MONUMENTAL COLLAPSE BY NATS
In front of the largest crowd in Nationals franchise history, the Nats could not hold a 6-0 lead and allowed 9 unasnwered runs by the Cardinals. It was a monumental collapse of the Nationals bullpen to end their magical season.
The Nationals got the offense moving early with a double, triple, and home run. After Jayson Werth led off with a double, Bryce Harper drilled a triple to give the Nationals a 1-0 run in the first inning. Ryan Zimmerman smashed a two run shot to give the Nats an early 3-0 lead. In the third inning, Beyce Harper drilled a solo home run on a full count to give the Nats a 4-0 lead. Mike Morse would add a two run shot to give the Nats what they thought would have been a comfortable 6-0 lead. That gave the Nats 3 runs in the first and 3 in the third innings.
Afther throwing 4 solid innings, starter Gio Gonzalez lost control in the fifth inning, facing 8 batters and allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, 3 walks, and a wild pitch. Nats led 6-3 when Gio yielded to the bullpen. Craig Stammen and Sean Burnett combined for a scoreless sixth inning.
Edwin Jackson pitched the seventh inning and allowed 2 hits and a walk while yielding a run to narrow the Nats lead to 6-4.
Tyler Clippard came in the 8th inning and allowed a solo lead off home run to Daniel Descalso to draw the Cards to within 1 run. Clippard fanned pinch hitter Matt Carpenter after the Descalso home run. He then forced Jonn Jay to fly out to Harper to end the 8th inning with a 6-5 Nats lead.
Nats got two quick singles in the bottom of the 8th inning by Adam LaRoche and Morse to start an offensve threat. Ian Desmond grounded out by fielders choice, but avoided the double play with Desmond's speed, giving the Nats runners at first and third with one out. Danny Espinosa made an untimely pop up into the infield to give the Nats two outs and deflate an 8th inning rally. Kurt Suzuki had other ideas. He signed to center field to score an insurance run scoring LaRoche to put the Nats up 7-5. An Incredible timely RBI by Suzuki. Chad Tracy ended the inning with an infield pop up out.
Closer Drew Storen came on in the ninth inning. Storen gave up a lead off double to Carlos Beltran. Storen them forced a ground out by Matt Holiday and fanned Allen Craig. Storen then walked Molina and David Freese to make it a nailbiter. Storen effectively loaded the bases. Storen Allowed a single off the glove of Ian Des,I d to score two runs and tie it up At 7-7. Unbelievable! Storen allows another two run single to give the Cards a 9-7 lead. Speechless.
No other words. Monumental collapse. The bullpen failed. It's that simple.
