ZIMMERMAN JOINS IMMORTALS MUSIAL, PEREZ, SCHMIDT, PUJOLS AND BONDS WITH 10-PLUS WALK-OFFS
The Washington Nationals and New York Yankees held the same record of 22-17 going into Tuesday night’s game at Nationals Park. But after ten innings of baseball played in the nation’s capital, the Nats emerged victorious beating the Yankees 8-6 thanks to a two-out, two-run walk-off home run hit by Mr. Walk-off himself — first baseman Ryan Zimmerman — against left-handed reliever Andrew Miller.
Offense is what kept the Nats in the game despite a shaky starting appearance made by left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez. The Nats got a jump start with home runs hit by shortstop Ian Desmond and outfielder Bryce Harper off right-handed starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi in the first inning making it a 2-0 game in favor of Washington.
Gonzalez cruised through the Yankees lineup retiring the first nine batters he faced. The fourth inning is when Gonzalez got into trouble and gave up four runs on four hits including three singles, two walks, and a double putting the Nats down 4-2.
New York tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning to make it a 6-2 game when first baseman Mark Teixeira hit a two-out, two-run home run off Gonzalez in his last inning of work. Gonzalez threw 85 pitches and 51 strikes. He pitched five innings and gave up six runs on five hits including one home run, walking two batters, and striking out one.
Pinch hitter Clint Robinson replaced Gonzalez in the fifth inning and kicked off the Nats’ rally putting them within one run of New York. Washington started catching up with the Yankees when Robinson hit a one-out RBI-double off left-handed reliever Justin Wilson allowing second baseman Danny Espinosa to score.
Robinson and outfielder Denard Span also scored off New York in the fifth inning as a result of a four hit rally against Wilson making it a 6-5 game in favor of the Yankees.
A solo home run hit by catcher Wilson Ramos off right-handed reliever David Carpenter tied up the game 6-6 in the sixth inning. The solo shot also extended Ramos’ hit streak to 19 games.
Both bullpens stayed strong from the seventh inning through the ninth — including appearances from left-handed relievers Matt Thornton and Matt Grace as well as right-handed relievers Blake Treinen, Aaron Barrett, and Drew Storen for Washington — which led to free baseball in D.C. An extra inning’s worth was played and the game ended in a memorable fashion as Zimmerman hit his tenth career walk-off home as the baseball clanked off the foul pole in right field to beat the Yankees 8-6.
HERO: Ryan Zimmerman. He hit his tenth career walk-off home run in the tenth inning during the Nationals’ tenth anniversary season. The narrative writes itself.
GOAT: Gio Gonzalez. He started out the night with a smooth appearance his first time through the New York lineup but that didn’t really matter any more after giving up six runs in two innings before being pulled for the night.
NATS NOTES:
- Welcome to Washington, Mr. Difo: New call-up Wilmer Difo, who replaced outfielder Jayson Werth now that he’s on the disabled list, got his first major league hit off right-handed reliever David Carpenter when he led off the seventh inning.
- Buffalo’s Going Streaking: Wilson Ramos extended his hitting streak yet again. He’s up to 19 games now.
- Power Up: Washington hit four home runs on Tuesday night.
NEXT GAME: Wednesday at 7:05 pm ET. Jordan Zimmermann (3-2, 3.66) faces Adam Warren (2-2, 4.50).
