March 16, 2019 – Cardinals 8, Nationals 5 – West Palm Beach FL

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cardinals-vs-nationals/2019/03/16/565890#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=565890

 

Attendance: 6,377

Game Time: 3:08

Weather: 78 degrees, overcast. (Had a little sun in the middle innings, a few drops of rain in the 8^th)

Wind: 5 mph, In From RF.

 

Section 107, Row T, Seat 1 – just to the left of home plate, several rows from the back

 

Perhaps it was an omen that the whiteboard at the entrance to the ballpark where the lineups are posted was blank for 45 minutes or so after the gates opened. Although their spring base in Jupiter is only about 15 minutes from West Palm Beach, the Cardinals brought no regulars whatsoever to the game. No Yadi Molina, Paul Goldschmidt, Matt Carpenter, or Marcell Ozuna. Not even Kolten Wong or Paul DeJong. (Maybe none of them were eager to face Scherzer?) Instead, their lineup featured the likes of Randy Arozarena, Tommy Edman, and Evan Mendoza. Meanwhile, the Nats rolled out what could very well be their full Opening Day lineup, with the exception of Wilmer Difo getting the start in center.

 

So it was somewhat surprising when the visitors jumped on Max for a quick run, when Edman led off the game with a triple and Jose Martinez immediately singled him home. Perhaps a bit annoyed, Scherzer allowed only 2 singles in the remainder of his 6 innings of work, fanning 9 and earning a standing ovation from the crowd when he exited.

 

Yan Gomes, who homered twice on Friday, added a solo shot in the bottom of the 2^nd to tie the score. (He settled for singles in his remaining two plate appearances.) Washington completed its scoring for the day with a four-run 4^th, featuring a two-run double by Trea Turner.

 

The home team’s 5-1 lead, unfortunately, didn’t survive the departure of Scherzer (and the rest of the Nats’ starters) at the end of the 6^th. Nolan Gorman and Arozarena went back-to-back off Barraclough in the 7^th to cut the lead in half. Trevor Rosenthal survived the 8^th despite allowing a couple of baserunners. Doolittle got 2 outs in the 9^th after a leadoff single, but then allowed a double, walk, and single to tie the score. Davey decided to let him pitch to one more batter, and Andrew Knizner hit one out of the park to plate the Cardinals’ final 3 runs.