Nats Hold Off Mets, 7-4
The Nats burst from the gate to score three in the 1st and two in the 3rd then held off a late charge from the Mets to win 7-4.
Max Scherzer dominated New York’s regulars with nine K’s and just one hit allowed over five shutout innings for the win. Veterans Ryan Madson and Joaquin Benoit were “working on some things” for all four Mets runs in the 7th and 8th innings before Tim Collins cut things short in the 9th to earn the save.
Victor Robles and Jose Marmolejos continue to get reps in place of ailing regulars. Both were 1-for-3 with an RBI while playing CF and 1B, respectively.
Likewise, Andrew Stevenson and Rafael Bautista came off the bench to pinch-run and take the field (left and right). Bautista scored a run in Bryce Harper’s stead while Stevenson smacked a two-run double in the 6th to give the Nats a 7-0 lead before Madson and Benoit did their neck stretches.
Today is the final off day in Florida. They’ll play the next three in West Palm Beach against the usual suspects (Astros, Cardinals, and Mets) before heading to Jupiter (FL, natch) to play the Cards and Marlns on Sunday and Monday.
Kieboom has been surprising. His bat really has improved under Long’s tutelage. If Zim is hurt, he could provide a RH bat at 1B against lefty starters. He’s my choice for backup catcher.
Based on the spring he’s having, Kieboom would win the backup catcher job in a TKO. Honestly, though, I doubt he’s even under real consideration. The “battle” was supposed to be between Montero (who can’t throw) and Severino (who can’t hit). If I had to bet, I’d say Montero goes north with the club. (If you don’t make the club, you go farther north.) Even though he isn’t getting results on the scoresheet, in the few games I’ve seen, he has hit the ball hard. Plus he has a relationship with Martinez from the Cubs, and he came up with the D-Backs when Rizzo was still there.
Yeah, he might have a relationship with Martinez, but it doubt it could be considered anything but negative. Montero was a clubhouse cancer that repeatedly undermined his teammates. It got so bad they just DFA’d him without a replacement.
I’m frankly surprised we signed him given his baggage with Martinez. Funnily, it was the Nationals who actually created the mess, as we stole 7 bases against Montero in a game that led to his rant about Arrieta to the media.
I really doubt the Nats signed Montero without agreement from Martinez. They had to have asked Martinez about what happened in that clubhouse. By all accounts, Martinez was pretty much the clubhouse liaison with the Cubs.
interesting anecdote by FP regarding Stevenson working with Kevin Long. seeing how much playing time he’s been getting it’s evident they believe their work together may yield results. I still think he starts in AAA since Goodwin is out of options
I’ve been a skeptic of Stevenson and his ceiling ever since he was drafted, so I’m a little surprised I’m saying this, but is it possible that Kevin Long is turning him into a legit hitter? He’s always looked like he has enough size to generate more leverage than he’s shown in the past. Long seems to be getting him out of the slap-hitter mentality.
When the Nats drafted Stevenson, some “guru” put the Revere comp on him. Ghost at Nats Talks keeps comparing him to Bernadina. I think the Shark had a little more pop (did you know he hit 27 HRs and slugged .540 in the Korean league last year?), but I don’t dispute either comp. I still have a hard time seeing Stevenson becoming a starting OF for a contender, but I do think he’s improving to the point that he might be a viable MLB reserve.
You know who suddenly came to mind as a comp for Stevenson? Dave Martinez. Look at the stats. Martinez had SB years of 42 and 38 in the minors. His HR high in the minors was 5. He didn’t strike out as much as Stevenson, but their profiles are fairly similar. I wonder if Davey sees the resemblance.
one more thing, Collins was sitting at 94-95 and hit 97 though his fastball seems to be without any movement. curve in high seventies, seems like he needs something else in between in order to stick
So far it looks like he doesn’t need movement to succeed…
Collins might be the most interesting non 40 man player on the team right now. I think he has a real shot to make the team to start the season.
I agree. Collins has been a lot better than Romero, for example. The other guy in camp who is making things uncomfortable for the “expected” bullpen guys is Adams. He’s blowing people away (8 Ks in 4.2 IP) and, in the SSS, has controlled the walks (only 1). Gott has been good as well, as has NRI Chris Smith.
Collins is a great story, coming back from back-to-back TJ surgeries. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2014.