Milwaukee 5
Washington 8
Wednesday, July 26, 2017 07:05 PM
(ET)
Nationals use big eighth inning to beat Brewers
The Sports Xchange
Jul 26, 2017
WASHINGTON -- Ryan Zimmerman delivered a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning as the previously moribund Washington Nationals offense exploded late for seven runs to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 on Wednesday.
Milwaukee held a 2-1 advantage entering the eighth inning, but starter Jimmy Nelson issued a walk to No. 8 hitter Matt Wieters, ending his night after seven-plus innings and 10 strikeouts. Jacob Barnes (3-2) came on, and pinch-hitter Adrian Sanchez delivered a bunt that resulted in pinch-runner Pedro Severino being thrown out at second.
But Brian Goodwin followed with a double and Wilmer Difo chopped an RBI single between first and second to tie the score at 2. Josh Hader came in for Milwaukee and struck out Bryce Harper, who was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Segal after whiffing.
Zimmerman then blasted his double off Jared Hughes and the floodgates opened for the Nationals, who wound up sending 11 men to the plate in the inning, scoring seven runs.
Ryan Madson (3-4) pitched a scoreless inning to pick up the win.
Washington reliever Sean Doolittle allowed three runs in the top of the ninth, but he closed the game out by striking out Domingo Santana for the final out.
Santana hit a 476-foot home run off Washington starter Gio Gonzalez in the first inning, his 17th of the season, and Lewis Brinson added his first major league home run in the ninth.
The Brewers used heady baserunning to add to their lead in the first inning. After a ringing double from third baseman Travis Shaw, the Nationals let Shaw scamper to third without making a throw. That indifference cost the Nationals when Gonzalez struck out Jesus Aguilar, but the wild pitch allowed Aguilar to get to first and Shaw to score to make it 2-0.
Gonzalez settled down after that, retiring nine straight Brewers at one point. But he was matched pitch for pitch by Nelson, who retired nine straight hitters.
Harper singled in the first inning for the Nationals, extending his career-high hitting streak to 18 games, tied with Houston's Jose Altuve for the longest active streak in the majors.
NOTES: The Nationals unveiled the 2018 All-Star Game logo during a press conference that featured MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, team ownership and several players. The game at Nationals Park will be the first All-Star affair in D.C. in 49 years. "That's far too long," Manfred said. ... Milwaukee RHP Matt Garza was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to July 23 with a right lower leg strain. Garza said he hurt his calf during a throwing session. ... The Brewers recalled OF Lewis Brinson from Triple-A to replace Garza on the roster. Brinson was hitting .345 with 10 homers and 43 RBIs. ... According to media reports, the Nationals will call up RHP Erick Fedde from Triple-A Syracuse this weekend, with the top pitching prospect potentially taking Stephen Strasburg's spot in the rotation Saturday. ... Milwaukee made its trade for RHP Anthony Swarzak official, although the pitcher won't be activated until Thursday. Swarzak was 4-3 with a 2.23 ERA and one save in 41 appearances with the White Sox.
Jul 26, 2017
WASHINGTON -- Ryan Zimmerman delivered a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning as the previously moribund Washington Nationals offense exploded late for seven runs to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 on Wednesday.
Milwaukee held a 2-1 advantage entering the eighth inning, but starter Jimmy Nelson issued a walk to No. 8 hitter Matt Wieters, ending his night after seven-plus innings and 10 strikeouts. Jacob Barnes (3-2) came on, and pinch-hitter Adrian Sanchez delivered a bunt that resulted in pinch-runner Pedro Severino being thrown out at second.
But Brian Goodwin followed with a double and Wilmer Difo chopped an RBI single between first and second to tie the score at 2. Josh Hader came in for Milwaukee and struck out Bryce Harper, who was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Segal after whiffing.
Zimmerman then blasted his double off Jared Hughes and the floodgates opened for the Nationals, who wound up sending 11 men to the plate in the inning, scoring seven runs.
Ryan Madson (3-4) pitched a scoreless inning to pick up the win.
Washington reliever Sean Doolittle allowed three runs in the top of the ninth, but he closed the game out by striking out Domingo Santana for the final out.
Santana hit a 476-foot home run off Washington starter Gio Gonzalez in the first inning, his 17th of the season, and Lewis Brinson added his first major league home run in the ninth.
The Brewers used heady baserunning to add to their lead in the first inning. After a ringing double from third baseman Travis Shaw, the Nationals let Shaw scamper to third without making a throw. That indifference cost the Nationals when Gonzalez struck out Jesus Aguilar, but the wild pitch allowed Aguilar to get to first and Shaw to score to make it 2-0.
Gonzalez settled down after that, retiring nine straight Brewers at one point. But he was matched pitch for pitch by Nelson, who retired nine straight hitters.
Harper singled in the first inning for the Nationals, extending his career-high hitting streak to 18 games, tied with Houston's Jose Altuve for the longest active streak in the majors.
NOTES: The Nationals unveiled the 2018 All-Star Game logo during a press conference that featured MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, team ownership and several players. The game at Nationals Park will be the first All-Star affair in D.C. in 49 years. "That's far too long," Manfred said. ... Milwaukee RHP Matt Garza was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to July 23 with a right lower leg strain. Garza said he hurt his calf during a throwing session. ... The Brewers recalled OF Lewis Brinson from Triple-A to replace Garza on the roster. Brinson was hitting .345 with 10 homers and 43 RBIs. ... According to media reports, the Nationals will call up RHP Erick Fedde from Triple-A Syracuse this weekend, with the top pitching prospect potentially taking Stephen Strasburg's spot in the rotation Saturday. ... Milwaukee made its trade for RHP Anthony Swarzak official, although the pitcher won't be activated until Thursday. Swarzak was 4-3 with a 2.23 ERA and one save in 41 appearances with the White Sox.
