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Washington Nationals Recap: Matt Wieters Home Run In 8th Inning Caps O’s Sweep Of Nats

By Ricky Keeler

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The Washington Nationals (78-74) were looking to shake off the tough loss last night against the Baltimore Orioles (76-76) in a game that was originally scheduled for Monday night. However, after rallying from a 3-0 deficit to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh, the bullpen woes came back to bite the Nats again. Blake Treinen (2-4, 3.86 ERA) gave up what ended up being the game winning two-run homer to Matt Wieters as the O’s won the game 5-4 and completed the sweep of the Nats. With today’s loss, the Nats tragic number is down to four with the Mets taking the field tonight against the Reds.

The Orioles got the scoring started in the top of the first inning against Tanner Roark. Gerardo Parra would leadoff the game with a double and would come around to score on a RBI single by Manny Machado to center field to put the O’s ahead, 1-0.

Three innings later, Baltimore was able to tack on two more runs. After a leadoff single by Wieters, Jonathan Schoop crushed a 1-0 fastball over the wall in center field for a two-run homer. Schoop’s 15th home run of the season extended Baltimore’s lead to 3-0. As for Roark, he went five innings, gave up three runs on five hits, struck out one batter, and walked two on 98 pitches (65 strikes) in a no-decision.

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Despite being down 3-0, the Nats would rally back against Baltimore’s rookie starter, Tyler Wilson. In the bottom of the fifth, Wilson Ramos led off with a single and Trea Turner (pinch-hitting for Roark) doubled to left. With both runners in scoring position, Anthony Rendon hit a flyball to the wall in center field that was caught by Parra, but Ramos scored to get the Nats on the board. Turner would end up scoring when Yunel Escobar singled to left and the Nats found themselves only down a run.

After Joe Ross and Matt Thornton threw two combined shutout innings out of the bullpen, the Nats went up against Chaz Roe in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Ramos hit a solo shot to left field on a 2-o fastball to tie the game at three. It was Ramos’ 14th home run of the season. Later in the inning, after back-to-back singles by Matt den Dekker (pinch-hitting for Thornton) and Rendon, Escobar delivered again with a RBI double to right center to give the Nats a 4-3 lead. However, a great relay by the O’s allowed Wieters to tag Rendon out at the plate just in time and prevent more runs from scoring.

Blake Treinen would start the eighth inning for the Nats. Steve Pearce led off the inning with a single. Then, Wieters hit a 1-1 sinker over the wall in center for a two-run homer. Wieters’ seventh of the season put the Orioles back ahead, 5-4. The Nats had a chance to rally in the bottom of the eighth when Clint Robinson led off the inning with a double against Brad Brach. However, pinch-runner Wilmer Difo was thrown out at third after a bad bunt by Ian Desmond. Michael Taylor would draw a one-out walk, but Ramos and Tyler Moore (pinch-hitting for Treinen) struck out swinging to end the inning.

Felipe Rivero threw a scoreless ninth inning for Washington, but Darren O’Day retired the Nats 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to record his third save of the series. Mike Wright (3-5, 6.23) only faced four batters in this game, but he got the win for the Orioles.

Next Game: The Washington Nationals begin a three game series against the Philadelphia Phillies (57-95) at Nats Park tomorrow night. You can catch the game on MASN2 at 7:05 PM ET. Jordan Zimmermann (13-8, 3.49 ERA) gets the start for the Nats in what could be his last start at Nats Park as a member of the home team. He will go up against Jerad Eickhoff (1-3, 3.16) for the Phillies.

Next: Nats Pre-History: Yogi Berra Vs. The Senators

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