(New York)- Right-handed pitcher Michael King was on the bump for the Yankees. King put the Nationals down in order to start the first inning. Patrick Corbin opened the game for the Nationals and with one out he gave a mistake pitch to Aaron Judge and Judge hit a solo home run to start the scoring.
With the back-to-back singles by Gleyber Torres and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees had runners on the corners with just one out. Corbin would then retire the next two to get out of a jam. Michael King would retire the Nationals in order after a 3-2 strikeout on Riley Adams ended the Top of the 1st. With one out in the Top of the second Kyle Higashioka doubled to right center. The Yankees would end up leaving him stranded as the Nationals got out of another jam.
Jake Alu worked a walk to start the Top of the 3rd and with Lane Thomas on second and Jake Alu on third Joey Meneses reached on an E6. That would be it for the Nationals as the Yankees bring in Kenyan Middleton to finish off the inning. The Yankees would strike back in the bottom of the 3rd. With a lead-off walk to DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres came up and hit a 2-run HR to make the score 3-1. Then a double by Giancarlo Stanton would end up getting stranded as the Nationals got the next two batters out. The Yankees would then shut down the Nationals and once again put them down in order. The Nationals would do the same though and the Yankees went down 1-2-3. Jhony Brito then entered for the Yankees and for the third time in a row, the Yankees put the Nationals down in order with no base runners reaching first base safely. DJ LeMahieu started the bottom of the 5th off with a single to RF and then Aaron Judge walked.
The Nationals would get out of the inning after two ground balls and one which led to a double play. If this is getting repetitive it is as the Nationals were put down in order once again in the Top of the 6. The Yankees are still leading the Nationals 3-1. Heading into the bottom of the 3rd. The Yankees would get one base runner in the bottom of the 6th via a Volpe walk but he would be stranded.
At the top of the 7th the Nationals really turned it up. It started with a Carter Kieboom double and stolen base. Then with 2 outs Jake Alu singled past Anthony Volpe and scored Kieboom. Alex Call would then step up to the plate and with two outs hit a go-ahead two-run home run. Then CJ Abrams went back to back on a 7-pitch at bat which included a pitch violation. Lane Thomas would strike out to end the inning. In the bottom of the 7th Hunter Harvey entered for the Nationals. Harvey walked LeMahieu but he would get stranded as the Yankees could not muster any hits. Albert Abreu entered in the 8th for the Yankees and with one out he walked Dominic Smith but the Nationals could not get a hit or run across after that.
The Nationals brought in Jordan Weems to pitch in the bottom of the 8th and he gave up a HR to Giancarlo Stanton and made it 5-4 Nationals. Eversion Prierra then doubled with 2 outs for his first career MLB hit. Kyle Finnegan then entered the game and Jake Bauer came in as a pinch hitter and would strike out to end the bottom of the 8th.
Clay Holmes entered the top of the 9th for the Yankees and with one out Jake Alu singled to right field but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double. With two outs Alex Call singled on a ground ball to left field and CJ Abrams beat out an infield single. Lane Thomas was hit by a pitch in the head, a scary situation but he was good and stayed in the game. Joey Meneses singled to the pitcher and then Dominic Smith grounded out to SS.
The Nationals lead the Yankees 6-4 heading into the bottom of the 9th. Oswald Peraza started the bottom half of the 9th with a single and Gleyber Torres kept the game alive with a two-out single. Then Giancarlo Stanton had a great at-bat and singled to LF to score Pereza. Then Harrison Bader hit a long ball that was caught over Alex Call’s shoulder to win the game.
Nationals Pitching - Patrick Corbin
Patrick Corbin pitched 6 innings in his outing against the Yankees. He gave up 7 Hits, 3 ER, 3 Runs, 3 BB, 2 HR. Corbin also struck out 7 and had a 4.70 ERA.
Player of the game
Alex Call went 2-3 with an HR and 2 RBI. Call also made a great catch to seal the game and give the Nationals the win.
What's next for the Nationals
The Nationals will start a 3-game series against the 2nd-place Marlins in the NL East. This series will be held on the 25,26, and 27th of August.
The Nationals are looking to win this series in Miami against a division rival. The Nationals will start the series against the Marlins at 6:40 PM EST on Friday, August 24th.