The Washington Nationals finished with one hit and three errors in Wednesday's blowout loss against the New York Yankees
After a hot start to spring training, the Washington Nationals fell flat against the New York Yankees in a 7-0 loss, their first loss of spring training.
After flash performances to start spring training and the bats waking up late in the rematch against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, the Nationals offense went cold on Wednesday night after the team combined for 11 strikeouts and just one hit. That lone hit would come in the third inning after left fielder Christian Franklin singled to centerfield. Washington also finished with three errors in the loss, all proving costly in the Yankees' early innings run.
The Yankees wasted no time getting the scoring going after Amed Rosario opened the Yankees' lineup with a 364 foot home run.
The second inning wouldn't fare any better after the Yankees reached first on an infield single, then a fielded bunt led to the game's first error after Andrew Alvarez's throw sailed over first base Abimelec Ortiz's head to put runners on the corner with no outs. The next at bat, a pitch got away from Keibert Ruiz to send in the Yankees second run with ease. Washington would find themselves battling the bases loaded with one out before Amed Rosario grounded out for a 6-4-3 double play to take a 2-0 deficit into the third.
Alvarez's night would end with three strikeouts, two walks and three hits to go with his two earned runs in just two innings. Richard Lovelady, who was among the string of January waiver claims, tossed one strikeout in his lone inning while Trevor Gott was responsible for the three-run fourth inning.
New York would add to the lead in the fourth inning after Max Schuemann singled before advancing to second, then coming home on a single from Jonathan Ornelas. Then a fielding error from Dylan Crews led to a pair of runs, extending the Nationals' deficit to 5-0.
That deficit grew to 7-0 in the fifth inning after Clayton Beeter gave up a double to bring in a pair of runs with the game all but decided.
Now sitting 4-1-1 in spring training, the Nationals will return to action on Thursday back in the afternoon slot with a 1:05 PM opening pitch set against the Philadelphia Phillies. This marks the second and final meeting of the week - and spring - after the two teams tied on Monday.