Washington Nationals defeat Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 – MLB Update
The Washington Nationals defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 in a ten-inning thriller on Tuesday, September 20 to win the first game of the day-night double header at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Pitchers from either side dominated the first six innings of the game, but a seventh inning scoring spree changed the complexion of the game. Roger Bernadina gave the visitors a three-run lead at the top of the seventh, smashing a three-run homer to right-field
before Raul Ibanez, coming in as pinch hitter for Carlos Ruiz, replicated this feat at the bottom of the same inning to wipe out the deficit for the home side.
Tom Gorzelanny and Ryan Madson tossed a perfect ninth inning for Washington and Philadelphia respectively to squeeze the game into the tenth inning, where Ryan Zimmerman drove in a run through centre-field to see the Nationals through.
Zimmerman’s single in the tenth inning off Michael Stutes allowed Michael Morse a run to give the Nationals a crucial one-run lead in the extra-innings to impose extra pressure on the home side, who played just two regulars in their line-up for the game
– Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence. Victorino failed to connect in his three at-bats while Pence went 2-for-3 but failed to score a run, exposing the vulnerability of Phillies without their experienced players.
Tommy Milone pitched six scoreless innings for Washington to make his statement for a permanent rotation spot in the next season. Milone exhibited immense variety and said, "I was moving the ball in and out. It was actually pretty easy. Some days, you go
in and out when you're trying to throw strikes. Today, it seemed a lot easier."
Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson appreciated Milone’s valour and expressed his desire of inducting him as a starter for the franchise. He emphasised that the team needs pitchers of Milone’s quality for better results in the next season.
Kyle Kendrick was phenomenal in his spell of six innings for the Phillies, allowing just four hits in this stretch, forcing manager Charlie Manuel to consider his name for the postseason rotation.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said, "He finds a way to get it done."
The Phillies will want to redeem themselves in the second game of the double-header where Cliff Lee is scheduled to start for the National League East Champions.
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