Nationals 4, Astros: Astros open new Spring Training home with a walk-off loss

The table was set for the Astros to make the first game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches a memorable one for Houston fans. But it instead became an instant memory for their new Spring Training roommates, the Nationals.

Michael Taylor blasted an Ashur Tolliver pitch over the left-field wall to break a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning and end the game in a Nationals win.

An inning early, Edison Frias improved on his first outing of Spring. Which isn’t saying much (3 HRs allowed, walk, HBP, ejection). He gave up only one run, allowing the Nationals to tie the game.

Adding to the misery, the Astros All-Star reliever Will Harris exited the game in the fifth inning with discomfort and closer Ken Giles gave up a home run to Derek Norris.

But the game wasn’t all bad.

The Astros partied like it was 2004 in the fourth inning. Carlos Beltran connected for his first home run of Spring Training off former Astros reliever Oliver Perez.