ST #8: Astros @ Nationals

[DravenX]

Nationals.mlb.com

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
HOU	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	2	0		5	9	0
WSH	3	1	0	0	0	3	0	5	X		12	12	0

NATIONALS 12, ASTROS 5
at Viera, Fla.
Thursday, March 8

Astros at the plate: Outfielder Jason Lane went 3-for-3, including a two-run homer off Jason Simontacchi in the fourth inning. Eric Bruntlett drove in a run with a double in the second inning. Outfielder Hunter Pence hit a two-run home run off left-hander Ray King.

Nationals at the plate: Washington scored three runs in the first and sixth innings. Shortstop Josh Wilson went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while left fielder Chris Snelling had two hits and two RBIs. Robert Fick had a two-run single in the eighth inning.

Astros on the mound: Right-hander Jason Jennings pitched three innings and gave up four runs on five hits. He struck out three and walked one. Jennings threw 48 pitches and 30 of them were for strikes. Chris Sampson threw two shutout innings, while Chad Qualls gave up three runs in one inning.

Nationals on the mound: Right-hander Simontacchi pitched four innings and gave up three runs on four hits. He struck out four batters and walked none, and Jason Bergmann pitched three shutout innings.

Grapefruit League records: Astros 4-4; Nationals 2-6

Up next: The Astros travel to Dunedin, Fla., to face the Blue Jays on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Houston left-hander Wandy Rodriguez will face Toronto right-hander John Thomson.

The Nationals travel to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday afternoon at 1:05 to face the Orioles for the second time this spring. The last time they met was Saturday, with the Orioles winning, 7-2. Left-hander Matt Chico will face Baltimore right-hander Jaret Wright.