Final
Nats edge Tigers to complete sweep
May 10, 2013 - 5:51 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Adam LaRoche and Ryan Zimmerman each recorded multiple hits and drove in a run as the Washington Nationals completed a two-game interleague sweep with a 5-4 victory over Detroit on Thursday.Bryce Harper and Ian Desmond also supplied an RBI apiece for the Nationals, who have won four straight and six of seven. Starter Dan Haren (4-3) allowed four runs on nine hits and struck out three over six innings.
"We've come a long way in a week," Haren said, "and we're still not at full strength."
Matt Tuiasosopo hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning for Detroit, which saw starter Doug Fister (4-1) pick up his first loss of the season. The right- hander drove in the Tigers' other run with an RBI single, but lasted just three frames and allowed eight hits and five runs -- four earned -- while striking out four in defeat.
Detroit dropped both games of this series following a four-game sweep of Houston.
"I thought the last two games were really good games," Detroit catcher Alex Avila said. "It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season goes for the both of us."
Trailing 5-1 entering the top of the sixth, Detroit rallied with Tuiasosopo's pinch-hit three-run jack.
Haren opened up the inning by generating two quick outs, in between issuing a walk to Jhonny Peralta, and Omar Infante kept the frame alive with a bunt single. Tuiasosopo, though, pinch-hit for reliever Darin Downs and crushed Haren's 2-1 offering over the left field wall to cut the Tigers' deficit to 5-4.
"That lineup is ridiculous," added Haren. "I was able to kind of handle the top end, but Infante has always been a really tough out for me. I made one kind of bad mistake to Tuiasosopo."
Rafael Soriano added to Washington's solid bullpen performance by working around a two-out single in the ninth to earn his 12th save of the season.
The Nationals jumped on Fister early and plated three runs in the first. Denard Span and Roger Bernadina opened up the game with a double and single, respectively, and Harper grounded into a fielder's choice to plate the first run.
Ryan Zimmerman followed with a poke to left to moving Harper to second and Adam LaRoche smacked a single up the middle, though Austin Jackson's fielding error in center allowed Harper to score and gave the Nats a 2-0 edge. Desmond returned the favor and made it 3-0 with another single up the middle, plating Zimmerman to finish the scoring.
In the second, Fister helped his own cause with an RBI single to center, bringing home Peralta to put the Tigers on the board. It also broke an 0- for-29 slump from Detroit pitchers.
Washington poured on two more runs in the bottom of the frame. Fister plunked Span with one out and then issued a walk to Bernadina. The right-hander looked to settle down as he struck out Harper, but then gave up back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Zimmerman and LaRoche, which gave the home team a 5-1 lead.
Game Notes
The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but the contest was postponed due to rain ... Fister's RBI single was the first for a Tigers pitcher since 2009 ... Haren, who allowed more than three earned runs for the first time since his debut on April 5, is 4-0 in five starts versus Detroit since 2008 ... The Nationals improved to 13-0 this season when scoring five or more runs.
- DETROIT: 4
WASHINGTON: 5
Final
May 9 6:59 PM - Pinch-Hitter Matt Tuiasosopo two-out, three-run Home Run (2) to left scored Jhonny Peralta and Omar Infante. Austin Jackson due up.
Tigers 4, Nationals 5 Top 6, 2 OutsMay 9 5:55 PM - Adam LaRoche singled to right scored Roger Bernadina. On the play, Ryan Zimmerman advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Ian Desmond due up.
Tigers 1, Nationals 5 Bot 2, 2 OutsMay 9 4:55 PM - Ryan Zimmerman singled to center scored Denard Span. On the play, Roger Bernadina advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Adam LaRoche due up.
Tigers 1, Nationals 4 Bot 2, 2 OutsMay 9 4:53 PM - Doug Fister singled to center scored Jhonny Peralta. On the play, Omar Infante advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Austin Jackson due up.
Tigers 1, Nationals 3 Top 2, 2 OutsMay 9 4:38 PM - Ian Desmond singled to center scored Ryan Zimmerman. On the play, Adam LaRoche advances to second. Runners on first and second with one out and Danny Espinosa due up.
Tigers 0, Nationals 3 Bot 1, 1 OutMay 9 4:27 PM - Adam LaRoche singled to center scored Bryce Harper. On the play, Ryan Zimmerman advances to third on Austin Jackson's fielding error. Runners on first and third with one out and Ian Desmond due up.
Tigers 0, Nationals 2 Bot 1, 1 OutMay 9 4:26 PM - Bryce Harper grounded into a fielder's choice, second to short scored Denard Span, Roger Bernadina out at second. Runner on first with one out and Ryan Zimmerman due up.
Tigers 0, Nationals 1 Bot 1, 1 OutMay 9 4:20 PM - DETROIT: 0
WASHINGTON: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 9 4:07 PM
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