The View From Here: Nationals walk-off. Again.
It was looking like it would be a fair night for Braves country; that the boys would at least keep even in their Wild Card chase, and maybe even make up a game on the division leader. But, in the late moments, the Atlanta Braves blew a 2-run lead, the Nats did what the Nats suddenly seem to do every night, and the Giants and Cardinals won handily. See below.
Washington Nationals 3 – Arizona Diamondbacks 2
The Nationals blew a slight, two-run lead in the eight inning, when Tyler Clippard gave up a two run blast off the bat of Ender Inciarte, but Clippard would get bailed out in the bottom of the ninth, when Anthony Rendon singled home, who else, Bryce Harper for the Nats’ fourth walk off in five games. Washington’s winning streak has moved to nine in a row for DC, and they’ll go for the series sweep on Thursday afternoon.
St. Louis Cardinals 7 – Cincinnati Reds 3
While the Cardinals were slow to start, they didn’t let up once they did, scoring once in the third, thrice in the fifth and twice in the eighth to go up 8-0. Jhonny Peralta only had one hit, but it drove home three runs, and Peralta finished as the only Card to drive in multiple runs. The Reds didn’t go quietly though, as they threatened and put three runs on the board in the top of the ninth inning, and the game came to an end on a Todd Frazier groundout with the bases loaded. The Reds are on a five game slide, and have the Braves in their sights for four starting today.
San Francisco Giants 8 – Chicago Cubs 3
Well, weather didn’t hinder this game again, and a pretty angry Giants squad got their frustrations out early, hanging four runs on Cubs’ starter Edwin Jackson in the opening frame. The Cubs came to within two runs after a Chris Valaika home run in the bottom of the second, but San Fran would go on to just put three more runs up in the next half inning. Travis Ishikawa drove home three runs for the Giants, and Jake Peavy tossed seven innings, despite giving up 1o hits.
So, as you can see, it was an ideal night to not lose. But, what can you do. Here are the standings.
NL East GB
Washington 72-53 —
Atlanta 66-61 7.0
The Nationals have a magic number of 30 to clinch the NL East.
Wild Card GB
St. Louis 69-57 +2.0
San Fran 66-58 —
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Atlanta 66-61 1.5
Pittsburgh 65-62 2.5
Miami 63-63 4.0