Guthrie impresses in ballpark opener (Nats walk off Astros 4-3)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 4, Astros 3

Recap: Michael A. Taylor threw out the potential go-ahead run from right field in the top of the ninth, with Jhonatan Solano blocking the plate and making a sweeping tag, then hit a two-out walk-off homer to left in the bottom of the inning for the win. ... The Nationals' first game at the brand-new Ballpark of the Palm Beaches began in style, with Jeremy Guthrie tossing two scoreless innings and Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper hitting back-to-back doubles to produce the first run scored in this stadium. But Carlos Beltran struck for the Astros in the top of the fourth, hitting a two-run homer off fellow veteran Oliver Pérez. Derek Norris' towering home run over the left field bullpen in the bottom of the fourth tied up the game again, but Houston retook the lead in the sixth with a run off Joe Nathan. No worries, because Jose Lobaton singled home Neftali Soto in the bottom of the eight, tying the game once again.

Need to know: Reliever Koda Glover was sharp in his first appearance of the spring, retiring the side in the fifth inning and striking out Jake Marisnick. ... Flame-throwing left-hander Enny Romero retired the side in the seventh. He has now retired six of the seven batters he's faced this spring, striking out three. ... Attendance was 5,987.

On deck: Wednesday vs. Tigers in Lakeland, 1:05 p.m.
___________________________________________

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie didn't expect to be the man throwing the very first pitch in the history of The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, but when the opportunity arose, the veteran right-hander decided me might as well enjoy it.

"It's obviously not like I was chosen to pitch it," he said. "But when you do get the opportunity and it falls on your day, it's nice. It's nice to be a part of something that's new and fresh."

Selected by the Nationals to start today's historic game against the Astros in part to help line up the regular members of their projected rotation, Guthrie nonetheless made the most of it. He threw two scoreless innings, striking out two and feeling like he made a solid impression on a Nationals coaching staff and front office trying to decide if there's a place for the 37-year-old on their opening day roster.

"The most important thing for me is hopefully going out there and every time someone gets a chance to see me, I can make a positive impression," said Guthrie, in camp on a minor league contract. "The results this outing were obviously better than my previous one. But each time I'm trying to get a little more consistent in delivering pitches and continue to do the best I can."

Guthrie allowed one run in an inning of relief Saturday against the Mets. This was more up his alley, a chance to start. The former Indian, Oriole, Rockie and Royal looked sharp from the outset, winning a 10-pitch battle with Marwin Gonzalez to strike out Houston's leadoff man. He later struck out All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa.

A pitcher in this position might normally put a lot of stock in every one of his spring training performances, but Guthrie refuses to do so. That's because he did put pressure on himself last spring to make the Padres as a non-roster invitee and wound up getting shelled.

"I'm very worry-free right now," he asid. "I'm just focused on pitching. It's a nice, relaxed feeling. But it comes from last year's experience. I think I left it all on the line last year in terms of the stress and the worries and the hassle. Now I can just enjoy baseball again."

The Nationals staked Guthrie to an early lead thanks to a couple of firsts. Daniel Murphy recorded the first hit in ballpark history with an opposite-field double off Astros starter Mike Fiers. Bryce Harper followed moments later with his own double off the left field wall, bringing home Murphy with the first run and RBI inside the new stadium.

The Astros did bounce back and took the lead in the top of the fourth when Carlos Beltran clubbed a two-run homer off Oliver Pérez (the first time those two veterans had faced each other since 2004). But the Nationals responded in the bottom of the inning when Derek Norris launched a solo shot off Houston closer Ken Giles that cleared the bullpen in left field.