Nats’ hopes end despite win over Phils on Harper hit in 12th

The Nats’ Stephen Strasburg was better, showing off the Number One pick that once dwelt within his arm and is allowed out on weekends, striking out 13 over eight innings, with only one run on three hits and a walk against. “I think the next couple days, next week or so, a lot of these guys won’t be in this clubhouse anymore, so we’re going to try to enjoy this as a team, and just really have some fun and play hard and see where we’re at”.

The Nationals won today, but officially lost the division when the upstart Mets won their 88th game and eliminated their NL East rivals from contention.

Matt Thornton (2-1) got the win and reliever Colton Murray (0-1) was tagged with the loss as light rain fell late in the game before a sparse home crowd that had visions of a World Series in March.

Harang is 4-7 with a 3.33 ERA and 72 strikeouts in his career against the Nationals. Taylor attempted a diving catch but missed, and the ball rolled toward the center field fence.

Since returning from the disabled list on August. 8, Strasburg is 5-2 with a 2.08 ERA in nine starts, and he has struck out 10 or more batters in four straight starts dating back to September 9.

During the top of the third inning with the bases loaded, the 24-year-old Altherr hit a liner to center field off pitcher Jordan Zimmermann.

Jayson Werth drove in two runs with a solo homer and a single. “Then I saw it go by and I was like, ‘Oh, man, I might have a chance here.’ I just tried to run as fast as I could”. I was giving up quite a few hits.

This was supposed to be a club that would make up for first-round playoff exits in 2012 and 2014. The Phillies drop to 58-97, and with only seven games remaining, are looking like a solid bet to lose 100 on the year. He tossed five shutout innings, allowed six hits and struck out five in his 31st professional start of the season. His WHIP is second in the league at 0.75, as well as batting average against (.176).

Bryce Harper has been a nemesis for the Mets all season but the Nationals outfielder had nothing but nice things to say about them on Saturday. “You don’t know what’s going to happen this offseason, so we’ll see”.