Washington Nationals fight their way to 5-4 win over Arizona Diamondbacks - MLB Update
Centre fielder Bryce Harper and shortstop Ian Desmond shine on the plate as the Washington Nationals win 5-4 against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 2, 2012 at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
Harper lives up to the hype he was accorded on the eve of his season entry. Hitting three in four at-bats, he completed two runs. Surprisingly enough, his slugging percentage jumps to .615, highest in the line-up at present.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Nationals trailed by one run. Timely homer by Desmond to left-centre sealed the victory as Harper will reach the plate and two runs added thus will take the Nationals one run ahead.
Edwin Jackson started for the Nationals. He was hardly able to contain the batters the way the manager Davey Johnson will have liked. In six innings, he struck-out three, walked two and gave up four runs.
In contrast, reliever Craig Stammen was terrific in two scoreless innings, which actually disallowed the Diamondbacks from preparing a shield against an eventuality of late-run scoring by the Nationals.
Even better was Henry Rodriguez who came as a closer in the ninth and threw a scoreless one inning as he claimed the win.
It was a second game of three-game series as the Nationals lost in the first game.
Joe Saunders while starting for the Diamondbacks struck-out six in little more than six innings. On the whole, he did a fairly good job.
It was an entry of J.J. Putz as a closer that led to a blow-up of the Diamondbacks’ one run lead.
With the win the Nationals have arrested their five-game losing streak, which was growing to a level of sheer frustration of the management.
Meanwhile, improvements of out-fielder Michael Morse are showing on his injury spell and the quick return in the season.
That will strengthen the Nationals’ offence immensely. More so, in light of the fact that their offence was clueless in the games they lost during the last week.
On the National League East Division table, the Nationals are leading right from beginning of the season. Much needed boost has now come in the camp and the only thing now the Nationals will be looking to focus on is to keep building on it.
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