Nationals Reaction: Biggest Takeaways from 18-Inning Game
By Matt Weyrich
Even on His Day Off, Daniel Murphy Finds a Way to Impress
Through 88 games played this season, Daniel Murphy is hitting an incredible .350/.388/.608 with 18 home runs, 67 RBIs, 54 runs scored, and 25 doubles. He is a legitimate MVP candidate in a league where there are several heavy contenders. Murphy hasn’t just been the biggest steal of the offseason, he’s been one of the best free agent signings in Nationals history.
After taking the first two games of the series off with a sore hamstring, Murphy was considered to be 100% ready to go entering the series finale. Baker opted to keep his starting second baseman on the bench, however, hoping to give Murphy the weekend off after he participated in all the All-Star festivities last week. The Nats had already won the series, and there was no rush to bring Murphy back with an off-day Monday.
With two outs in the ninth and the Nats down by one, who but Murphy was asked to step into the box and make something happen for a ball club that hadn’t pushed a run across all afternoon. Murph worked the count, fouling off a few pitches against Pirates closer Mark Melancon.
Melancon, who had blown only save all season, then gave up his second homer of the year as Murphy dug a low pitch out of the bottom of the zone and sent it soaring over the right field fence. As Murphy circled the bases, Nats fans could only cheer in sheer awe of what their second baseman has been able to do out on that field.
Next: Steady Arms in the Pen