The Washington Nationals have looked remarkably solid in their first four games of 2024 Spring Training in the Grapefruit League in Florida, as they currently sit at 2-2. Here is a recap of each game.
Astros at Nationals, February 24th
The Nationals opened Spring Training against the Houston Astros on Saturday evening, where they fell by the score of 7-4. The momentum quickly went the Astros’ way in the beginning as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the third inning. Patrick Corbin got the start on the mound, but gave up three hits and two earned runs in 1.2 innings.
Nevertheless, the future looks bright for Washington, as hometown kid James Wood hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth, while also finishing with two runs. Other Nats runs came on a Nick Senzel bases-loaded walk, a Travis Blankenhorn RBI double, and a Nasim Nunez RBI single.
Nationals at Marlins, February 25th
Washington got its first win of Grapefruit League play in a 6-3 victory over the Miami Marlins this past Sunday afternoon. Wood hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning for his second dinger in less than 24 hours. His teammate Lewin Diaz also launched a two-run bomb the next inning, while an RBI infield single for Trey Lipscomb made it 5-2 Nationals in the sixth.
Washington did this all while overcoming an early 2-0 deficit, as Mackenzie Gore got the start but allowed a run in the second inning. However, the bullpen came through in the end with Luis Perdomo being credited with the win and Joe La Sorsa getting the save.
Mets at Nationals, February 26th
The Nationals faced another NL East foe in the New York Mets on Monday, but lost 6-3. Josiah Gray got the start on the bump and struck out five batters in two innings while giving up two hits, but in the third inning, reliever Robert Garcia gave up a grand slam homer from Mets outfielder Trayce Thompson. Thompson followed that up with an RBI knock in the fifth.
Washington’s three runs came courtesy of two RBI singles from Brady House in the sixth and Wood in the seventh. Relievers Cole Henry and Mitchell Parker each struck out three New York batters later in the contest.
Nationals at Astros, February 27th
The Nats faced the Astros for the second time in four days on Tuesday afternoon, as Washington’s bats went off for a 10-3 blowout. The Nats jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the third inning with the help of players like Joey Meneses, Dylan Crews, Jake Alu, and Robert Hassell III.
Crews, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft from LSU, doubled to center field and drove in two runs in the top of the third, while Hassell III also had two RBIs, as he hit a two-run homer to left field in the third. The last three Washington runs came on a House dinger, a Diaz RBI double, and Jacob Young reaching on an infield single and allowing Diaz to score.
The Nats’ pitching looked solid as Zach Davies was credited with the win. Davies, Richard Bleier, and Joan Adon each finished with three strikeouts.
