With runners on second and third, Anthony Rendon delivered a clutch walk-off single to lift the Washington Nationals past the Miami Marlins 7-6 Friday inside Nationals Park.
Trailing 6-5, Rendon ripped a single to left field. Howie Kendrick scored the game-tying run as the speedy Trea Turner charged from second and rounded the bases to slide in at home easily for the walk-off victory.
Rendon finished the game 3-for-4 with a walk and his three RBI’s pushed his season total to 107.
Rendon’s clutch hit saved the Nationals from disaster. Washington entered the ninth three outs away from their 75th win of the season. Unfortunately, Daniel Hudson, who was filling in as the closer for the injured Sean Doolittle, yielded a lead-off triple to Harold Ramirez. One batter later Starlin Castro blasted a two-run homer to center to give the Marlins the lead.
However, the Nationals have a lot of resilience. Kendrick hit a pinch-hit single to lead off of the bottom frame of the ninth. Turner then drew a walk. After a pass ball from catcher Jorge Alfaro, Kendrick advanced to third and Turner second, setting up the heroics from Rendon.
Rendon has had an MVP-caliber season hitting .333/.412/.619 with 29 home runs in a contract year. He has no doubt been the lead catalyst of a deep lineup that has propelled the Nationals to a 75-58 record.
