Bad split: Nats fall to Astros and Marlins

Marlins 10, Nats (SS) 4JUPITER, Fla. — Anibal Sanchez and Rick VandenHurk pitched two innings each, and the Florida Marlins held the Washington Nationals’ split squad to eight hits and won 10-4 Thursday.Sanchez and VandenHurk are among six pitchers contending for three open jobs in the Marlins’ rotation.Sanchez gave up two hits, one walk, two stolen bases and one run in two innings. He threw 41 pitches, 23 for strikes.VandenHurk allowed one hit and one walk in two scoreless innings, struck out two and threw 35 pitches.On a cool, blustery day — 61 degrees with a 15-mph wind — Nationals starter J.D. Martin pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout. He needed only 19 pitches and threw 14 strikes.Florida rookie Logan Morrison had a two-run triple.

Astros 15, Nats (SS) 5

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Brett Myers made his Houston debut, and the Astros smacked five home runs in a 15-5 victory over the Washington Nationals split squad on Thursday in the spring training opener for both teams.

Myers, the longtime Phillies hurler, walked three and allowed three runs as he struggled to control his fastball in his first trip to the mound since Game 3 of last year’s World Series.

Hunter Pence hit two home runs, a solo shot and a three-run blast, during the Astros’ nine-run fourth inning. Reserve outfielder Jason Michaels and minor leaguers Yordany Ramirez and Chris Johnson also went deep for the Astros.

Starter Garrett Mock tossed two shutout innings for the Nationals, who got two RBIs from backup catcher Will Nieves. Eddie Guardado and Matt Capps combined to allow five runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs, in their two innings of work.

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