Nats Rebound, Split D-Backs

A crowd of over 30,000 saw some good offense in the Nats 8-3 victory

No rain this time as weather was decent 

The Nationals were having one of their worst weeks of the season.  Getting swept by the Mets, losing five of their last six games and getting trounced 11-4 on Wednesday night, the Nats were looking for a big win to split the four game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  I was there and unlike my previous trips to Nats games, we won.  It was the first time seeing a win at that ballpark in two years and first time seeing one in the Matt Williams era.  I didn't even make it on time for first pitch because I was running with some friends in Great Falls.  Maybe I should start showing up to games late.

Okay enough about me, here's what happened on the field.  Ian Desmond has been on and off all year long but he looked like the Ian Desmond of old when he homered into the visitors bullpen out in left field to take a 1-0 lead.  They took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI fielders choice by Michael Taylor as Desmond scored.  The D-Backs made it a 2-1 game when Jarrod Saltalmacchia homered to right field.

Bryce Harper stepping in the batter's box

In the bottom of the fifth, with the bases loaded, Wilson Ramos singled to left field to score Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth to go up 4-1.  The D-Backs wouldn't go away as they cut the deficit to one in the top of the seventh.  In the bottom half of the frame, Ryan Zimmerman came into the game to pinch hit and hit a double to the centerfield wall to score Taylor, 5-3 Nats.  The Nats put it away in the bottom of the eighth.  Harper and Anthony Rendon got on base and Clint Robinson drilled a three run homer to right field.  Final score: 8-3.  

The Nats will host the Colorado Rockies in the district this weekend with game one of the series tonight at 7:05 p.m.

Here are some more images from the game:

Pretty decent crowd for a 4:05 weekday game

Bryce Harper