The Washington Nationals' bats fell cold in a shortened 3-0 loss against the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon
After dominating in the first meeting, the Washington Nationals fell short against the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon in a 3-0 loss in a game cut short.
Washington was held to just three hits in the loss with Robert Hassell III, Christian Franklin and Drew Millas all getting on base with all three hitting singles into right field.
This marks the second time that Washington has been shutout over their last five games after the New York Yankees dominated the Nationals in a 7-0 loss on Wednesday night, marking the first loss of spring training to snap the unbeaten streak.
Sunday's contest also did not go a full nine innings after being called in the top of the seventh inning, though no reason was announced.
Miami would open the game with a single to center field before a double play cleared the bases, but starter Brad Lord wasn't able to get out of the inning after giving up a single then triple for the game's first run. His first strikeout of the day would take us into the bottom of the inning, but two more hits allowed - along with a batter hit by a pitch - would be the end of his day before Miami made it 2-0.
Brad Lord took the mound on Sunday in his second appearance this spring, but it would be far from a day that he would want to remember after he finished the day with five hits, two earned runs and just one strikeout in 1.1 innings.
After three consecutive scoreless innings, Miami would get back on the board in the top of the sixth inning after reliever Riley Cornelio allowed a 389 foot home run to left fielder Heriberto Hernandez into center field in the first at bat.
Kyle Luckham appeared in just 0.2 innings as he posted both one strikeout and one walk, while Clayton Beeter tossed one walk in his one inning on the mound during Sunday's appearance.
Dylan Crews was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup due to left thumb soreness, per the team, with Franklin taking his spot.
Now standing at 5-3-2 in spring training, Washington will return to action on Monday afternoon to take on the Houston Astros with opening pitch set for 1:05 PM. This will mark the second meeting between the two teams this spring after the Nationals took down the Astros, 2-1, on the first day of spring training when manager Blake Butera turned to a split roster day to open the new era of Washington baseball.