Nationals top Mets in Grapefruit League opener
By Nick Engle
Mar 5, 2015; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
After a long, cold winter, the Washington Nationals are finally playing baseball again! I know it is only Spring Training, but we are all one step closer to meaningful baseball and it feels great.
The Nationals opened their Spring Training slate tonight against the New York Mets. Max Scherzer got the start for the Nats and the Mets trotted out Bartolo Colon.
Scherzer had a respectable first outing; he retired the first four batters he faced before John Mayberry Jr. hit a solo shot over the left field fence. He left after two innings – recording two hits, two strike outs and an earned run.
Tanner Roark took over in the third and had a rough inning. He gave up a two-run shot to Eric Campbell and then proceeded to allow three straight singles, plating another run.
Trailing 4-0, the Nationals offense got into the act in the bottom of the third. After Hansel Robles hit Mike Carp with a pitch, Tyler Moore doubled to left scoring Carp. Moore moved to third on a single by Kevin Frandsen and he scored on an error by Mets second baseman Wilfredo Tovar.
In the fourth, Carp and Moore started the rally again with a Carp single and a Moore ground-rule double. With runners on second and third, Kevin Fransden walked to load the bases for Derrick Robinson. Robinson came through with a single scoring Carp, but Anthony Rendon could not keep the rally going and struck out to end the inning.
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The majority of the starters rotated out after the fourth inning, and both teams hit a drought until the bottom of the seventh when Kila Ka’aihue hit a two-run blast off Cory Mazzoni, putting the Nats up for good.
A few guys fighting for roster spots had a good first spring training game. Heath Bell struck out the side, albeit around two walks, in his inning of work. Mike Carp got on base in both his plate appearances, starting two rallies. His partner in crime, Tyler Moore, drove in a run and had two hits to start his important spring since he is out of options.
The Nats win, 5-4, over the Mets and the Nationals’ Grapefruit League campaign is off to a great start!