The Washington Nationals picked up their fifth win in five meetings against the Houston Astros following a 7-5 finish on Tuesday afternoon
The Washington Nationals have now won a third consecutive game in spring training after taking down the Houston Astros, 7-5, on Tuesday afternoon.
Washington remains undefeated against the Houston Astros in spring training after now winning three of the five meetings over the last two weeks.
The Nationals opened the game with a bang after back to back home runs to open the second inning, first a 389 foot home run by Daylen Lile to left center field before Brady House followed it up with a 361 foot home run to left field in the next at bat. Jose Tena would follow it up by drawing a walk before getting caught stealing second then consecutive strikeouts ended the inning before shortly marking the end of Foster Griffin's day in the next inning.
Griffin ended his day tossing four strikeouts and allowing three hits in addition to the run across three innings, while Jake Eder tossed a pair of strikeouts and walks while allowing a run across two innings.
Miami would get on board after capitalizing on consecutive singles with an RBI single made possible by a fielding error by Dylan Crews, leaving the bases loaded with two outs and trimming Washington's lead to 2-1. The Marlins would follow it up with Eder on the mound in the fourth inning after a two-out throwing error by Luis Garcia Jr. led the the second run of the game and a 2-2 tie through four innings.
Miami took its first lead in the bottom of the sixth after Pablo Adonis walked the first batter then gave up a single, leading to an RBI single into left field midway through the inning. Washington would tie it up in the top of the seventh, though, after House, who got on after being hit by a pitch, was brought home on a double by Lile into left field.
The Nationals would then retake the lead after a three-run eighth inning from Johnathan Thomas, a 370 foot home run into left field. Joey Wiemer would then reach first on the next at bat on an infield single before another single, this time from Yohany Morales, put runners on first and second with still no outs. Randal Diaz would then clear the bases with a two-run single into center field, extending Washington's lead to 6-3.
Trevor Gott would then give up a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, narrowing the deficit to 6-5. Washington would get that run back after a sac fly from Brenner Cox brought on Thomas, who got on base after being hit by a pitch.
Now 9-4-3 overall this month, the Washington Nationals will return to action tomorrow, March 11 against the St. Louis Cardinals with another afternoon game on the way as opening pitch is set for 1:05 PM. This will mark the third meeting between the two teams in spring training after Washington secured a 6-2 win to open the February slate before taking a 6-1 game just three days later.