Tyler Clippard #36 of the Washington Nationals sits in the dugout after giving up a three-run home run in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on July 17, 2012 in Washington, DC.
(July 16, 2012 – Source: Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pedro Beato threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the 10th inning that allowed the winning run to score, and the Washington Nationals rallied for a 5-4 victory after blowing a late lead Tuesday night.
The Nationals fell behind twice after leading 2-0 going into the ninth. Mets pinch-hitter Jordany Valdespin hit a three-run homer off closer Tyler Clippard.
But Danny Espinosa’s single off Bobby Parnell in the bottom half sent it to extra innings. Josh Thole’s RBI double put the Mets up 4-3 in the 10th before Washington came back again.
Bryce Harper tied it with a run-scoring triple of Tim Byrdak (2-1) before Beato entered with the bases loaded.
REDS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0
CINCINNATI (AP) — Johnny Cueto showed no signs of being bothered by a finger blister during six shutout innings, and Ryan Ludwick hit a three-run homer that sent Cincinnati to its first victory without Joey Votto.
Votto had surgery earlier in the day to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, sidelining the former National League MVP for up to a month.
Cueto (11-5) threw 105 pitches, giving up four hits and four walks.
Arizona’s Trevor Bauer (1-2) had the roughest time in his four starts so far. The 21-year-old lasted only three innings.
GIANTS 9, BRAVES 0
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia native Buster Posey drove in five runs with three hits and Barry Zito combined with two relievers on a five-hitter for San Francisco.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy made a pregame request for better pitching away from home with his staff’s road ERA sitting at 4.85 — third-worst in the majors. Zito (8-6), who came in with a 5.19 road ERA, answered Bochy’s call by allowing only three hits and one walk with four strikeouts in seven innings.
