Nationals win streak hits 9 on another walk-off ... The Washington Nationals won their ninth straight game when pinch hitter Anthony Rendon singled home Bryce Harper in the ninth inning Wednesday night for a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Harper opened the ninth with a single off Evan Marshall (4-3) and went to third base on Kevin Frandsens one-out single. Out of the starting lineup for the first time in 63 games, Rendon singled past third baseman Cliff Pennington to win it. Five of Washingtons last six victories have been by a single run, with four coming in its last at-bat. The Nationals last won nine in a row when they matched a franchise record by winning 10 straight in June 2005. The NL East leaders also extended their home win streak to eight and opened up a seven-game lead over Atlanta. Rafael Soriano (3-1) pitched the ninth. Arizona has lost five straight and is 5-13 in August. Tanner Roark threw seven scoreless innings for the Nationals and left with a 2-0 lead. He gave up five hits. The Diamondbacks tied it in the eighth on Ender Inciartes two-run homer against reliever Tyler Clippard. Arizona starter Trevor Cahill allowed two runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings. Wilson Ramos RBI groundout in the second inning gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Asdrubal Cabrera and Jayson Werth hit consecutive doubles to put Washington up 2-0 in the sixth. Harper had three of Washingtons nine hits. NOTES: *Manager Matt Williams sounded hopeful that 3B/OF Ryan Zimmerman could return sometime in September from a hamstring injury. Zimmerman was placed on the disabled list on July 23. *In his fourth rehab appearance, Daniel Hudson tossed one scoreless inning with two strikeouts Tuesday night in the Arizona Rookie League. The right-hander hasnt pitched at the major league level since 2012 after suffering an elbow injury that resulted in two Tommy John surgeries. *Arizonas Wade Miley (7-9, 4.46 ERA) faces fellow left-hander Gio Gonzalez (6-9, 4.06) on Thursday in the finale of the four-game set. Below: Washington Nationals Kevin Frandsen, left, hugs teammate Anthony Rendon after Rendon hit the game-winning single in the ninth inning. Tanner Roark threw seven scoreless innings for the Nationals and left with a 2-0 lead. He gave up five hits. Arizona starter Trevor Cahill allowed two runs and six hits over 6 1-3 innings. Bryce Harper opened the ninth with a single off Evan Marshall (4-3) and went to third base on Kevin Frandsens one-out single.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 03:16:45 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015