In a closely contested preseason game at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, the Washington Nationals fell short against the Tampa Bay Rays with a final score of 5-11. The Nationals now stand at 11-10 for the season, while this victory brings the Rays to a 9-9 record.

Aug 20, 2023; Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) reacts after hitting a two run double in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Nationals' Performance Highlights

The Nationals opened strong, scoring four runs in the first inning off three hits without committing any errors. This early momentum showcased their offensive capabilities but was not sustained throughout the game as they managed only one additional run in the fifth inning from two hits. Overall, Washington's hitters compiled eight hits and maintained a flawless fielding performance with no errors.

Key players for Washington included James Wood, who had an impressive batting average of .667 and drove in two runs with his powerful swings. Another notable performance came from Nasim Nuñez, who achieved a perfect batting average of 1.000 and demonstrated exceptional on-base skills. On the pitching side, Patrick Weigel stood out by maintaining an ERA of 0.0 and showcasing an impressive strikeout rate of 27 per nine innings pitched.

Tampa Bay Rays' Counterattack

The Tampa Bay Rays responded vigorously to Washington's initial surge by scoring eleven runs throughout the game on fourteen hits despite committing one error. Their most significant innings were the fourth and sixth when they scored four and two runs respectively.

The Rays capitalized on their opportunities by delivering five home runs over nine innings, demonstrating their slugging capability against both starters and relievers from Washington's pitching staff. The Nationals’ pitchers struggled to contain Tampa Bay’s hitters, resulting in an overall team ERA of 11.0 for this game.

Looking Ahead

The Washington Nationals will next face off against the Cardinals at CACTI Park of Palm Beaches on March 17th at 1:05 PM EDT. Fans can catch all action live as both teams aim to secure another win in their preseason campaigns.

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