Nationals Win with Austin Kearns Walk Off

The Nats brought in MacDougal to slam the door on the Padres and take their second series in a row.

MacDougal looked unhittable. Hitting as high as 97 MPH on the gun, with great movement, he soon fanned Padres number three hitter Chase Headly. Then he made third basemen Kevin Kouzmanoff look awful as he forced him to pop it up to right. The smoke MacDougal was dealing was so nasty that Nationals' broadcasters could hardly believe he had experienced so many troubles in the past.

Then, with their praise, came their jinx. On the first pitch to the next Brewers' batter, Kyle Blanks launched a bomb to left, tying up the game in the wink of an eye.

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the tenth. With two runners on, and two outs, Austin Kearns stepped to the plate. Kearns wasted no time, as he smacked the ball into the gap in right center, scoring Nyjer Morgan and winning the game for the Nationals with a walk off.

John Lannan pitched yet again another masterful performance. The lenky lefty pitched eight strong innings, allowing only one earned run off of a Kouzmanoff double. The ace threw only 81 pitches in eight innings, which makes one wonder why Riggleman didn’t leave him in the game to go the distance.

The outcome of taking him out? An extra inning, a little more excitement, and no win for Lannan.