Desmond drive home winning run in the 10th against the Marlins
It was another blown save for Brad Lidge and another blown shutout for the Washington Nationals. But during the franchise’s hottest start in 31 years, the Nats have shown resilience born from belief in their new identity — pitching, defense and clutch hitting.
Saturday was more of the same as Ian Desmond’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning delivered the Nats a 3-2 victory, their fifth straight in a one-run game. Desmond and Jayson Werth blasted solo home runs and Stephen Strasburg turned in six shutout innings as Washington improved to 12-4 before 26,745 at Nationals Park.
It was the second time in eight days that Lidge entered in the ninth with a chance to complete a shutout and gave up two runs. Logan Morrison’s two-run shot to the middle deck in right tied it 2-2. But Lidge got out of a two-on jam, and the Nats retaliated in the 10th.
“It shows the character of this ballclub,” Nats manager Davey Johnson said. “There’s no letdown.”
Wilson Ramos ignited the final rally with a single. When pinch hitter Adam LaRoche followed with a grounder up the line, Miami first baseman Gaby Sanchez threw high to second base. The ball went off the glove of shortstop Jose Reyes and into center field, allowing Ramos to advance to third. Desmond’s fly to medium center scored Ramos easily as Emilio Bonifacio’s rainbow throw was up the first-base line.
“That’s the big thing. It’s finding a way,” Strasburg said. “Not just myself learning how to adapt and overcome to things that don’t go your way.”
Strasburg allowed four hits and a walk in six innings, fanning six. After his first of two doubles against Strasburg to lead off the fourth inning, Reyes moved to third on a sacrifice but was stranded there as Strasburg induced a grounder to second from No. 3 hitter Hanley Ramirez and a soft fly to left by cleanup batter Morrison.
Ryan Zimmerman, who sat out with a sore shoulder, was asked about watching Strasburg from the dugout.
“He’s pretty good from everywhere — dugout, training room, TV,” Zimmerman said. “Obviously he’s got dominating stuff. But I think what’s overlooked is how much he’s learned.”
