Nats, Cards Tie in Spring Training Opener

The Washington regulars got three in the 2nd to overcome an early 1-0 deficit, but a two-out error let in two in the bottom of the 9th for a 4-4 tie against St. Louis.

Erick Fedde, who’s fighting an uphill battle with an option available, got the start and was touched for a run on a wild pitch after loading the bases on a single and two walks.

He was able to avoid further damage with a whiff, a comebacker, and a flyout. Fedde threw 28 pitches in his lone inning of work.

Victor Robles’s one-out single capped the aforementioned three-run rally, in which four of the first five batters reached bases.

Watchlister Drew Mendoza, who pinch-ran for Josh Bell in the top of the 5th and took over at first base in the bottom of the inning, tallied the fourth and final run in the 7th with a double to plate Luis García, who got aboard with a two-out walk.

Here’s a rundown of how the other watchlist players and notable minor-leaguers fared:

• Jakson Reetz pinch-hit for Blake Swihart in the 4th and drew a walk and finished 0-1 while playing behind the plate.
• Jackson Cluff came in at short in the 4th but went 0-for-2 and committed the aforementioned error.
• Raudy Read followed Reetz at catcher and grounded out in his lone plate appearance.
• Cody Wilson came in on defense at CF in the 5th and drew a walk after Mendoza’s double in the 7th.
• Ben Braymer worked around a pair of singles in the 4th with help LF Kyle Schwarber throwing out a runner at the plate.
• Joan Adon retired all three batters he faced in the 6th, striking out one.
• Gabe Klobosits was charged with the blown save after giving up a one-out single and a two-out double. Both runners scored on Cluff’s error.

The Nats return to West Palm Beach tomorrow to play against the Astros, with Austin Voth scheduled to start.