Entering Tuesday, the Nationals had faced Tim Lincecum two times, both last season. They’d scored two runs off him in 14 innings, and struck out 13 times. That they managed four runs (two earned) on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings would have qualified as some accomplishment. But the Nationals did more than that—they overcame their own mistakes for a 10-6 win.
Lincecum left with the Giants up 5-4 in the seventh, but the Nationals stormed back for six runs off the San Francisco bullpen in the eighth. The rally was unique for its precision; Washington entered the night hitting .242 with runners in scoring position, but got four hits in those situations in the eighth. The bottom three hitters in their lineup, including two pinch hitters, scored three of the six runs.
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Josh Bard and Wil Nieves, on the day the Nationals announced Jesus Flores would be out for at least three months, did plenty to fill the gap he leaves offensively; they combined for three hits, two runs and two RBI.
“Everybody knows that effort hasn’t been the issue with these guys. They haven’t given up at all offensively,” manager Manny Acta said. “It was a total team effort. Everybody chipped in.”
That’s all from here for tonight. We’re back tomorrow night at 7:05, where Randy Johnson (299 career wins) faces Jordan Zimmermann (two career wins). Talk to you then.
