It was a pitcher’s duel between Tanner Roark and Jimmy Nelson. Yes, both made some mistakes and worked out of bases loaded jams unscathed. Roark hung a curveball that was hit out for a home run and that was the difference in the game.
In the 3rd inning, Trea Turner walked to lead-off the inning — stole second — took 3rd on a passed ball and stood at 3rd base waiting for a batter to get him in. It never happened. In fact, Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick, and Jayson Werth all struck out and Nelson only had to throw 5 pitches in the zone to those 3 batters as they got themselves out by swinging at balls out of the zone. Werth was in a 3-2 count with the bases loaded, and Nelson took his chances on a slider way out of the zone that Werth chased. A walk would have tied the game and extended the inning.
If you enjoy close games, you got a good one. The Nationals didn’t win, and you just cannot win them all.
Tanner Roark has 26 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings over his last three starts. Roark had 10 strikeouts in tonight’s game. He was only in one jam tonight and he worked out of it nicely.
While the Nats were playing, Bryce Harper was working hard on his legs as you can see in this photo:
