JUPITER, Fla. — In a matchup of high-priced stars, Max Scherzer got Giancarlo Stanton to ground into a double play and then struck out the slugger in the Washington Nationals’ 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.
Scherzer, signed to a $210 million, seven-year deal as a free agent, allowed one run and six hits in three innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
Dee Gordon led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single, stole second, advanced on wild pitch and scored on the first of Chrsitian Yelich’s three singles. Stanton, signed to a record $325 million, 13-year-old deal, followed with a one-hopper that became a 4-6-3 double play, then struck out on a checked swing on a low-and-away pitch in the third inning.
“He’s probably the best hitter in the National League,” Scherzer said. “I think Stanton is unbelievable, but Miggy’s on another level,” Scherzer added, a reference to former Detroit teammate Miguel Cabrera, the 2012 American League triple crown winner.
New commissioner Rob Manfred attended the game and watched the two stars face each other.
“It is an astounding set of numbers, I will give you that,” he said. “Numbers like that on player contracts I see as a reflection of the health of the game in terms of the revenues that were generated.”
Stanton also struck out against Taylor Jordan in the fifth and is 1-for-9 in spring training.
Washington tied the game in the sixth an RBI double by former Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla, but Derek Dietrich hit a walk-off home run in the ninth off Bruce Billings.
Former Nationals pitcher Dan Haren allowed one hit in three innings in his second outing, throwing 25 of 35 pitches for strikes.
Jordan Zimmerman is to make his second spring start on Wednesday when Detroit visits the Nationals at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. Zimmerman allowed one hit in two innings during his spring training debut and will face the Tigers’ David Price.
Washington manager Matt Williams said Bryce Harper could play some center field on occasion because Denard Span will miss the start of the season following core muscle surgery. Williams, though, would prefer to have Harper get comfortable in right field, where he will move this season after spending the last two in left field.
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