Washington Nationals Recap: Bronson Arroyo Perfect, But Nats Lose To Astros
By Ricky Keeler
Despite the Nats losing 4-3 to the Houston Astros, Bronson Arroyo was able to throw three perfect innings
Tonight, the Washington Nationals took on the Houston Astros at Space Coast Stadium. Even though the Nats lost the game to Houston by a final score of 4-3, the story of the night was the three perfect innings thrown by Bronson Arroyo in his second start of the spring.
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Before the game today, the Nats made a few roster moves. They sent pitchers Matt Grace and Taylor Jordan as well as infielder Wilmer Difo down to triple-A and they re-assigned four players to minor league camp as the organization begins to trim down the roster:
The #Nats have optioned INF Wilmer Difo, LHP Matt Grace, & RHP Taylor Jordan to Triple-A Syracuse.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 10, 2016
Additionally, the #Nats have reassigned RHPs Paolo Espino & Taylor Hill and Cs Raudy Read & Brian Jeroloman to Minor League camp.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 10, 2016
As for Arroyo, he threw three perfect innings while striking out three batters against a Houston squad that was not playing many of their regular starters. Out of the nine outs that he got, only one batter hit a flyball to the outfield (Nolan Fontana flew out to center to end the third inning).
The Nationals’ starters were only able to get two hits (both by Ben Revere) against Collin McHugh through the first three innings. Revere doubled to right in the first and singled to right in the third. He was later thrown out trying to steal second.
Houston broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth when Marwin Gonzalez hit his third home run of the spring, a two-run home run to right against Nats’ reliever Trevor Gott.
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Two innings later, the Astros increased the lead to 3-0 when Aaron Laffey gave up a RBI single to Colin Moran that allowed Fontana to score from second. Two batters later, against Wander Suero, Jon Kemmer lined a single to right. Even though Matt den Dekker made a good throw home from right field, Jose Lobaton was not able to tag out Moran at the plate, which put Houston ahead 4-0.
The Nats would try to mount a comeback in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on the corners and one out, den Dekker hit a sacrifice fly to center that drove in Tony Campana, who was pinch running for Lobaton.
One inning later, the Nats got back-to-back singles to start the inning from Matt Skole and Stephen Drew. Two batters later, Trea Turner hit a sac fly to center to score Skole. Then, Jhonatan Solano drove in Drew with a base hit to left to cut the Houston lead to 4-3.
Burke Badenhop, Abel De Los Santos, and A.J. Cole pitched the final three innings for the Nationals. The trio combined to give up two hits and strike out two.
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Next Game: The Washington Nationals will take on the New York Mets tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM ET at Space Coast Stadium. Steven Matz is scheduled to get the start for New York against Stephen Strasburg for the Nats.