Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
The Washington Nationals winning streak went to 5 games after this walk-off winner courtesy of Yan Gomes after Erick Fedde threw 7.0 innings of shutout baseball. That RISP hit by Gomes to drive in Juan Soto was the only run of the game, and the timing was perfect. The Nats had many opportunities to score runs in this game, but doubleplays killed them each time. This inning, Gomes had runners at the corners after Juan Soto led-off with a walk, and Ryan Zimmerman singled him to third base. With the Mets infield playing in, Gomes shot the ball over the third baseman’s head for the winner.
This four-game series against the Mets started off the right way, and Fedde ratcheted his scoreless streak to 20 innings, and the Nats starters in the last 8 games has only allowed 6 earned runs and according to Elias Sports, that is the best stretch in Nats history.
“He’s got some confidence right now, he really does,” manager Davey Martinez said of Fedde “He’s throwing the ball well. He’s throwing all of his pitches really well. Locating really well. A lot of times, if you notice, he’s going 0-2, 1-2 and he’s trying to make that really nasty pitch. All he’s gotta do is throw the ball the way he’s throwing when he’s 0-2 and he’s going to get outs. But like I said, what a job he did today to keep us in that game. He was awesome, he really was. If we can continue to get starts from him like that every five days, we’re gonna be in good shape.”
Not only was Fedde great,, the bullpen only had to cover two innings, and Kyle Finnegan and Brad Hand threw zeroes themselves, and it was Hand who was the pitcher of record to earn the win.
With full attendance allowed, this was the largest attendance of the season with 26,246 Nats fans were sent home happy. Okay, there were a few Mets fans in the park tonight.
Every Nats starting position player reached base safely tonight except Josh Harrison who put three balls into play, but as it turned out the Nats just needed Soto’s walk, and Zimmerman and Gomes’ singles in the 9th inning. As it shows, great pitching beats good hitting, and of course score more than your opponent which the Nats did tonight.
It has been a heck of a week for Gomes during this winning streak that includes a huge grand slam, a solo home run and this walk-off single, and his defense included throwing out two runners who he caught attempting steals of second base.
“This team knows what it takes. We’ve been in the big stage and everything,” Gomes said. “We know kind of the times to try to get hot. We’re playing really good baseball right now. Our pitchers are doing a tremendous job. It’s just that sometimes one hit does it.”
By the way, Gomes is now 3-7 in his career versus Edwin Diaz, the Mets closer, who did not retire a batter in the 9th inning.
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
