Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper Erases Nats Mistakes With Two Homer Game

Despite the Washington Nationals playing sloppily, Bryce Harper had a multi-homer game to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies on Easter Sunday.

Although it wasn’t pretty, the Washington Nationals found a way to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies and earn their third series win of the year.

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The Nats got a great outing from Gio Gonzalez, who only allowed two earned runs through 7.1 innings. After surrendering a lead-off homer to Nats killer, Cesar Hernandez, Gonzalez settled in nicely. His control was spotty at times, leading to three walks, but he was able to work around the walks.

After going down 1-0 early, the Nationals immediately answered back in the bottom of the first. Adam Eaton continued his outstanding start by crushing a double into right field, followed by an RBI double from Anthony “Tony Two Bags” Rendon.

One of Gonzalez’s most frustrating innings was the top of the third, when he threw 16 pitches and only six strikes. After retiring the opposing pitcher, Jerad Eickhoff, Gonzalez walked Hernandez, but was then bailed out by Hernandez getting caught stealing on a perfect throw from Matt Wieters. Gonzalez then went on to walk yet another batter. Wieters throwing out Hernandez was huge and gave the Nats a free out while Gonzalez struggled to find the strike zone.

The Nats were able to put together quite the two out rally in the bottom of the third. Eickhoff made quick work of Gonzalez and Eaton to begin the inning, but then Rendon extended the inning by legging out an infield single. The Phillies challenged the play at first, but the call was upheld, allowing Bryce Harper to come to the plate. Harper took full advantage of this opportunity, crushing his first homer of the day over the out-of-town scoreboard.

Gonzalez made it through the first seven innings unscathed other than the lead-off homer, but then all heck broke loose in the top of the eighth. Hernandez started the Philadelphia rally with a single up the middle that was just out of the reach of Gonzalez. The next batter, Daniel Nava, singled into left, but the ball got past Jayson Werth, allowing Hernandez to score and Nava to advance to second.

At that point, Dusty Baker had seen enough and decided it was time to go to the bullpen. Koda Glover came in to attempt to preserve the lead, but the defense didn’t help him out either. During the first batter he faced, he threw a wild pitch that probably should’ve been ruled a passed ball, allowing Nava to advance to third. Maikel Franco was at the plate and just needed to hit a ball into the outfield to tie the game, but Glover struck him out. With a runner on third and two outs, the Nats were able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but Tommy Joseph poked a single through the left side of the infield to tie the game.

Now tied, the Nats called on Blake Treinen to shut down the Phillies in the ninth and give them a chance to win it in the bottom half of the inning. Treinen’s struggles continued, and he gave up a run before getting pulled in favor of Shawn Kelley.

Down by one in the bottom of the ninth, the Nats faced a tall order in Joaquin Benoit, who had mowed through the heart of the lineup the day before. Wilmer Difo led off the ninth with a solid at-bat, but eventually flew out. Then Chris Heisey got on base with a walk, and advanced to second on a single from Eaton. With two runners on and one out, Rendon crushed a ball into right field; however, it was right at Michael Saunders.

Then Harper came to the plate with the game on the line and one homer already under his belt. He quickly went down 0-2 before battling and working the count full. With a full count, Benoit left a fastball right over the heart of the plate, and Harper made him pay, crushing his second homer of the game onto the batter’s eye.

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The Nats enjoyed excellent performances from Gonzalez and Harper, but played a somewhat sloppy game other than that. The bullpen struggles and defensive miscues continued on Sunday, but fortunately did not end up costing them the game. The bullpen and defense must improve because Harper will not be able to bail them out with two homers and five RBI’s every game. In this case, he was able to, and gave all Nats fans a very happy Easter.

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