WASHINGTON, DC-Following the walk-off win in game one of this series against the LA Angels (51-66), the Nats (54-64) looked to build on their momentum. Firmly in fourth place, it’s something they have had trouble with this season, especially after losing key offensive pieces Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker. But the sport doesn’t give time to look back; it always moves forward. And the players penciled in on the lineup card have to step up.
Patrick Corbin, making his 24th start, has had a rough season. His 5.98 ERA is one of the highest among starters in MLB. But to his credit, each time he takes the mound , he turns the page. Another start is another chance to prove that he can help his team and show what he has for the future. Yet, at season’s end, the 12-year veteran’s contract will be up and the Nats are unlikely to resign him.
He was aggressive early, striking out two of his first four. Former Nat and World Series champ Anthony Rendon faced his former teammate for the first time in the second. Rendon walked up to the plate hearing cheers for the second night in a row and promptly hit a single to Alex Call in right. With the bases loaded and one out, Brandon Drury hit a long sac fly to center, scoring Taylor Ward. But that was all LA scored, thanks to a diving grab by Luis Garcia on a groundout by Matt Thaiss.
The Nats weren’t down for long. In the bottom of the inning, James Wood hit a 381-foot home run to left center on a Griffin Canning slider. The no-doubter marked Wood’s fourth home run and 24th RBI of the season.
Corbin dealt with long counts in the second and third, throwing too many breaking balls out of the zone. At the end of the third, the southpaw’s pitch count was 65. But his teammates got him out of a jam once more. Kevin Pillar lined out to Call in right, who was awarded an outfield assist, then Zach Neto was doubled off second.
Call also showed off his bat. Counting this game, where he went 2-for-4, he has six consecutive multi-hit games .The Nats took the lead with Jacob Young on third as Call hit a single to right. What led to the run was perhaps even more incredible. Young hit a double to right and Nasim Nuñez hit a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, something you don’t see in the days of the designated hitter.
Corbin though couldn’t keep the 2-1 lead, or prevent another long inning. The Angels tallied three more hits against him and scored another run. Coming back out in the fifth at 82 pitches. he needed a quick inning. Instead the first batter he faced, Neto hit a long fly ball to center that landed beyond the fence, giving LA the lead once more at 3-2. After walking the next batter, Kevin Pillar hit a double, scoring another run. By that time, Dave Martinez had seen enough. Corbin finished his night giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks.
Righty Eduardo Salazar came on in relief, able to keep the ball on the ground and trusting his teammates to get outs. One key play happened when Juan Yepez, playing first base, got Pillar out at home to keep the score manageable at 4-2. Without that play, multiple runs would have crossed the plate. Salazar also pitched the sixth. The Angels left one runner on base and turned their second double play of the night to get back to the dugout.
A possible rally against LA’s Griffin Canning was squashed. Nuñez hit a single to center but soon after was picked off. Martinez challenged, but after review, the original call stood. The top two in the order followed but went down quickly on groundouts.
Entering the seventh, Canning’s count was at 70. There was no one in LA’s bullpen. Before a hit by Juan Yepez, he had retired nine of the last ten batters faced. On a James Wood double, Yepez ran all the way home, bringing the home team one run closer. Wood scored easily, tying the game at 4-4, when Jose Tena, who the Nats picked up from Cleveland in the Lane Thomas trade, hit a pitch through the hole at second base.
Speaking to reporters about the new acquisition, Martinez shared that “he understands the hitting portion of the game. He doesn’t try to do too much. He lets the ball travel a little bit. He puts the ball in play.”
After a hold by Jose A. Ferrer the next inning, things seemed to finally be going the Nats’ way. Their batters finally faced a new pitcher in the eighth, Hunter Strickland. He walked Jacob Young, who went to second on another Nunez bunt. Jacob Young moved even closer, taking third for his 27th steal of the year. But the scoring opportunity ended when Garcia hit groundout to second.
Kyle Finnegan, who pitched three straight days, did not appear in the ninth. Instead, Martinez called on reliever Derek Law to keep the score tied, which he did. But the Nats went down in order, sending the game to extras for the third straight night.
With CJ Abrams on second as the ghost runner in the tenth, a pitch got away from LA’s catcher Logan O’Hoppe, moving him to third. Tena made sure his new fans would remember him when he hit a long fly off the wall, sending Abrams home and the crowd into delirium. With the stadium bathed in red, it became official: the home team had earned another incredible walk-off win.
Martinez talked about Law’s performance post-game. “What he’s done for us, not just tonight, but the whole year, this guy just takes the ball. We talked about it the other day about how you’ve never got to ask him if he’s ready to pitch.” the manager said. “If you call his his name, he’s going to be ready to pitch.”
See the box score and highlights HERE.
