Nats get quick lead over Twins (Nats win 4-3)

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

April 01, 2016, 2:31pm

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The Nationals kept their hot hitting from spring training in Florida going with a quick start against the Twins in an exhibition game Friday night at Nationals Park.

Ben Revere led off against Twins right-hander Phil Hughes with a triple into the right field corner. Last season, the Nationals were dead last in the major leagues with only 13 triples.

After Anthony Rendon walked, Bryce Harper's sacrifice fly made it 1-0. Ryan Zimmerman followed with an RBI double to make it 2-0.

Tanner Roark allowed only a double to Joe Mauer in his first two innings.

The Nats lead 2-0 after two innings.

Revere added another extra base hit in the third and scored on a Rendon RBI double. It's 3-0 Nats after three frames. Revere is 2-for-2 with a double, a triple and two runs scored in his first two at-bats.

Eddie Rosario notched a run-scoring single in the fourth to trim Nats' lead to 3-1. Eduardo Escobar later added a two-run double to tie the game at 3-3.

The Nats and Twins are even at 3-3 through five and 1/2 innings.

Roark worked four innings, scattering seven hits, allowing three runs with no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 69 pitches, 44 for strikes.

Scott Sizemore walked in the bottom of the eighth and went to third on a Stephen Drew double with one out. He scored thanks to a Trea Turner sacrifice fly for a 4-3 Nationals lead.

Jonathan Papelbon worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.