Today was a day for the B and C teams to get some of their last looks before the Spring Training roster starts getting smaller. And the C-team let the Nats run away with this one 9-3.
In his first start as an Astro, Brandon Walter looked competent. Although the two runs in three innings were not optimal, the runs came in the third inning on three weak grounders and three stolen bases. In all, he gave up four hits, a leadoff triple that he stranded, with three Ks and no walks.
Bryan King and Rafael Montero held the Nats in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, King allowing two walks but Montero staking a claim for a 26-man roster comeback with two Ks in a three-up-three-down inning.
The Cam Smith train seems to be slowing down to a more sustainable speed. He was 0-3 with two strikeouts facing competent MLB level pitching, including former 2017 #3 overall pick Mackenzie Gore.
Jake Meyers stayed hot with a double in two PAs.
After the fifth inning the game was a comedy of errors by minor leaguers, but the Astros managed to avoid a shutout with three runs in the ninth, including an RBI by top prospect Jacob Melton.
The Astros have a split squad day tomorrow, with a game in Miami with Ronel Blanco starting, and the televised game against St Louis with Spencer Arrighetti pitching.
BOX SCORE HERE.