Correa makes Ross pay for mistake (Nats, Astros tie 1-1)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 1, Astros 1

Recap: Joe Ross allowed only one run during his four-inning stint, a solo homer to Carlos Correa with two down in the first. The Nationals managed only one hit - a Brendan Ryan single in the third - off Houston's Dallas Keuchel's three innings. The Nats tied the game in the sixth when Reed Johnson was hit by a James Hoyt pitch with the bases loaded. The rally was stoked by Hoyt's wild pitch on a swinging third strike by Matt den Dekker, who reached first.

Need to know: Bryce Harper may still be searching for his first spring home run, but his defense is in midseason form. In the fourth, he collected Jon Singleton's liner to right and used a laser throw to gun down Tyler White trying to advance to third.

On deck: Tuesday, vs. Astros in Kissimmee, 1:05 p.m.
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VIERA, Fla. - Joe Ross made one mistake Monday afternoon, and Carlos Correa crushed it over the wall in left-center.

Correa's solo blast in the first inning was the lone blemish on Ross' line, though a couple of nice defensive plays bailed the right-hander out of potential trouble.

Before Correa homered with two down in the first, Jose Altuve led off the game with a single but was quickly erased when Jake Marisnick bounced into a 6-4-3 double play.

In the fourth, Tyler White drew a leadoff walk, and Jon Singleton followed by roping a single to right. But right fielder Bryce Harper picked up the line drive and gunned White down trying to advance to third.

For the day, Ross went four innings, giving up a run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 41 of his 61 pitches for strikes.

The Nationals had no luck with Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel, who went three scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out four. The lone hit came off the bat of Brendan Ryan.

Update: The Nats tied the game in the sixth when Reed Johnson was hit by a James Hoyt pitch with the bases loaded.

Grievance news: A grievance against the Nationals filed by the Marlins over the salary of executive Dan Jennings was settled in the Nats' favor, a baseball source has confirmed.

The Miami Herald reported that the Marlins were upset at the low salary the Nationals were paying Dan Jennings, who joined the Washington front office in the offseason as a special assistant to general manager Mike Rizzo. Jennings is reportedly making $115,000 from the Nationals.

Last season, the Marlins moved Jennings from his role as GM to manager, then fired him after the season. The Marlins are on the hook for the remaining $1.5 million they owed Jennings, minus his salary from the Nationals. Because they still are responsible for his salary, the more the Nationals pay Jennings, the less the Marlins owe.

The Marlins filed a grievance with Major League Baseball, and the decision was handed down before spring training began, according to the source.