Voth among first wave of Nats cuts (Nationals win 8-5)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have made their first cuts of spring training, optioning right-hander Austin Voth to Triple-A Syracuse and reassigning seven players to their minor league camp.

Voth, who went 4-12 with a 5.94 ERA at three minor league stops last season, appeared in three Grapefruit League games, and posted a 6.00 ERA in three innings of relief work. He allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Right-handers Jimmy Cordero, Brady Dragmire, David Goforth, Román Méndez and César Vargas; catcher Taylor Gushue; and infielder Osvaldo Abreu were reassigned to minor league camp.

Here's your annual reminder: Players on the 40-man roster are optioned, while those not on the 40-man (largely non-roster invitees) are reassigned to minor league camp.

The moves leave the Nationals with 54 players in major league camp.

Update: Stephen Strasburg's day is done after 3 1/3 innings and he leaves trailing 2-0 with a runner on second base.

Davey Martinez wanted to get Strasburg 60-65 pitches today, and Strasburg threw 63, the final offering roped off the left field wall for an RBI double by Kevin Plawecki. In the third, Strasburg allowed an infield single to David Thompson, who stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on Brandon Nimmo's double to right-center.

For the day, Strasburg allowed two runs on three hits, walked a pair, struck out five and uncorked a pair of wild pitches. He threw 39 of his 63 pitches for strikes. Austin L. Adams is in to pitch for the Nats.

Mets righty Noah Syndergaard has allowed two singles and two walks, but has struck out the last six Nats hitters.

Update II: Lefty Enny Romero started the fifth and was greeted by a Nimmo triple, followed by Jay Bruce's sac fly to make it 3-0. Romero then loaded the bases before getting Plawecki to bounce into a 6-5-3 double play.

Update III: The Nationals' bats came alive in the fifth against Jeurys Familia, and they now lead 4-3. With one out, Brian Goodwin walked and raced home on Trea Turner's double. Turner then scored on Bryce Harper's RBI single to left. After Anthony Rendon flied out, Matt Adams cleared the bullpen in right field with his first homer of the spring, a two-run shot for a 4-3 lead.

Update IV: Miguel Montero added a run in the sixth with a homer to right off Familia. Going into the eighth, Nats lead 5-3.

Update V: Zach Borenstein's base hit and a Wilmer Difo throwing error brought home Luis Guillorme in the eighth. Victor Robles lined a single to right to plate Difo, and then scored on Reid Brignac's single to left. Going into the ninth, Nats lead 8-4.

Update VI: Matt Oberste doubled to right and later came home on Tomas Nido's groundout in the ninth, but Guillorme flied out to center to put an end to the threat. Nats win 8-5.