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With a 3-2 count and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk-off grand slam to defeat the Phillies 8-4.
Neither mother nature nor the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen could keep the Washington Nationals down Friday night at Nationals Park. Thanks to the ninth inning heroics of star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, the Nationals beat the Phillies in a game initially started (for all of five minutes), then delayed for the next two hours and 22 minutes. It was just the second loss in the last 13 road games for the NL East-leading Phillies.
Trailing 4-2, Washington sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, with Jayson Werth singling to start the rally after a 11 pitch at bat against Philadelphia closer Ryan Madson. With two outs, and a 3-2 count, Zimmerman sealed the deal with the eighth walk-off home run of his career, and his third grand slam. This is the second time Zimmerman has ended a game with a four bagger. It was only the second blown save of the season for Madson.
Livan Hernandez started the game and also came out to pitch after the rain delay, allowing four runs in four innings on seven hits and two walks. Washington's Tom Gorzelanny, Sean Burnett and Todd Coffey held the Phillis scoreless the rest of the game, allowing for Zimmerma's heroics in the ninth.
The Nationals and Phillies again face off Saturday at Nationals Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 P.M.
When the Philadelphia Phillies come to town they (and their fans) always seem to be a pain in the neck of the Washington Nationals (and their fans). The visiting NL East rivals always seem to case a fever, however the Nationals might have the prescription: more Livan Hernandez.
Hernandez (7-11, 4.21 ERA) can be labeled a "Phillies Killer" if there ever was one. The Cuban workhorse has a career 3.54 ERA in 31 starts against the Phillies and is 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 2011 against them. His last outing was with the NL East leaders and he pitched spectacularly allowing one unearned run on four hits in 6 innings. On Friday night he will be looking to duplicate that success and will have the same opponent in Roy Oswalt (5-7, 3.84 ERA).
The Nationals will be without first baseman Michael Morse who was given the night off and who has been seen putting ice on a sore elbow where he recently got hit by a pitch. Outfielder Laynce Nix will be taking over first bag duties. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will be looking to reach base safely Friday night to extend his streak to 25 straight games of getting on base.
First pitch is set for 7:05 P.M.
Nationals Line-Up:
Ian Desmond – SS
Rick Ankiel – CF
Ryan Zimmerman – 3B
Laynce Nix – 1B
Jayson Werth – RF
Danny Espinosa – 2B
Jonny Gomes – LF
Wilson Ramos – C
Livan Hernandez – SP
PHOTO: Ryan Zimmerman Gets Gatorade Treatment After Walk-Off Grand Slam
by Mike Prada
Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images
If you are a fan of all the D.C. sports teams, you were roughly four times as likely to be watching the opening game of the John Beck era than the Nationals' thrilling six-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Phillies. That means you probably missed Ryan Zimmerman's game-winning grand slam, followed by Zimmerman getting both the pie and the Gatorade treatment. The photo above pretty much sums it all up.
There was also the stark contrast in the way Bob Carpenter described the play on TV and how Charlie Slowes did so on the radio. That and more images below the jump.
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Aug 20 11:03a