The Washington Nationals moved to .500 both overall and in extra inning games after evening the series against the Baltimore Orioles
The losing streak is officially over after the Washington Nationals evened the series against the Baltimore Orioles with a 4-3 extra innings win at Camden Yards on Saturday night.
With the win, the Nationals move to 5-5 in extra inning games this season.
Foster Griffin dazzled once again after posting nine strikeouts, his second consecutive game matching that total. He also allowed just three hits and tossed a pair of walks in seven innings as he exited the mound with the Nationals ahead, 3-1.
The Nationals opened the scoring after Jorbit Vivas singled into left field to bring in Daylen Lile, who reached base on a ground rule double. Baltimore would answer back in the bottom of the frame after getting two of the first three batters in the inning on base before a two out RBI single into right field even the game at one.
The Nationals would retake the lead after Luis Garcia Jr notched his 14th home run of the season on a 418 foot leadoff home run into right field in the fifth inning. Jose Tena followed it up with a double before a foul out from Dylan Crews pushed him to third, but it didn't materialize into anything further after Daylen Lile struck out to end the inning.
The Nationals then kept it going after Jorbit Vivas reached base safely to open the sixth inning before Drew Millas brought him home on an RBI single into right field after making good contact on an 87 mph curveball.
The Nationals would hang onto the lead until the eighth lead once again as PJ Poulin took the mound. After giving up a leadoff single, Pete Alonso drove him home on a two-out RBI double into left field before an RBI single to right followed it up to bring him home and tie the game at three, pouring fuel on the fire out of the bullpen.
The Nationals would save the game in the top of the tenth inning after Daylen Lile took the opening at bat five pitches before his single into right brought in Dylan Crews for the go-ahead run.
The threat wouldn't end there, though, after Justin Lawrence made his Nationals debut in the bottom of the inning after his first at bat ended with the base runner headed to third base with one out. After being tagged out at home, the Orioles would eventually load the bases after Pete Alonso drew a five pitch walk. But fortunately for Washington, it materialized into nothing after a grounder ended the game to end the streak.
The two teams are set to close out the series on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:35 PM.
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