Nats Beat Mets, 7-4

The Nats fell behind 3-0 after one but got two in the 2nd, one in the 4th, and four in the 6th to take a 7-3 lead. The bullpen held the lead for a 7-4 win yesterday afternoon – Washington’s sixth Grapefruit League win this spring.

Miles Mikolas allowed the first three New York runs on three hits (one HR) while “working on some stuff” in three innings. He walked one, struck out three, and hit a batter.

Luis Perales made his spring debut in the 4th and struggled a little, throwing 24 pitches to get three outs. He walked one and struck out none.

Orlando Ribalta got the win for his 28th birthday present. OK, fine he retired the side in order in the 6th, striking out one.

Gus Varland worked around two walks in the 9th to pick up the save.

With a day game after a night game, there were three watchlist players in the starting lineup and six coming off the bench:

• Seaver King batted second, played SS, and went 1-for-4 with an RBI double.
• Christian “Hey It’s” Franklin manned LF and was 2-for-3 with an RBI out of the No. 7 slot.
• Chad Lomavita got the memo about catchers as DH and had a single in two trips to the plate.
• Yeremy Cabrera subbed for Joey Weimer in RF and played the last three innings on defense, but did not bat.
• Abimelec Ortiz replaced Andres Chaparro at 1B and popped out in his only PA.
• Orelvis Martinz followed José Tena at 2B and had a two-out single in the 7th.
• Andrew Pinckney subbed for Robert Hassell in CF and struck out to end the 7th.
• Elijah Nunez replaced Franklin in LF flew out in the 8th.
• Jorgelys Mota followed Trey Lipscomb at 3B and struck out in the 8th.

Washington (6-3-3) will be the visiting team in West Palm Beach vs. Houston (2-7-2). Cade Cavalli is slated to make his second spring start, opposed by Mike Burrows. The game can be heard on both teams’ MLB audio feeds.