Doug Fister rocked for two homers, Yunel Escobar debuts with hit (Nats win 7-6)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 7, Yankees 6

Recap: Right-hander Doug Fister struggled in his fourth spring start, allowing four runs on seven hits, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked none, but saw his spring ERA climb to 4.97. Fister helped his own cause with his bat, however, hitting a two-run single in the fourth. Shortstop Ian Desmond and catcher Jose Lobaton each added two RBIs. Trailing the Yankees 6-4 in the seventh, the Nats scored three times on an error and a two-run double by Lobaton.

Need to know: Reliever Casey Janssen allowed a two-run homer to Yankees outfielder Chris Young, who had two longballs on the day. But the rest of the Nats bullpen performed well with Rich Hill, Blake Treinen, Craig Stammen and Heath Bell combining for 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Second baseman Yunel Escobar led off and went 1-for-2 in his Nats spring debut, but he did commit an error on a double-play attempt. The Nats are off on Tuesday.

On deck: Tuesday off; Wednesday at St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, 1:05 p.m.
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VIERA, Fla. - The Yankees jumped out first today, scoring three runs in the third inning off Nationals starter Doug Fister.

The first run came across the plate when Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner hit a sharp grounder and Nationals second baseman Yunel Escobar made a spectacular play lunging to his left. Rob Refsnyder scored to give the Yankees the lead, but Escobar got the out at first. Two batters later, Yankees catcher Brian McCann took Fister deep for a two-run homer.

In the fourth, Fister helped his own cause with a two-out, two-run single to center field, scoring Wilson Ramos and Michael A. Taylor. Danny Espinosa, pinch-hitting for Escobar, singled up the middle and shortstop Ian Desmond smoked a double to the left-center gap, scoring Fister and Espinosa to put the Nats ahead 4-3.

Yankees center fielder Chris Young responded in the fifth with a solo shot that landed in the tiki bar well past the left field wall at Space Coast Stadium.

Fister gave up four runs on seven hits, including two homers, with four strikeouts, one walk and one hit batter in 4 1/3 innings. His spring ERA jumped to 4.97.

Escobar finished his spring debut 1-for-2 with an infield single in the first. He was also charged with an error on a wild throw that sailed well over first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Escobar was trying to turn his first double play of the exhibition season at second base, but misfired.

Update: Young hit his second homer of the day in the sixth. This time it was a two-run blast off Nats reliever Casey Janssen. It's the second homer that Janssen has given up in six innings pitched this spring. The Nats signed the right-hander to conceivably take over the eighth inning role after they traded Tyler Clippard in the offseason.

The Yankees lead the Nats 6-4 in the seventh.