Washington Nationals beat Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 as Bryce Harper hits gigantic home run - MLB
Right fielder Bryce Harper hammers three hits and helps the Washington Nationals defeat Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 in second game of the three match series on June 12, 2012 at Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario.
Starting from where the Nationals left in the last game, Blue Jays were kept at bay once again. With a reasonable number of hits from the offence and gutsy five innings from the starter, Washington surged to the victory.
For Nationals to win the game, little support from the offence proves more often than not just enough.
Just exactly that happened on Tuesday. By registering one run in the third and two runs in the fourth, the rest of the job was left on relievers. Credit to them, they did not disappoint.
Chien-Ming Wang recorded second win for the Nationals in the season as a starter. He threw five innings and gave up two runs, while striking-out five.
Wang had some issues with his control. Five walks he allowed reflect that he still has a long way to go in restoring his best.
Starter-c*m-reliever Ross Detwiler followed Wang and was scoreless in little more than one inning he pitched.
Ever since Detwiler has been handed the reliever job, he has performed the role excellently. For a bullpen which is prone to late-innings rough-ups, Detwiler has turned out a healthy addition.
For as long as Drew Storen and Henry Rodriguez, two injured relief pitchers, remain out, Detwiler will be a great option for the Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson.
Tyler Clippard came as a closer and wrapped up the ninth inning scoreless, registering his ninth save of the 2012 regular season.
Harper has been consistent on plate for the last couple of games. He is making huge hits in almost every game. On Tuesday, he struck a gigantic home run in the third.
"I was going up there swinging out of my shoes first pitch," Harper said. "I already made my mind up in the on-deck circle. I didn't care if it was a curveball (that went) 54 feet."
Johnson was fascinated by a lengthy homer coming off from Harper. Questioning the logic of running back when the ball was miles away by the out-fielder, he called it a useless attempt.
"That was a changeup right in his wheel house and he didn't miss it," Johnson said. "I don't know why the outfielder went back. It was obviously a long way out of here."
By winning the next game, Washington will complete the sweep and thus will strengthen their dominance on National League East Division Table.
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