Stott, Hettiger Go Deep in Phils Spring Win

The Phillies put up seven runs in a 7-3 win against the Washington Nationals in Clearwater on Thursday. Bryson Stott jumped on a 3-2 slider from left-hander Jake Eder and took it the opposite way to left field for his first home run of the spring to put the Phillies up 1-0. Stott also walked twice in the game and scored twice.

In the bottom of the third, the Phillies put up four runs to take a 5-0 lead. Outfield prospect Dante Nori doubled to leadoff the inning and Kehden Hettiger followed with his first home run of the spring, also on a 3-2 pitch, this time from Gus Varland. Hettiger took a 95.6 mph fastball that Varland tried to fire past him and took it 353 feet to right field for his first home run. Hettiger is in camp as a non-roster invitee and was the Phillies DH in the game. The left-handed hitter has gotten three at-bats so far and has a double, a home run, two runs scored, and a walk. Later in the inning, Stott drew a one-out walk and Bryce Harper followed with an RBI double to right field to cap the four-run inning.

SCOUTING REPORT: Jack Dallas, Kehden Hettiger, Chase Shugart

Later in the game, Harper delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in another run and Liover Peguero had an RBI single in the sixth to score Paul McIntosh.

On the mound, Taijuan Walker started and allowed a first inning run on two hits and then threw a scoreless second to end his first outing of the spring. Jose Alvarado put down the Nats in the third collecting two strikeouts. Chase Shugart, Jack Dallas, and Jonathan Hernandez all had clean innings in relief. Michael King gave up a hit in the ninth, but then struck out the side. Tanner Banks got the first two outs in the fourth before giving up a base hit followed by a two-run home run by Andres Chaparro, giving him an ugly line for his inning of work.

Friday, the Phils are in Lakeland to face the Detroit Tigers with minor leaguer Jean Cabrera making his first start of the spring.