With the Washington Nationals up 1-0 in the top of the ninth-inning, reliever Drew Storen delivered a searing fastball that San Diego Padres shortstop Jason Barlett connected with and put over the walls of Nationals Park. It seemed to be a devastating play after the Nationals and starting pitcher John Lannan battled all game to preserve that one run lead. However, in the bottom of the inning despair turned to joy as the Nationals walked off the field with a 2-1 victory, their first in six games.
In the bottom of the ninth-inning, first baseman Michael Morse stepped to the plate to start off the inning for the Nats. He saw one pitch, a 89-mph slider from reliever Mike Adams and it was all he needed. Morse clobbered the pitch over the left field wall into the visitor's bullpen to send the Nationals to a much needed victory.
Lannan has been off and on all season and fortunately Friday night he was on for the Nats pitching seven-innings giving up only two hits, no runs, two walks and five strikeouts. It was a performance both he and the Nationals desperately needed. Tonight, the Nationals got a little of everything positive to get the win.
And maybe a little "Morse Magic."
The Nationals are now 22-28 and are last in the NL East.