June 18, 2012
By Ceci Ferrara
Sports writer
Sports Insider
Before their sold-out interleague series against the Yankees this past weekend, the Nationals were No. 1 in the NL East. Three losses later, they still are.
That’s the silver lining for Nats fans, who watched the Yankees roll into town and win straight against the home team. Washington was riding a nine-game winning streak before Friday night’s series opener against the Yanks, which they trailed 2-1 going into the seventh inning.
When Derek Jeter connected with Brad Lidge’s fastball in the seventh, it looked like he had hit a grounder to end the inning. But instead of a 5-2-3 double play, shortstop Ian Desmond threw the ball past first base, allowing a pair of runs to score in what turned out to be a four run inning for New York.
The Yanks’ lead increased to 7-2 in the ninth, due to a solo homerun by Curtis Granderson. While the Nats were able to knock in a run in the bottom of the inning — thanks to a bases loaded single by Michael Morse — they never came close to closing the gap.
The series continued on Saturday with a 14-inning marathon game that many believe should have been decided in the eighth inning. Trailing 3-2, the Nats tied it up, thanks to a solo homerun by Ian Desmond. After a walk by Tyler Moore, Adam LaRoche hit a hard single to right field that Moore felt he could score on. Sliding into home headfirst, he was called out, although he and many of the sell-out crowd thought he had beaten the throw.
Home plate umpire Tim Timmons did not reverse the call, and the Nats’ bullpen was able to keep the Yankees scoreless through the next six innings. The game was finally decided in the 14th, when New York first baseman Mark Texiera hit a two-run double to go ahead. Washington’s rookie phenom Bryce Harper came to the plate with the winning run in the bottom of the 14th, but grounded out to end the game, going 0-7 on the day.
Sunday was not much better for the Nationals, who scored just one run on seven hits in their 4-1 loss against the Yankees. While the team lost, it was a better outing for Harper, who went 2-4 with a double after his dismal appearance at the plate the day before.
Despite the losses, the Nats are still four games ahead of the Braves, their closest competition in the National League East. They will host the Tampa Bay Rays next for three games, before heading up to Baltimore for another beltway series next weekend.
PGA Tour
Tiger will have to wait for another day to close in on Jack Nicklaus’ record. By the middle of the day Sunday, the biggest names were nowhere to be seen on the leader board at the U.S. Open. Furyk and McDowell replaced Woods and Mickelson. But Webb Simpson outlasted them all.
Simpson emerged from the green on Sunday to become the 112th winner of the U.S. Open. Just like last year, it was the guy nobody expected – not even him. “To be honest,” Simpson said, “I never thought about it, and I never really wrapped my mind around winning.”
The 26-year old shot four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the final day, and ended at 2-under 68. Furyk was near the top on Sunday, but made bogey on the final hole and ended up with a 74. However, McDowell ended up with a 73, tying for second place with Michael Johnson.
Woods started the day well at five behind, but ended up going 6-over par in the first six holes and was never a factor on Sunday; he finished at 73, six strokes back.
