The Houston Astros’ Lucas Harrell did the safest thing they could do when Washington Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman came up to bat in bottom of the 11th inning. He walked him. Better to give Zimmerman one base rather than let him take all four as he has some many times — he earned the nickname I gave him, Mr. Walkoff, for his timely final at-bat home runs.

With Zimmerman on first with one out, Harrell walked Michael Morse — is it just me or is Morse walking a bit this week? Harrell was relieved by Wilton Lopez. Jayson Werth hit a grounder to newly installed third baseman Jimmy Paredes who had trouble fielding it and threw it past second base. Zimmerman scored, game over.

Once again, the embedded video probably won’t work until Sunday

Rookie starter Tom Millone went 5 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs. He went 1 1/3 innings longer than his debut, but didn’t homer this time.

The Nats have now won 12 games in their last at bat this season. Washington has a 40-32 home record. One is six home games ends with the Nats winning in their final at-bat. Twenty-five percent of their home wins have ended in the bottom of the ninth or extra innings with the Nats scoring the winning run. Amazing.

WHAT THE BEAT WRITERS ARE SAYING
Nationals vs. Astros: Jayson Werth single, Jimmy Parades error give Washington win in 11th – The Post
Wild throw lifts Nationals to victory – CSN Washington
Nats sent home winners in 11th inning after botched throw by Astros’ Paredes – The Wash. Times
Nats capitalize on errors to down Astros in 11 – nationals.com