Fedde dominates Mets regulars with five scoreless (Nats win 1-0)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nats 1, Mets 0

Recap: Erick Fedde overcame both the elements (waves of heavy rain) and the opposition (the Mets' A lineup) to toss five scoreless innings in an impressive performance. The organization's top pitching prospect didn't put a man on base until the top of the fourth and let only one reach second base before departing with his pitch count at 61. The Nationals scored their lone run off Robert Gsellman in the bottom of the third when Trea Turner reached on an error and Anthony Rendon doubled him home. Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera got into a heated back-and-forth with plate umpire Angel Hernandez during the fourth inning that ended with Cabrera getting ejected after he rounded first base on a single. Blake Treinen recorded the save, stranding the potential tying run on third base in the ninth.

Need to know: Two relievers the Nationals must make decisions on soon gave the team something to think about this afternoon. Enny Romero retired the side in the sixth. In 7 2/3 combined innings between the Grapefruit League and World Baseball Classic, the power lefty (who is out of options) hasn't allowed a run and has walked only one batter. Joe Nathan, meanwhile, pitched back-to-back days for the first time this spring and struck out Yoenis Cespedes with a 92 mph fastball. The 42-year-old right-hander is allowed to opt out of his contract with the Nats tomorrow if he's not added to the major league roster.

On deck: Friday, vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach 1:05 p.m.; vs. Marlins in Jupiter, 7:05 p.m.
____________________________________________

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Erick Fedde's last start for the Nationals probably left a sour taste in the prospect's mouth. So he made sure to cleanse everyone's palate with an eye-opening performance this afternoon in his latest start.

Fedde dominated a Mets lineup loaded with regulars, tossing five scoreless innings and putting only two men on base.

The organization's top-ranked pitching prospect retired the first nine batters he faced, not one of them getting a ball out of the infield. He finally allowed back-to-back singles in the top of the fourth, but quickly pitched out of that mini-jam and then finished strong with a 1-2-3 fifth inning.

Overall, Fedde threw only 61 pitches (38 strikes) in mowing down a Mets lineup that featured Jose Reyes, Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson and Neil Walker, among other regulars.

It was a nice bounceback performance for Fedde, who six days ago was tagged by the Marlins for five runs in only 1 2/3 innings.

The Nationals supplied their young starter with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Trea Turner reached on an error by Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (who was ejected the following inning after a heated back-and-forth with plate umpire Angel Hernandez), then scored on Anthony Rendon's double down the right field line.

That was the only run the Nationals managed against Mets starter Robert Gsellman.

The start of the game was delayed 42 minutes by rain.