The offense churned out 10 hits and the bullpen survived a late charge as the Nats defeated the Tigers, 6-4 to win consecutive games for just the third time this spring. Stephen Strasburg struck out five over four scoreless innings to get the “W.” The 26-y.o. gave up three hits and no walks while lowering …
The John Sickels 2015 annual arrived last night in my inbox, which isn’t quite as satisfying as getting a package in the mailbox, but it’s faster and cheaper. As is my tradition, I’ll break up discussing the book into two posts — one for hitters, one for the pitchers. For the second straight year, there …
Clint Robinson’s two-out RBI triple was the difference in a 2-1 slugfest to secure the first Washington win in nearly a week. The 7th-inning surge made a winner out of Felipe Rivero, who tossed two shutout frames with no walks and two strikeouts. Rivero was the second reliever to follow starter Jordan Zimmermann, who went …
The bell did not toll for Heath as the Astros blasted the 37-y.o. non-roster invitee for all three of its runs in the 5th and held off a late rally for a 3-2 win over the Nationals in Kissimmee. The loss was the third straight and fourth in five games as the Nats have not …
The first of two spring doubleheaders saw neither squad win as the home crew was shut out, 4-0 by the Marlins and the road team was pummeled by the Mets, 13-4. As is custom in spring training, most of the 25-man guys stayed home in Viera. Gio Gonzalez started but was charged with all four …
With the release of his 2015 edition expected in the next day or so, John Sickels has released his Top 50 Batting and Pitching prospects, which included two Nationals pitchers and one Washington batter. It should come as no shock that Lucas Giolito was ranked #1 with the Dodgers’ Julio Urias ranked #2. Giolito was …
The Astros rallied for two in the 9th to salvage a 6-6 tie and preserve the Nats’ .500 record at 4-4-1 for the spring. Houston posted a picket fence on the scoreboard with single runs in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings. Washington rallied for three in the 3rd, two in the 6th, and …
The Nats offense tried to salvage a nine-run bullpen implosion in the bottom of 8th with a five-run retort in the top of the 9th, but fell short in an 11-9 loss today in Port St. Lucie. The Mets sent 13 men to the plate in the frame, with losing pitcher Mitch Lively retiring one …
After a three-game absence, the Washington offense showed up today in Viera with a 9-2 win over Detroit. The Nats pounded out 11 hits, including a solo homer by Drew Vettleson (1-for-1) in the 7th and a two-run shot by Matt Skole (1-for-2) in the 8th. Jordan Zimmermann made his second start and struck out …
Derek Dietrich’s one-out homer in the last of the 9th off journeyman Bruce Billings gave the Marlins a 2-1 walkoff win while handing the Nats another 2-1 loss. All six games thus far in spring training have been decided by one run, with the Nats winning three straight, then losing three straight (and counting). Max …