The Washington Nationals secured an extra innings road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday afternoon
In what proved to be a wild game, the Washington Nationals managed to split the four game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates after getting back in the win column in an 8-7 extra innings win on Thursday afternoon.
Foster Griffin allowed four earned runs, all in a wild fifth inning, and allowed eight hits while he tossed seven strikeouts and one walk in his fourth outing of the season.
Clayton Beeter picked up the win before Orlando Ribalta, who was called up earlier this week, notched his first save of the season.
Thursday started out as a pitchers dual after the two teams combined for seven hits and were held scoreless through the first four innings, but the fifth inning would change that.
Jorbit Vivas opened the frame getting on base after being hit by a pitch before a double by Drew Millas pushed Vivas to third. After Nasim Nuñez walked, Luis Garcia Jr. then hit a bases clearing grounder to the shortstop - yes, you read that correctly.
Garcia's hit led to an errant throw by Pittsburgh, sending the ball into the outfield to allow a walk up double, putting the Nationals ahead 3-0. The next at bat, Garcia crossed the plate on another throwing error.
Yet that lead would be short-lived after a two out double led to the Pirates first run before Marcell Ozuna belted a 423 foot, three run home run to tie the game. Griffin would last just two more at bats, including a strikeout to end the fifth inning.
Washington took the lead back in the top of the sixth inning with a Joey Wiemer double driving in Jorbit Vivas fresh off a pitching change, but again, the Pirates would answer back in the bottom of the inning after Paxton Schultz gave up an RBI triple. PJ Poulin replaced Schultz after just three at bats, then gave up an RBI single with the Nationals trailing for the first time during the game.
Two runs in the top of the seventh, one off a hit by pitch and the second on a wild pitch, pushed Washington back ahead in the top of the seventh, seemingly setting the Nationals up for the road win...until the ninth inning.
Clayton Beeter allowed his first two batters to get on base, enough for Brandon Lowe to drive in the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth.
James Wood would prove to be the hero after his single in the top of the tenth inning brought in Jorbit Vivas for his third and final run of the day.