden Powell cordero’d around three walks in the 9th to earn the save. The Nats put 11 men on base via base-on-balls and somehow none of them scored.

Here’s how the watchlisters did, starting with the four starters who were 6-7-8-9 in the lineup:

• Andrew Pinckney doubled and scored a run while playing RF.
• Abimelec Ortiz went 0-for-1 with a walk as the 1B.
• Orelvis Martinez reached base twice on a walk and a single as the first 2B.
• Christian “Hey It’s” Franklin opened the game in LF and struck in both of his ABs.
• Ethan Willits followed C.J. Abrams at short and was 0-for-1.
• Cristhian Vaquero subbed for Dylan Crews in CF and had a single in his only trip to the plate.
• Ethan Petry replaced Pinckney in RF and went 0-for-1.
• Angel Feliz followed Martinez at 2B and was 0-for-1.

The Nats remain in Jupiter tomorrow to face the Marlins. Mitchell Parker is expected to make the start.