The Washington Nationals were able to get out of their losing skid yesterday, as they went on to beat the New York Mets 5-3. The Nationals were able to get the victory thanks to a three run inning in the bottom of the seventh. But before those three runs, the Nationals got two on the board in the bottom of the fourth. The first run came from a Josh Willingham single. Willingham drove in Cristian Guzman and gave him his 23 RBI of the year. Then Roger Bernadina hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield and was able to drive in Ryan Zimmerman, giving Bernadina his seventh RBI of the season and giving the Nationals a 2-1 lead. Then in the seventh, after the score was tied up at 2-2, Adam Kennedy hit a sacrifice fly to center that brought in Bernadina and it gave Kennedy his 13 RBI of the season and the Nationals a 3-2 lead. Then, Guzman hit a triple to right center that brought in Nyjer Morgan and that gave Washington a 4-2 lead. That gave Guzman his 14 RBI of the year. Then, Zimmerman singled to right that brought in Guzman, giving the Nationals a 5-2 lead and the 24 RBI for Zimmerman of the season. Washington would allow one run in the top of the ninth but would maintain the lead and win 5-3.
The Nationals had eight hits on the day yesterday. Guzman and Zimmerman led the way with two hits apiece, while Adam Dunn, Livan Hernandez, Willingham and Bernadina each had one. Guzman’s triple in the seventh was his third on the season and Bernadina’s double in the seventh gave him three doubles on the year.
The Nationals had Livan Hernandez started the game and would end up getting the no decision. Hernandez pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs. One of those runs came in the top of the fourth, as Mets outfielder Angel Pagan hit an inside the park home run. Hernandez allowed three walks but had two strikeouts. After getting one out in the seventh, Nationals rookie Drew Storen came into the game and would end up actually getting the win. Storen pitched a scoreless 2/3 innings and maintained the score at a tie of 2-2. That was Storen’s first career major league win. Tyler Clippard came into the top of the eighth and was perfect. Clippard didn’t allow a run and got two strikeouts. Clippard received his eighth hold of the season. Then, Matt Capps came into the top of the ninth to go for his 15 save of the season. Capps got the first batter, Jeff Francoeur, to fly out but then he allowed a home run to Fernando Tatis and that made the score 5-3. But Capps was able to maintain his poise and he got Chris Carter and Rod Barajas to groundout. Capps earned his league leading 15 save and remains perfect in save opportunities.
The previous two games, the Nationals played they lost. On May 17 the Nationals lost to the Cardinals 6-2. Craig Stammen got the loss and moved his record to 1-2. Stammen went six innings and allowed four runs. On May 18 Washington lost to St. Louis again by a score of 3-2. Clippard got the loss after he allowed a home run to Ryan Ludwick, which gave St. Louis a 3-2 lead and the win.
The Nationals are 21-20 and are third in the National League East. Washington is four games back of the Philadelphia Phillies and one game back of the Florida Marlins to be in second place.
Washington face the Mets at home tonight at 7:05 p.m. Rookie Luis Atilano (3-0, 3.90 ERA) will face off against John Maine (1-3, 6.13 ERA).
