Washington Nationals Top 10 Games Of 2015: #7 – Bryce Harper’s Walk-Off Home Run Vs. Braves
By Ricky Keeler
We continue our countdown of the top ten games from this past Washington Nationals’ season with number seven. This game was played back on May 9 between the Nats and the Atlanta Braves. In the midst of one of his best months of the season, Bryce Harper sent the fans home happy with a walk-off home run to defeat the Braves, 8-6 on a day where former manager Frank Robinson was honored by the organization.
The scoring in this game began in the bottom of the second when backup catcher Jose Lobaton hit a two-run homer to right center against Julio Teheran for his second home run of the season. The lead would increase to 3-0 four batters later with Yunel Escobar singled to center to drive in Danny Espinosa.
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With the early run support, Doug Fister was able to pitch well through the first six innings. The only run the Nats’ right-hander surrendered for those innings was in the fifth when Cameron Maybin hit a two-out double to left that drove in Alberto Callaspo.
Even though Fister gave up the run, the Nats were able to tack on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. After back-to-back one out singles by Jayson Werth and Harper, Ryan Zimmerman hit a curveball to left that was initially ruled a RBI double, but the call was overturned when the replay showed it hit the flowers. The three-run shot was Zimmerman’s third of the season and put the Nats up 6-1.
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Despite being up five runs, the Nats’ lead wasn’t safe. The Braves started chipping away at the lead in the top of the seventh when pinch-hitter Pedro Ciriaco hit a two-out RBI double to left that drove in Maybin and Christian Bethancourt. Fister’s day would end there as he went 6.2 innings, gave up three runs on six hits, and struck out three batters on 92 pitches (64 strikes).
It was up to the Nats’ bullpen in the eighth, but they did not deliver. After Aaron Barrett loaded the bases with one out, Tanner Roark entered the game. Jace Peterson would hit a groundout back to Roark to drive in a run and then Bethancourt would tie the game with a two-run double to center.
Next: Top 10 Games Of 2015: #8 - Zimmerman's 10th Inning Walk-Off Home Run Vs. Yankees
Thanks to a 1-2-3 top of the ninth by Drew Storen, Washington had a chance to win the game against Cody Martin. Escobar would lead off the inning with an infield single. Two batters later, Harper hit the second pitch of the at-bat to center field for a walk-off two-run homer. It was Harper’s 11th home run of the season and his sixth home run over a three-day period. It was an all-time week for Harper, which ended up being part of a memorable season.