The Associated Press
WASHINGTON–It was payback time for Matt Wieters and the Washington Nationals.
Wieters hit a winning, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning against his former team as the Nationals rallied to beat Baltimore 7-6 last night and end the Orioles’ six-game winning streak.
After losing twice in Baltimore, the first-place Nationals trailed 6-2 in the seventh inning at their own ballpark–and were in danger of extending their losing streak.
“We certainly didn’t want to lose four in a row,” noted manager Dusty Baker.
“That would have negated all the work we’d done prior to that.”
Instead, Washington used a three-run ninth to earn a feel-good victory.
“We needed a win, we had played poorly the first two games all around,” Wieters said.
“The fact they kicked our butts there [in Baltimore], you want to come back and beat them.”
Down by two in the ninth, the Nationals rallied against Brad Brach (0-1), who is serving as Baltimore’s closer while Zach Britton is on the disabled list.
Jayson Werth led off the ninth with a homer to end an 11-pitch at-bat and begin Brach’s downfall.
Bryce Harper then doubled and with one out, an intentional walk and a single loaded the bases.
Wieters stepped in and hit a liner to right to win it.
Wieters signed with Washington in February following an eight-year run with Baltimore.
Suffice to say he knew all about Brach, his former batterymate.
“It’s tough facing a guy you threw so many innings to,” said Brach. “He kind of knows everything you’re throwing.
“He put a good swing on it.”
Matt Albers (2-0), another former Oriole, struck out three-straight batters for the win.
Mark Trumbo and Manny Machado homered for the Orioles, who built a seemingly comfortable lead against Stephen Strasburg.
Trumbo struck out twice against Strasburg before launching a two-run shot to deep centre to put Baltimore on top 5-1 in the fifth.
Machado hit his ninth homer off Blake Treinen in the seventh.
Orioles’ starter Wade Miley needed 119 pitches to get 15 outs, but he left with a 5-2 lead after striking out five and walking four.
Strasburg struck out nine over six innings but gave up five runs and eight hits, both season highs.
Elsewhere in interleague play, Seattle beat Philadelphia 11-6, Houston doubled Atlanta 4-2, Texas edged San Diego 4-3, Milwaukee downed Boston 7-4, and Arizona dumped Detroit 7-1.
