Bryce Harper gets a walk-off single to win this game in extra innings and saves a game of many questionable decisions that started off as a key to starter Stephen Strasburg falling into a 4-0 deficit.
Who knew that Michael Taylor was available to play and the fans who questioned the decision to start Wilmer Difo in centerfield realized their worst nightmare as 4-runs scored after 2 misplayed balls in centerfield. On top of that, Adam Lind was used to pinch-hit in the classic bunting situation with runners on 2nd and 1st and no outs where you could use an excellent bunter like Max Scherzer off your bench. Joe Ross was not used as a pinch-runner when Matt Wieters was on first base. There were more questions when Michael Taylor also could have pinch run in a key spot.
The Nationals clawed back and into the game many times, and they had some amazing opportunities with bases loaded and one-out and Ryan Zimmerman bounced into a doubleplay and 2 innings later with men on 2nd and 1st and one out Zimmerman bounced into his 2nd doubleplay of the game. But it was the rookie Bryan Goodwin who had 2 HRs, 2 walks, and a key 10th inning single to get Bryce Harper up to the plate to win the game.
The Nats bullpen went 5 innings of shutout baseball while the Reds bullpen coughed up 4 runs and it should have been even more. It has been a while for us to say the lousy bullpen belonged to the other team and the Nats had the great bullpen. In fact the Nats bullpen threw a one-hitter with no walks.
Blake Treinen threw the highest velocity pitch of his career in a strikeout of Scott Schebler that registered 101 mph on the radar gun.
