Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
The Nationals had a 4-3 lead heading into the 8th inning, but set-up man Justin Miller couldn’t hold the lead that turned into an extra innings loss. The Nationals had their chances to win this game in the 8th inning with men on 3rd and 2nd base with one-out and it was not meant to be. The early runs came off of the bat of Mark Reynolds on a booming two run home run and a Rendon RBI double and a Trea Turner RISP single.
“I’m not down on any of these guys,” manager Dave Martinez said. “We’re giving up too many two-strike hits.”
Once again the Nationals bullpen gave up a lead, but even in the 10th inning the Nationals had a chance to answer with runners on the corners and one out but Juan Soto struck out and Mark Reynolds flew out to centerfield to end this one.
With this loss, the Nationals fall to 3-games under .500 at 69-72. The crowd over 32,000 included plenty of Cubs fans who were loud and proud for a team that is headed to the postseason. The Nats starter Stephen Strasburg gave up 3-runs (2 earned) over 5 2/3 innings and did his job, and departed with a lead. Greg Holland threw a clean 9th inning to give the Nats a chance to walk-off in the 9th inning as manager Dave Martinez sent up Ryan Zimmerman as a pinch-hitter but Zim grounded out to send the game into extra innings.
Of special note, Spencer Kieboom had 3-hits in the game which was good to see and that was part of the Nats 11-hits on the night.
