Ross rebounds after first inning, but Worley struggles (Nats lose 5-3)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Red Sox 5, Nationals 3

Recap: Right-hander Vance Worley allowed three runs in the fourth inning as the Red Sox snapped a 2-2 tie. Worley walked the first two batters he faced and now sports a 7.50 ERA. ... Joe Ross allowed two solo homers in the first inning - to Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez - in his 2 2/3 innings. ... Anthony Rendon and Wilmer Difo drove in Washington runs. ... Reliever Koda Glover struck out the side in the sixth. ... Drew Ward drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh. ... Austin Adams, Dustin Antolin and Braulio Lara each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the game for the Nats.

Need to know: The runs allowed by Ross were the first by any of the pitchers expected to be part of the Nationals' starting five (though the injured Max Scherzer has yet to pitch). They opened the spring with 14 2/3 scoreless innings.

On deck: Wednesday at Cardinals in Jupiter, 1:05 p.m.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - You knew it had to happen. You knew the Nationals' presumed opening day rotation wouldn't go a full spring without giving up a run.

Well, turns out the Nats rotation is human, after all.

Ten games into Grapefruit League play, in the seventh start by a pitcher who will likely be in the starting five, right-hander Joe Ross became the first to surrender a run. The scoreless streak reached 14 2/3 innings before Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramírez crushed back-to-back solo homers, the major blemishes on an otherwise decent outing by Ross.

Ross went 2 2/3 innings, departing after a two-out infield single to third by Betts. But Michael Broadway came on and got out of the inning when catcher Derek Norris threw Betts out trying to steal second. Ross yielded two runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts. He threw 58 pitches, 34 for strikes.

At least Ross was able to rebound after his hiccup in the first inning. Vance Worley pitched the fourth and allowed the Red Sox to take a 5-2 lead.

Worley walked the first two hitters he faced before Jackie Bradley Jr. loaded the bases with a one-out infield single. Pablo Sandoval ripped a two-run single to right and Bradley raced home from second on Blake Swihart's fielder's choice grounder.

Worley, trying to make the club as a long man out of the bullpen, surrendered three runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout. His spring ERA stands at 7.50.