Harper the hero as Nats beat Cards in 10th
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[September 04, 2018]
Bryce Harper tied the game with
a two-run homer in the ninth and added a game-winning sacrifice fly
in the bottom of the 10th that gave the Washington Nationals a 4-3
victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in a Monday matinee at
Nationals Park.
Harper's two-run homer off Bud Norris in the ninth sent the game
into extra innings. Then, in the 10th, Mark Reynolds led off with a
double against Chasen Shreve (3-3), and pinch runner Michael Taylor
moved to third when Adam Eaton reached on a bunt single. One out
later, Harper drove in Taylor with a sacrifice fly to left.
Greg Holland (2-2) earned the victory with two innings of shutout
relief.
Washington starter Max Scherzer delivered another strong effort,
giving up three runs on four hits in seven innings. He also struck
out 11 with just one walk.
His first-inning strikeout of Matt Carpenter gave the right-hander a
fifth consecutive season of at least 250 strikeouts. That is the
second longest streak in baseball history as Randy Johnson leads the
way with six (1997-2002), but the Nationals could not give the
right-hander much offensive support.
St. Louis starter Jack Flaherty battled through five innings,
throwing 96 pitches. He gave up one run on three hits while striking
out five and left with a 3-1 lead.
The Cardinals got to Scherzer and took a two-run lead in the top of
the first inning. Yairo Munoz singled with one out, and former
National Matt Adams walked with one out.
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Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a game tying two run
home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at
Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Scherzer then balked, which moved the runners to second and third.
Paul DeJong was batting during the balk, and he then drove in both
runners with a single to left for the quick 2-0 lead.
Washington cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first when Trea
Turner lined a solo homer into the St. Louis bullpen. The Nationals
wasted a number of scoring chances early, stranding eight in the
first five innings.
The Cardinals stretched the lead to 3-1 when Munoz led off the sixth
with a solo homer. The Nationals missed on several chances before
Harper homered in the ninth.
--Field Level Media
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