Saturday evening was a bittersweet affair for the Washington Nationals. They beat the Phillies 2-1 in extra innings on a walk-off double hit by outfielder Bryce Harper, but — after the Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds to clinch the National League East division title during the game — the Nats were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
Starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg threw a noteworthy game with thirteen total strike outs in eight innings pitched. It was the fifth time this season Strasburg has tallied 10-plus strikeouts, the fourth consecutive time he’s done so in 2015, and the twenty-first time of his career. Strasburg gave up three hits and one run while walking a batter, and throwing one wild pitch. He threw 101 pitches and 73 strikes.
Washington’s lineup wasted several scoring opportunities and tallied 10 hits on the night while leaving 12 men on base.
The Nats first run of the night came in the sixth inning, when Harper scored on a RBI ground out by shortstop Ian Desmond off Phillies reliever Adam Loewen. Harper, in addition to Strasburg, marked a career milestone by drawing his 123rd walk of the season to tie the franchise record for the most walks in a season held by Ken Singleton, set in 1973.
Philadelphia tied it up at 1-1 in the top of the eighth inning on a one-out, RBI double by outfielder Brian Bogusevic, sending first baseman Darin Ruf around to score.
Four relievers held the Phillies at one run for four innings before second baseman Anthony Rendon scored the winning run on Harper’s walk-off double against reliever Colton Murray.
UP NEXT: RHP Aaron Harang (6-15, 4.93) and the Philadelphia Phillies face LHP Gio Gonzalez (11-8, 3.94) and the Washington Nationals at 1:35 p.m. in D.C.
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