The Nats needed this one. Against a powerful lineup filled “with professional hitters,” according to manager Jim Riggleman, they caught a much-needed break late and earned a 4-2 victory before a big crowd at Nationals Park. Check out our game story here.
Ian Desmond smacked an RBI single in the seventh inning moments after two Cincinnati Reds outfielders collided in left-center field and let a Roger Bernadina fly ball drop. The bullpen did the rest as Washington snapped a three-game losing streak.
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Desmond was ejected later in the inning after reacting when umpire Joe West over-ruled third-base umpire Paul Schrieber, who called Desmond safe on a tag-up play at third base. Desmond initially slid off the bag, but appeared to get his foot back in time before getting tagged by Reds third baseman Scott Rolen.
“I just kind of dropped my helmet out of…I guess I was kind of shocked,” Desmond said. “I was like ‘Oh, wow!’ And he threw me out. But I didn’t say anything to him and he really didn’t say anything to me. He just said ‘You’re out of here’ and that was it.”
Desmond has made a habit of coming through in big situations this season. He is now 22-for-58 with runners in scoring position, including three doubles, three walks and a triple. All 25 RBI have come with a teammate at second or third base. It’s a good thing he came through on Friday night, too, after botching a bunt attempt with runners at first and second and none out in the seventh.
“I hate to say I get more focused for those at-bats,” Desmond said. “But after I missed the bunt I said ‘Hey, we’ve got to really do something here. Let’s go. Put something hard in play up the middle and let’s see if we can get an RBI out of this.’”
Nats Notes
» Livan Hernandez (4-3. 2.22 ERA) gutted his way through six innings on a humid June night. He posted his ninth quality start, giving up two earned runs in six innings. The Reds had eight hits and drew four walks, but couldn’t take advantage of those numbers against the Cuban veteran. Hernandez was miffed he didn’t earn a win of his own, though. A balk call in the fifth inning advanced Orlando Cabrera to second base after a leadoff hit. The very next batter – Brandon Phillips – singled him home and tied the game at 2. That left Hernandez with a no-decision – and a sour taste.
“I don’t know why he did that,” Hernandez said of the umpire’s balk call. “I think he looked at my head and saw something move, but everybody knows [how I throw]. But it was a new umpire and he might not know the way I do it.”
» Hernandez was also miffed about a $500 fine Major League Baseball issued him after his reaction to Lance Berkman’s check-swing no-call in Tuesday’s controversial loss at Houston. Berkman was given a reprieve instead and hit a bases-loaded single to win the game off Nats closer Matt Capps in the bottom of the ninth inning.
“It was tough in Houston. We lose three games we were supposed to win there – one with an umpire,” Hernandez said. “I get fined today for $500. I didn’t say nothing. I thought it was a bad call. I get fined for $500 bucks. I’m going to pay for that because I say bad call. But everybody watched the video. The guy’s swinging…Don’t fine me. Fine the umpire. I don’t make the mistake. I say only I think it’s a strike.”
» Ryan Zimmerman has now walked 11 times in five games and been hit by a pitch twice.
» Capps earned his major-league best 18th save.
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