The Washington Nationals gave up an eight-run lead in the eighth inning before falling, 11-10, against the San Francisco Giants
The Nationals failed to secure a win in the last game of the three-game series after they suffered a 11-10 loss Wednesday afternoon in San Francisco despite a strong and dominant offensive performance throughout the game.
A walk-off grand slam sealed the deal for the Giants in the ninth inning that prevented the Nationals from getting the sweep. It was a bitter loss for the Nationals considering the standout offensive performance they had which all started in the third inning after Keibert Ruiz singled to left.
James Wood capitalized on the same position they were in last inning. Wood homered 405 feet to center on the 94 mph four-seam fastball that allowed the Nationals
took the lead 2-0 headed into the fourth inning. This marked Wood’s 18th home run of the season.
James Wood after his two run homer in the third inning to give the Nationals the first lead of the game.The Nationals poured on the runs in the sixth inning which all started when Dylan Crews singled to right. It didn’t take long before he earned his second major league stolen base.
Even though the Nationals had two outs, Lile managed to single out to left which brought Crews home for another Nationals run. Just as Lile went to steal second, Young singled to center to send Lile to third.
The Nationals extended their lead once more as the runs continued. Young also stole second right before Nuñez singled to left with Lile and Young now back at home.
Still with two outs, the Nationals kept the pressure on in the sixth after Jorbit Vivas singled to right for Nuñez to also make it home as they closed out the inning with four runs.
Foster Griffin got his eighth start of the season. So far this season, Griffin is averaging a 3.63 ERA. He also recorded 21 walks and 69 strikeouts.
The Giants got their first run of the game after a home run came from Matt Chapman off Griffin’s 78 mph curve ball.
Griffin finished his day after he allowed only one run, no walks, and five strikeouts across six innings pitched.
The Nationals propelled the sixth inning momentum into the seventh. Wood walked and soon reached second after a wild pitch. Then it was Curtis Mead who had an infield single to second.
Luis García Jr. also doubled to left that pushed Wood home and Mead to third. Crews then grounded out to shortstop but Mead was able to score and García moved to third.
Lile continued to be on fire this series after he singled to right for García to score. It seemed that the Nationals offense couldn’t be stopped as they continued to rack up runs and maintain their lead.
But the Giants continued to fight. Chapman started the eighth inning with yet another solo home run, this time off relief pitcher Paxton Schultz’s 88 mph cutter. As the Giants worked to cut their deficit, they earned another run after Rafael Devers homered an 89 mph cutter. Despite the Nationals lead, defensively it looked messy for the Nationals.
After two back to back home runs and no outs, Schultz gave the Giants back to back walks. Giants Daniel Susac drilled a double down to left to bring in another run. Nationals manager Blake Butera made his way out to the mound and relieved Schultz.
Orlando Ribalta needed to work the mound before the Giants cut too deep into the Nationals lead. He soon recorded the first out in the eighth inning but not before the Giants snuck in yet another run. The Nationals needed to remain composed as they headed into the ninth inning after they allowed five runs in the eighth for the Giants to cut down their deficit.
Mead added more insurance to the Nationals lead in the ninth after he homered 399 feet to left center off a 92 mph sinker. This marked Mead’s 10th home run of the season. Lile singled to left and it wasn’t long before he also stole second. The Nationals couldn’t extend their lead anymore.
It came down to Nationals closer Gus Varland and the Nationals defense. But after he allowed a run and made it 10-7 with no outs and a runner on first and second, Mitchell Parker came in for the Nationals.
Bases quickly became loaded for the Giants and with no outs, Eldridge searched for a walk-off grand slam. On Parker’s third pitch, Eldridge delivered the walk-off home run the home crowd wanted.
Despite the Nationals loss, they demonstrated that they knew how to steal second. In today’s game, the Nationals stole five bases, two of which came from Lile which marked his seventh stolen base of the season. Across the three-game series, the Nationals racked up nine stolen bases.
The Nationals will set back home to the nation’s capital where they will take on the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series. Game one is set to start at 6:45 p.m. on Friday.
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