After the Washington Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 this afternoon with the help of an RBI double by Michael Morse, solo HR's by Jesus Flores and Ryan Zimmerman, RBI singles by Corey Brown and Ian Desmond and strong work by the Nats' relievers after starter Jordan Zimmermann gave up seven hits and four runs in 3.2 IP, the Nationals announced their first cuts of Spring Training...

According to the Washington Times' Amanda Comak (on Twitter @AComak):

"Matt Purke, Anthony Rendon, Carlos Rivero, Corey Brown, Jarrett Hoffpauir, Rafael Martin, Austin Bibens-Dirkx among todays #nationals cuts."

No big surprises there. Purke and Rendon were in camp because they signed Major League deals last year after the Nationals selected them in the 3rd and 1st Rounds, respectively, in last June's draft. "Purke, Rendon likely to Class A Potomac," the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) wrote on Twitter. The Nationals made the announcement official just a few minutes after the initial reports:

@NationalsPR: "LHP Matt Purke & INF Anthony Rendon optioned to Potomac and INF Carlos Rivero optioned to Syracuse..."

@NationalsPR:"Re-assigned to ml camp: RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx, RHP Rafael Martin, C Sandy Leon, INF Jarrett Hoffpauir, OF Corey Brown, OF Xavier Paul."

• Nats' skipper Davey Johnson did tell reporters that Corey Brown, (who was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI singles today and was 7 for 17 with a HR and a double so far this Spring, impressing everyone defensively in the last few days), was on the right track so far this year after dealing with health issues in 2011 in his first season in Washington following the trade that sent Josh Willingham to Oakland last winter. "'I told him if he keeps doing the things he's doing,'" Johnson told reporters including the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore, "'We won't have to look for a CFer.'"