The Washington Nationals earned a 7-5 victory over the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Tuesday in spring training action. Brady House paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Foster Griffin turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of 1-run ball with four strikeouts. The Nationals finished with 9 hits on the day while holding the Marlins to 8. It was an encouraging performance for the Nationals as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Brady House was the key contributor at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and two RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Nationals offense.
Johnathon Thomas chipped in, going 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI, Daylen Lile added to the attack, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI, and Randal Diaz provided support, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Ethan O'Donnell led the Marlins offense with a 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBI day. Jesús Bastidas also contributed, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Griffin Conine added a 1-for-3 with an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Nationals pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Foster Griffin got the start, grinding through his innings, working 3.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 45 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.3 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out seven. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Zach Penrod recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Jake Eder stood out with 2.2 innings of 1-run work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Nationals struck first, tallying two runs in the second inning. Marlins answered with a run in the third. Marlins tacked on a run in the fourth. Marlins pushed across a run in the sixth. The Nationals struck back with a run in the seventh. The Nationals added three runs in the eighth. Marlins responded with two runs in the eighth. The Nationals countered with a run in the ninth. The Nationals spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Nationals out-hit Marlins 9-8 on the day, with 4 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 2,059 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Nationals, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Nationals are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
