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Drew Storen, involved in many trade rumors throughout the day, blew a save, but the Nationals scratched a run home in the bottom of the ninth to get a 3-2 win over the New York Mets.
All eyes and minds are on the Trade Deadline that expires at 4 P.M. Sunday and it has many teams and fans wondering, worrying, hoping and confused. But the Washington Nationals have a job to do and that is try and get a series win against the New York Mets in a Rubber Match game at Nationals Park.
Jordan Zimmermann (6-9, 3.27 ERA) takes the mound against New York's Jon Niese (10-8, 3.97 ERA). Zimmermann has had a stellar season up to the last two starts where he has strangely struggled making some wonder if he is either regressing, injured or just had a run of bad luck. In his last start against the Florida Marlins Zimmermann gave up six runs in 6 2/3 innings in an 11-2 loss.
Outfielder Brian Bixler, recently recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, will take over center field and lead-off duties for the Nationals on Sunday afternoon.
First pitch moves across the plate at 1:35 P.M.
Nationals Line-Up
1. Brian Bixler, CF
2. Ian Desmond, SS
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
4. Michael Morse, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, RF
6. Danny Espinosa, 2B
7. Jonny Gomes, LF
8. Jesus Flores, C
9. Jordan Zimmermann, SP
Mets Vs. Nationals Final Score: Nationals Win In Walk-Off After Drew Storen Blows Save
It was a wild day in the Washington Nationals' front office, and ultimately, it was also a wild day on the diamond. Closer Drew Storen, who was involved in a number of MLB trade rumors leading up to the 4 p.m. deadline, blew his fourth save of the year when he surrendered a two-out home run to Scott Hairston to tie the score at 2. However, the Nationals bailed him out in the bottom of the ninth, scratching a run when Ian Desmond's chopper was just high enough to allow Rick Ankiel to score from third base.
Storen ended up getting the win despite blowing the save, on a day in which the Nationals elected not to include him in a deal for Minnesota Twins center fielder Denard Span. He entered to a chorus of cheers in the top of the ninth with the Nationals leading 2-1, and retired the first two batters easily. But then Hairston belted a fastball over the left field wall for his second home run of the game to tie the score.
The Nationals ultimately scratched a run home in the bottom of the inning with just one hit. Jesus Flores singled, and Rick Ankiel was hit by a pitch. After Flores was thrown out on a failed bunt attempt, Ankiel advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Desmond then hit a chopper over the pitcher's head, and Ankiel got enough of a jump to beat the throw home.
Jul 31 4:51p by Mike Prada