If New York Mets outfielder Lucas Duda didn't make a "dud" of a play in the third inning, the score might be a little different Sunday, but the Washington Nationals capitalized and have taken a 3-2 lead over their NL East rivals at Nationals Park.
Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa launched a Mike Pelfry pitch deep into right field, but Duda made a bad read on it and the ball sailed just over his glove. The botched play allowed center fielder Jayson Werth to score and get the Nationals offense going. Holding onto a 2-1 lead in the same inning, first baseman Chris Marrero grounded out, but scored Rick Ankiel for Marrero's first Major League RBI. Later, catcher WIlson Ramos snuck a bullet down the third base line past a diving David Wright for a RBI double.
Starter Livan Hernandez, in his final start of the 2011 season, has so far done well going five innings, giving up two runs on four hits. He has walked one and struck out one.