The Washington Nationals cruised to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Wednesday in spring training action. Daylen Lile paced the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Cade Cavalli turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of scoreless ball with two strikeouts. The Nationals finished with 8 hits on the day while holding the Cardinals to 5. 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
Daylen Lile was the top performer at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. The ability to drive the ball into the gaps stood out. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Nationals offense.
Abimelec Ortiz provided support, going 1-for-1 with a double and an RBI, Trey Lipscomb also contributed, going 1-for-1 with an RBI, and Nasim Nuñez chipped in, going 1-for-2. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Nolan Gorman led the Cardinals offense with a 1-for-3 with an RBI day. Jordan Walker also contributed, going 1-for-3. Andy Yerzy added a 1-for-1 with a double effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Nationals pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Cade Cavalli got the start, grinding through his innings, working 3.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 0 hits with two strikeouts. He threw 40 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 6.0 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out five. 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. Orlando Ribalta recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Gus Varland stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out three. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Nationals struck first, scoring a run in the first inning. Cardinals countered with a run in the sixth. The Nationals struck back with two runs in the eighth. The Nationals out-hit Cardinals 8-5 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 2,749 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.
