
Werth’s Walk-Off Caps Wild Win Over Cubs
All season long, the Washington Nationals had close games against the eventual World Series champions, the Chicago Cubs. In their seven matchups during the regular season, every game ended up being decided by three runs or fewer.
Stephen Strasburg and Jason Hammel had a classic pitcher’s duel as the score was tied at one until the bottom of the eighth inning. That was when Stephen Drew hit a pinch-hit solo home run against Pedro Strop to put the Nats up, 2-1.
In this game, Dusty Baker tried to get the save with Matt Belisle and Oliver Perez. But, that strategy did not pay off. Kris Bryant doubled to start the inning and Anthony Rizzo followed that up with a two-run home run to right to put the Cubs in front, 3-2.
Hector Rondon was one out away from getting the save, but Wilson Ramos kept the Nats chances alive with a base hit to left, which drove in Bryce Harper. Chicago would end up taking the lead back in the top of the 12th on a RBI single by Addison Russell against Yusmeiro Petit.
Down a run in their final at-bat, the Nats found a way to comeback once again. Michael Taylor’s RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 12th end up tying the game at four. Two batters later, Jayson Werth ended up being the hero with a walk-off single to center field.
While this was only a regular season game, this matchup had an October atmosphere to it at Nats Park.