Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann watches from the dugout during the bottom of the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, September 25, 2015, in Washington. “I think the next couple days, next week or so, a lot of these guys won’t be in this clubhouse anymore, so we’re going to try to enjoy this as a team, and just really have some fun and play hard and see where we’re at”.
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“I mean sometimes it’s a tough call”, said Taylor, the center fielder. Harper drove in the game-winning run as the Nationals won 2-1 in 12 innings.
Nationals manager Matt Williams sounded very much like someone living in denial, unwilling to directly address questions about his highly touted club’s elimination from playoff contention.
The Nationals need a win again today against the Phillies.
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. His hit scored first baseman Darin Ruf (two hits), who led off the inning with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. “And then I saw it go by, and I was like, ‘Oh man, I might have a chance here.’ Just tried to run as fast as I could”. With runners on the corners and one out, Desmond hit a slow roller to down the third-base line, and Cody Asche’s only play was to first.
“Hopefully I can keep riding that feeling the rest of the year”. “I hit into a triple play once”, Mackanin quipped.
Still, the final six games are at Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies are 33-42, as opposed to their road record of 26-55.
He has pitched quality starts in seven of his last eight starts.
Harper was 3-for-5 at the plate on the day to raise his MLB-leading batting average to.339. “I enjoyed my time here, so we’ll see after this season”.
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On a day the Nationals were eliminated from postseason play – as the New York Mets clinched the National League East division title about one hour before Washington’s game ended – some of Harper’s teammates drenched him in chocolate sauce in what had been a post-game tradition during happier times earlier this year.
