Another Nail Bitter from the Nats — The Bullpen Blows the Save But Ryan Raburn Shines

Michael Taylor touching home after his two run home run

A pitchers duel is what it was. A somewhat sloppy game. Lots of people getting on base. A bases loaded situation for the Nats that they got of. Nats players left on the bases.

Stephen Strasburg was on the mound for the Nats and Steven Matz for the Mets. It was a duel between the two. Both through scoreless innings until the 8th. Then the Nats scored with a man on base Michael Taylor hit a home run. Nats up 2-0.

Only three outs to get. Should be easy right? Then again to the top of the 9th we go. Matt Albers is pitching for the Nats. The Mets first batter flies out to center field. The second batter singles. The third batter strikes out. Up comes the next batter. There are two strikes on him and then:

Albers had surrendered a two-out, two-strike game-tying home run to Curtis Granderson in the top of the ninth, one that left Bryce Harper hanging his head by the right field fence, incredulous that another pursuit of a late-inning flyball had ended in futility. [I got home in time to see this and the above description does not do justice to just how crushed Harper looked. I have a feeling he said something along the lines of how shit how is this happening again.]

The reaction from the crowd was a deep deep moan of grief. Many loud calls from fans for Dusty to fix this situation. As one guy yelled out we're gonna miss the fireworks (post game fireworks were on the menu that is if the game didn't run long).

But for once the opposing team had as much problem with their bull pen. Matt Wieters walked. Wilmer Difo fouled out on a bunt (the crowd went nuts over this because all of Difo's attempt at bunting were terrible). Stephen Drew was up next and he too was walked. So there was hope. Then Adam Lind pinch-hit for Albers. Lind flied out to center field. Wieters went to third. Then up comes Ryan Raburn. He hits the ball to left field. Yoenis Cespedes races for the ball. He dives for it but the ball drops in. The Nats win.

Except for some reason the Mets asked that the play be reviewed. I'm not sure why or how since they'd lost their challenge earlier in the game. The replay on the big screen clearly showed it was a hit. NATS WIN!

I love this from Raburn:

“We just keep playing the game,” Raburn said. “Unfortunately we had to play a little longer, but we gathered around, had some good at-bats and were able to pull through.”