Clippard Blows Save, Astros Blow Game

Nationals 5, Astros 4 (11 innings)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11		R	H	E
Nationals	0	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	1		5	14	0
Astros	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0		4	6	3

Read the full box score at MLB

Tyler Clippard blew a save but the Astros literally "threw" the game away in the 11th inning, giving the Nats a 5-4 win in front of an empty stadium in Houston on Monday night.  The Nats struggled against the worst team in baseball to remain 3 games up on the Braves who won earlier in the day.

The Astros went Keystone Cops in the 11th inning.  Suzuki popped up a sacrifice bunt with a runner on 1st and two Astros ran into each other and players were flying through the air.  When an Astro finally picked the ball up he fired it past first base and into right field foul territory.

Bo Porter held Roger Bernadina at 3rd base but the Shark ran right through the sign.  Luckily for the Nats the Astros threw over the catchers head and the Nats ended up with a run and a runner on 3rd on the bunt with 2 errors.  Astros mess up, Nats win.

The End Of The Astros Chances

Edwin Jackson pitched well, but his pitch count was high and he only lasted 5 1/3 innings, striking out 8 in a 2 hit 2 run performance.  Gorzelanny gave up another run and then after Drew Storen escaped a 3-0 count with the bases loaded in the 8th, Clippard blew the save in the 9th.  It was Clippard's 4th blown save but he struck out the side to give the Nats the chance to win the game in the 11th.

Play/Errors Of The Game

Offensively Espinosa, Zimmerman, Werth, and Morse each had two hits on the night and the 3, 4, 5 slots were responsible for all 4 runs.  Morse hit safely in his 15th straight game.

Despite getting more than double the number of hits as the Astros, the Nats still found themselves one ball away from losing the game.

The Nats continue the series tomorrow night in Houston...

Related Stories:

• Meet the Nat Pack, The Washington Nationals Starting Rotation
• Bryce Harper's Camouflage Cleats
• Here Is Rally Kid Version 2