Jonathan Papelbon blows save, Washington Nationals fall to Royals in ninth
The Washington Nationals appeared poised to take home a series victory against the reigning World Series champs, before a disastrous ninth inning gave the Royals a come-from-behind win.
The Washington Nationals came into tonight’s game in Kansas City with a chance to stretch their winning streak to five games and improve their record on their current 10-game road trip to 5-0. For a while, it looked like they would accomplish just that — the team led 6-4 in the ninth inning.
Unfortunately for the Nationals, closer Jonathan Papelbon had a night to forget, and the Royals won the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth inning.
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Hours earlier, the Nationals’ offense got things going quickly against Royals starter Chris Young. Anthony Rendon drove in the team’s first run with a solo homer in the top of the first inning.
The Nationals weren’t ahead for long, however, as the Royals rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third thanks to two RBI singles off of Nationals starter Tanner Roark.
The Nationals began to chip away at the Royals’ 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Daniel Murphy continued his torrid start to the season with a solo homer, making it a 3-2 Kansas City lead. It wasn’t until the top of the sixth inning that the Nationals offense really got going.
Ramos tied the game with an RBI ground-rule double in the sixth, before an RBI groundout off the bat of Danny Espinosa gave the Nationals a 4-3 lead. Chris Heisey drove in the Nationals’ fifth run on an RBI triple later in the inning.
Each team added a run in the eighth to set up the save situation for Papelbon. Unfortunately for the Nationals, the Royals’ lineup was all over the veteran closer.
The Royals put two runners in scoring position with no outs, before a one-out single off the bat of Mike Moustakas tied the game at 6. Lorenzo Cain drove in Moustakas later in the inning, giving the Royals a 7-6 victory.
Next: Jonathan Papelbon blows save, Washington Nationals fall to Royals in ninth
Next Game: The Nationals will have one more chance to take home a series win tomorrow afternoon in Kansas City, when Stephen Strasburg takes the mound against the Royals’ Kris Medlen. First pitch is set for 2:15 p.m. ET.