The Washington Nationals dropped a 3-0 decision to the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Sunday in spring training play. Despite Christian Franklin's 1-for-2 effort at the plate, the Nationals could not pull even when it mattered. Brad Lord worked 2.1 innings on the mound, allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits. The Marlins out-hit the Nationals 8-4 on the day. Despite the result, the coaching staff gathered useful data on the current state of the roster. Spring training losses sting, but the information gained will inform decisions as Opening Day approaches.
Key Performers
Christian Franklin was the key contributor at the plate, going 1-for-2. His steady bat was exactly what the lineup needed. Performances like this give the Nationals confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Robert Hassell III chipped in, going 1-for-1, Trey Lipscomb added to the attack, going 1-for-2, and Drew Millas provided support, going 1-for-2. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Heriberto Hernández led the Marlins offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Christopher Morel also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Daniel Johnson added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. The Marlins offense proved to be too much for the Nationals pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Brad Lord took the loss after struggling with his command, working 2.1 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits with two strikeouts. He threw 43 pitches in the outing. It was a useful learning experience as the Nationals evaluate their pitching depth heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 6.2 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out six. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today provided useful information about the current state of the bullpen. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions. Samuel Vasquez recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Riley Cornelio stood out with 3.0 innings of 1-run work, striking out four. His performance was one of the day's bright spots from the bullpen.
How It Happened
Marlins got on the board first with a run in the first inning. Marlins added a run in the second. Marlins tacked on a run in the sixth. The Marlins were able to score in three separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Marlins out-hit the Nationals 8-4, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 2,889 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was not the outcome the Nationals were looking for, but spring training provides a forgiving environment to work through the rough patches. The focus remains on preparation and development, and the coaching staff will use today as a teaching opportunity. The regular season is right around the corner, and every game is a chance to improve.
