Nationals Walk Off Cardinals 4-3
It was a very run of the mill start for the Washington Nationals which quickly turned exciting in today’s matinee against the St Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals wasted no time jumping out in front. With a two run single from Paul DeJong, St Louis got an early 2-0 lead over the Nationals. Washington answered with a solo home run by Trea Turner in the bottom of the first and later loaded the bases, but could not score as the Cardinals took a 2-1 lead after one inning. The story of the day was pitching at first, as Max Scherzer allowed four hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out eleven, but Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty held the Nationals to one run on three hits over five innings. A key moment in this game was when Jimmy Cordero allowed the Cardinals to load the bases with no outs in the eighth inning, but Justin Miller held them scoreless thanks to a double play including a forceout at home and a strikeout to keep the score at 3-1 in favor of the Cardinals. Fastforward to the bottom of the ninth, with the Nationals trailing 3-1 and facing Cardinals closer Bud Norris. Norris walked the leadoff batter Adam Eaton to bring the Nationals tying run to the batters box in the form of Trea Turner. Turner hit a fielder’s choice that put Eaton out at second and exchanged runners at first. The tying run now became Bryce Harper, who had walked three times thus far. Harper launched a home run to the batter’s eye in center field to tie the game 3-3. Washington loaded the bases later in the inning, but could score no more, leaving the bases loaded for the third time in the game. Greg Holland started the tenth inning by walking Francisco Pena. Holland then got Patrick Wisdom to line into a double play before striking out NL MVP candidate Matt Carpenter, one of three times the Nationals pitching staff got Carpenter down on strikes. This set the stage for the bottom of the tenth. Tied at 3-3 the Nationals faced Chason Shreve, who relieved Bud Norris in the ninth inning. Mark Reynolds started the inning by hitting one deep to right and off the glove of Tyler O’Neill for a leadoff double. Adam Eaton then tried to move Reynolds to third with a bunt and additionally got himself aboard, creating a corner situation for the Nationals with no outs. After a foulout by Trea Turner, Bryce Harper sent everybody home happy with a walkoff sac fly to score Michael A Taylor-who was pinch running for Mark Reynolds-to put the exclamation point on a 4-3 Nationals victory, improving their record to 69-69.
Nationals will attempt to win the series tomorrow as Erick Fedde takes the mound at 7:05 PM
