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Washington Nationals Recap: Nats ride big inning, strong pitching to win over Marlins

By Pablo Roa

Mar 4, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor (3) connects for a solo home run against the Miami Marlins during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor (3) connects for a solo home run against the Miami Marlins during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Led by strong pitching and a big third inning from the offense, the Washington Nationals defeated the Miami Marlins, 4-2, Wednesday afternoon.

Spring Training wins mean nothing for a baseball team with postseason aspirations. But the Washington Nationals keep racking them up, and the team continues to play well as we get closer and closer to Opening Day.

Pitching was key for the Nationals Wednesday afternoon, and several Nationals pitchers saw success against the Marlins’ lineup.

Blake Treinen got the start for Washington and notched two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while walking a batter and striking out four. The right-hander picked up the win Wednesday afternoon — his second ‘W’ of the spring — and has yet to allow a run in four innings of work.

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The Nationals had six other pitchers with scoreless outings Wednesday afternoon. Among them were Trevor Gott and Erik Davis, who earned a hold and a save, respectively. Each pitcher threw a scoreless frame for the Nationals and bounced back nicely from turbulent outings earlier in the spring.

As for the offense, the Nationals scored four runs in a big third inning led, once again, by outfielder Michael Taylor.

After an RBI single by Ben Revere gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the third, Taylor showed off his sneaky power with a three-run blast to right-center field that stretched the Nationals’ lead to 4-0. It was the second homer of the spring for Taylor, who continues to demonstrate how important he can be for the Nationals’ offense when he makes contact.

Their four-run third inning was all the offense the team could muster against the Marlins’ pitching staff, but it was all the offense they would need.

The Marlins scores their only two runs on an RBI triple off the bat of Dee Gordon and on a wild pitch with a runner on third in the sixth inning. Both runs were charged to Nationals right-hander Nick Masset.

With the win, the Nationals improve their spring record to 10-3. They’ll be back in action tomorrow afternoon, when they take on the Atlanta Braves at Space Coast Stadium at 1:05 p.m. ET.

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