WASHINGTON, D.C. — “They are just lulling you into a false sense of confidence,” I kept saying to Philadelphia Philles fans seated in the section I moved down to after an epic rain delay. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth after Drew Storen allowed a run in the top of the frame, the Washington Nationals and Ian Desmond were down to their last strike. Desmond, who is has been hitting a little more than his weight most of the season, turned on Antonio Bastardo‘s 1-2 pitch and put it in the left field stands. Hope was alive and Ryan Zimmerman, so often a hero late, would get up one more time. It would have to wait until the tenth inning though, since CF Rick Ankiel struck out to end the 9th.

Sean Burnett entered the game and I tried to reassure the Ombudsman, attending this fourth Nats game with me in the District, that Burnett’s appearance would probably end badly. To my surprise and delight, it did not, Burnett retired all 3 batters, setting up Zimmerman’s chance to be a hero once again in the bottom of the 10th.

Zimmerman led off and I probably suggested how unlikely he’d hit a second walk-off in 3 days more than necessary. He let Nats fans down with a mere double. After 2 pitches outside the strike zone, Brad Lidge, formerly a lights-out closer, decided to walk Michael Morse. Next up came Jayson Werth, booed mercilessly by the thousands of Phillies fans in attendance. Whether Werth would seize the moment and settle some scores with his former fanbase that hates him for leaving for more money? Well, he singled, but did not advance Zimmerman to the plate. Danny Espinosa, who had already driven in 2 runs, including a solo homer, came up next and struck out swinging. Jonny Gomes came up with 1 out and the bases still loaded. Lidge promptly hit him with a pitch, ending a tight, see-saw game in about the weirdest way possible. Zimmerman got to cross the plate in an almost anti-climatic scene, but a welcome one.

An impressive storm blew through the D.C. area in the 6th inning. From section 409, the thunder came closer and closer and off to the north the lightning was becoming more frequent. Over 45 minutes of heavy downpour prematurely ended Roy Halladay’s start, a big break for the Nats. Chein Ming Wang also had to leave due to the rain, but was unlikely to pitch beyond the 6th anyway.

The rain, which came earlier than some forecasts predicted, also served as a break for me. I had biked to the game from Alexandria, meeting the Ombudsman in Arlington. The rain cleared out and after a 71 minute delay, it was a beautiful summer day again. Cycling remains my favorite way to get to the game.

The Cheesesteak/Half-Smoke Challenge is a little tighter than normal with the Ombudsman holding an 8-6 win. The Nats have to sweep the last 4 games against the Phillies (in Philadelphia) to win.

I titled this photo, “Don’t worry, I-95 north is never congested on Sunday evenings”