Late Rally Allows Nationals to Avoid Sweep

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals appeared to be in serious danger of being swept at home by the New York Mets as they came to bat trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. This game was shaping up like so many others we’ve seen during this mostly disappointing season, with them falling behind early and then squandering multiple run scoring opportunities in what would become a tough luck loss.

They were able to trim the Mets lead to 5-3 with a Wilson Ramos run scoring single during the seventh, but the offense finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth with three huge runs that was highlighted by a two-out double by the hot hitting Jayson Werth that gave the Nats their first lead of the night. Ryan Zimmerman was able to score the go ahead run from first base on the Werth double.

During that eighth inning rally Denard Span extended his career best hitting streak to 15 games and Bryce Harper shocked the world by dropping down a beautiful sacrifice bunt that helped to fuel the game winning rally. The Harper sac bunt was huge because it not only moved two base runners into scoring position, but it took the possibility of someone grounding into a double play out of the equation as well.

The Mets took a 1-0 lead just eight pitches into the game when Daniel Murphy followed up Eric Young’s leadoff double with one of his own off pitcher Ross Ohlendorf. Ohlendorf  didn’t have his best stuff and allowed nine hits in five innings that included six extra-base hits along with four runs.

With the win the Nats finished 4-2 on their homestand and will now be hitting the road for 10 games starting at the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night. The Nats also picked up a game in the NL Wildcard race and trail the Cincinnati Reds by 6.5 games with 26 games remaining.

The Reds have a tough week ahead with four games against the St. Louis Cardinals followed by three with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have went a combined 6-13 against them this season.