Bryce Harper delivers the Nats in the 12th inning
When Bryce Harper approach home plate in the bottom of the 12th inning, scanning the bases, he was bale to see three Washington Nationals on the bases, Xavier Nady at first, Ross Detwiler at second, and Jesus Flores at third. There were also two outs. A bases loaded opportunity rest only on his shoulders. The young 19 year old sensation delivered with a blooping single to left field to score Flores and the game winning run, to lift the Nationals to a 7-6 win over division rival New York Mets. You have to go back to the late 1980's to find the last teenager to deliver a walk off hit in extra innings. Harper keeps bringing new firsts and plenty of swag tot he Nationals.
Jerry Hairston, Jr. homered in the top of the 12th inning off reliever Ross Detwiler to give the Mets a 6-5 lead in the twelfth inning. Before Harper delivered the game winning punch, Mike Morse started the inning off with a leadoff double. Ian Desmond then provided the game tying hit, a double to left that scored Morse to knot the game at 6-6. Then Harper delivered the fatal walk off blow after the Mets loaded the bases.
Harper was 2 for 7 on the night with 2 RBI. He is batting .288 on the season. Ryan Zimmerman also delivered two hits in 6 plate trip sincluding an RBI and two runs scored. Morse, Desmond, and pitcher Jordan Zimmermann each had two hits. Desmond added three RBI. Zimmermann''s two hits raised his batting average to .300, making him the second Nats starter to hit over .300, with Stephen Strasburg hitting a robust .389.
Zimmermann tossed 6 innings and allowed 5 hits and 2 runs,w hile fanning 5 batters. Zimmermann's season ERA is at 2.82. Ross Detwiler (4-3) picked up the win out of the bullpen, throwing 2 innings and allowing 2 hist and 1 run on 4 strikeouts.
The win put the Nats 1 game over Miami Marlins, as Miami was blanked by Atlanta, 11-0. Washington improves overall to 31-22.
