Against All Odds, Nats Rally for a Win – The Post
Clippard’s escape salvages Nats’ road swing – The Wash. Times
Washington stater Garrett Mock had loaded the bases in the fifth inning with no outs. According to Fangraphs.com, the Pirates had a 94.3% win probability. (thanks to Federal Baseball) Tyler Clippard entered the game from the bullpen and promptly attacked the plate with his pitches. On a 0-2 pitch, Clippard got Pittsburgh’s Delwyn Young to ground out to the mound, setting up a double play that got the force outs at the plate and first base. The next batter, Andy LaRoche, popped up to shortstop and the Nats were out of the inning. Clippard then pitched another two hitless innings, long enough for the Nats to come to life, inspired by Clippard’s performance. In the sixth, the Nats picked up a run off of Pirates starter Charlie Morton and then put two more men on. Adam Dunn then hit an opposite field home run to give Washington the lead, 4-3. In the following inning, the Nats scored another four runs and put the game out of reach. Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run homer in that frame, his 21st.
The Nats return home having split their eight game road trip, winning two games on both ends and losing the middle four. Sadly, it was not enough for me to win my wager with TMBC, so I owe him a bottle of Gentleman Jack. Maybe next year we will finally make it the Ben’s Chili Bowl/Primanti Bros. bet we’ve always wanted.
