The Washington Nationals slogged their way through their 20th spring training loss, falling to Tim Wakefield's knuckler and the rest of the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, before a healthy, but mostly pro-Sox crowd at Nationals Park.
The Nats couldn't muster any type of attack against the veteran Sox hurler, managing just three hits off Wakefield in his four innings, and another three against two relievers.
Starter Craig Stammen went five innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits and one walk, striking out two. He allowed a two-run home run to Kevin Youkilis in the first and a solo to J.D. Drew in the second. Stammen settled down nicely after that and held the Sox to just those three runs in his stint.
The biggest news of the day, though, was the annoucnement of the 25-man roster.
Scott Olsen and Roger Bernadina were sent to Triple-A Syracuse, and Eric Bruntlett and Mike MacDougal were reassigned to minor league camp.
Those decisions mean that the Nats will carry an eight-man bullpen for the first week of the season, until April 11, the first time they plan to pitch veteran Livan Hernandez. They will have to add Hernandez to the roster at that point, so decisions still need to be made.
After the game, MASN.com's Ben Goessling tried to catch up to Olsen to get his feelings about getting sent down. Olsen reportedly replied, "Ask my agent."
Garrett Mock is the benificiary of Olsen getting sent down, as he will be the Nats No. 4 starter to start the season, despite struggling a bit at the end of spring training.
It means Tyler Walker, who did not pitch well most of the spring, and Jesse English, who has never ptiched above Double-A, will both make the opening day lineup.
The Nats bench will be comprised of Cristian Guzman, who made a nice catch in right field in today's game, catcher Wil Nieves, INF Alberto Gonzalez, OF Willy Taveras and CI Mike Morse.
Morse bobbled a ball at third today and then pulled the first baseman off the bag on the throw.
The Nats have a workout tomorrow at the park, then host the Philadelphia Phillies--and President Barrack Obama--Monday afternoon in the season opener.
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