Nats Edge Astros, 3-1; Third Set of Cuts
Ronny Cruz’s two-run HR broke a 1-1 tie in the 7th as the Nats downed the Astros, 3-1. It was the second time this spring Washington has Grapefruit League games in consecutive days.
Andrew Alvarez was stretched to four innings and allowed just one hit, no walks, and struck out five in his second start (third appearance).
Joining him in the starting lineup were Yoyo Morales (3B) and Christian “Hey It’s” Franklin (LF), but the two watchlisters both went 0-for-2 with Morales caught looking twice.
Here’s how the rest did coming off the bench or out of the ‘pen:
- Seaver King subbbed for C.J. Abrams at SS and drew a walk in the 8th.
- Yeremy Cabrera replaced Robert Hassell in CF and popped into a DP to end the 8th.
- Abimelec Ortiz took over 1B from Andrés Chaparro and connected for his first hit in 2026 with a single in 7th.
- Cruz followed José Tena at 2B before hitting the game-winner.
- Griff McGarry worked around two baserunners (hit, walk) in the 8th to earn his third hold.
This morning, the Nats optioned RHPs Riley Cornelio and Luis Perales to Rochester and reassigned five more guys to minor-league camp:
IF Sergio Alcantara
RHP Tyler Baum
C Caleb Lomavita
IF Orelvis Martinez
RHP Bryce Montes de Oca
The Nats will be off until Tuesday with the final scheduled off day on Monday.
Some really encouraging pitching performances in recent days, but the bats are a bit concerning.
Our starting corner OFs are sporting .322 OPS (Lile) and .485 (Wood). Our CF a .393 OPS (Crews). Our starting SS .494 (Abrams). One of the players in the mix for starting 1B, .350 (Ortiz). The team has collectively hit 10 HR in 15 games, which is 2nd fewest in baseball this spring (to the Astros). Our team OPS, .596, AVG and SLG are also 2nd worst (by a huge margin), also only better than the Astros. Our team OBP, .293, is by far the worst.
Let’s hope we see the bats warm up soon.
Just checked, and our team ERA, 3.00, is the best in the majors, though our 85 BB allowed is counterintuitively also by far the most in the majors…
.170 average against.
well, must be all those unhittable breaking pitches they’re throwing 🙂
This rebuild feels more like the spirit of Boston / Oakland
Ish strategies . Good riddance to the old ways of Rizzo ( bless his heart over all those years of staying in same patterns )
From our point of view, it feels very much the same. Then again, none of our guys are hitting and only Alvarez is pitching well enough to make a case for being the #5 starter.
Though the signing of Zack Littell very much complicates Alvarez’s path to the rotation, which again makes this a very strange Spring. With so little talent, there’s almost no potential for any prospect to seize a roster spot.
You’re making the case for me to stop ST coverage and wait for the minors to start up…