Spring Training Game 31: Washington Nationals 5, New York Mets 1

The Nationals scored four in the third inning to cruise to their fourteenth spring training victory. The Nats preseason record is now 14-17.

March 23, 2013; Port St Lucie, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (47) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the spring training game at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Adam LaRoche and Danny Espinosa homered in the bottom the second inning to put the Nationals up 2-0. Later in the inning, Kurt Suzuki walked and Gio Gonzalez reached base on a Domingo Tapia throwing error.

That set up a Denard Span single to drive Suzuki home, and later that inning, Gio crossed the plate on a Bryce Harper sacrifice fly.

Goose eggs went up on the scoreboard from the third through the sixth innings until the Mets scored their only run of the day on Anthony Recker‘s sacrifice fly that drove in Zach Lutz.

The Nationals answered back in the bottom half of the inning on a Jeff Howell RBI single.

Nationals pitchers were stellar this afternoon. Gio Gonzalez was in top form, pitching four innings, giving up one hit, and striking out seven. Craig Stammen followed Gio to hurl two scoreless innings. Neil Holland gave up the only run in his two innings of work.  Most importantly, Rafael Soriano shut the door in the ninth inning, striking out two and walking one.

The Nationals take on the New York Yankees tomorrow as spring training is slowly coming to a close.