Photo by Marideth Sandler for TalkNats
It wasn’t a pretty game, but in the end the Nats got it done in a nailbiter 4-3 win. The Nationals starter, Tanner Roark, didn’t have his “A” game but he grinded it out on 116 pitches lasting 5 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs of which 2 were earned and held the 4-3 lead he was given. That lead came on a 2-run home run by Matt Wieters.
The Nationals defense wasn’t exactly crisp as Tanner couldn’t handle a doubleplay ball that hit off of his leg and Wilmer Difo threw away a ball for a forceout for an error and in the 8th inning Difo had a hard grounder hit directly at his right foot but he didn’t get his glove down and a sure doubleplay ball became a single putting men on 1st and 2nd base with one out. Kintzler kept pounding the sinkers and after an intentional walk to load the bases got his doubleplay ball on Max Stassie that was bobbled by Anthony Rendon and then bobbled by Daniel Murphy but they turned it anyway on a slow running Stassie for a “hold” for Brandon Kintzler. Video is on this link.
Sean Doolittle came in for a quick 1-2-3 9th inning ending with a diving catch by Howie Kendrick on Alex Bregman. Doolittle earned his 12th save in the game.
Howie Kendrick came up big in the game on offense and defense and Kendrick had a 2-run triple to add to his Nationals’ ledger.
In the battle of  The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches neighbors, the Nationals take game 1-of-3. With this win, the Washington Nationals move to a season’s best 27 games over .500 at a record of 75-48.
