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.