The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks, 9 – 4, in 11 innings in a wild game at Chase Field. The Nats score 5 runs off Joe Paterson in the 11th to win the game, highlighted by Michael Morse’s grand slam which follows a bases-loaded walk to Rick Ankiel. But before that, the game features four batters hit by pitches, and as many ejections. Nats starter Jason Marquis and manager Jim Riggleman are the first to be tossed after Marquis plucks Justin Upton in the 6th; warnings had been issued by home plate umpire Rob Drake when D-Backs starter Ian Kennedy had hit Jayson Werth the previous inning. In the 8th, Arizona’s Esmerling Vasquez hits Danny Espinosa and is also sent off, as is his manager, Kirk Gibson. The Nationals take a 4 – 0 lead after that, thanks to a three-run homer by Wilson Ramos, but Kelly Johnson hits a solo shot off Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the 8th, and closer Drew Storen fails to record an out in trying to save the game in the 9th, allowing all four batters he faces to reach base; three of them score, sending the game into extra innings.

ByTom

The Nationals beat the Diamondbacks, 9 – 4, in 11 innings in a wild game at Chase Field. The Nats score 5 runs off Joe Paterson in the 11th to win the game, highlighted by Michael Morse’s grand slam which follows a bases-loaded walk to Rick Ankiel. But before that, the game features four batters hit by pitches, and as many ejections. Nats starter Jason Marquis and manager Jim Riggleman are the first to be tossed after Marquis plucks Justin Upton in the 6th; warnings had been issued by home plate umpire Rob Drake when D-Backs starter Ian Kennedy had hit Jayson Werth the previous inning. In the 8th, Arizona’s Esmerling Vasquez hits Danny Espinosa and is also sent off, as is his manager, Kirk Gibson. The Nationals take a 4 – 0 lead after that, thanks to a three-run homer by Wilson Ramos, but Kelly Johnson hits a solo shot off Tyler Clippard in the bottom of the 8th, and closer Drew Storen fails to record an out in trying to save the game in the 9th, allowing all four batters he faces to reach base; three of them score, sending the game into extra innings.

For the second straight game, Albert Pujols hits a walk-off home run in extra innings as the Cardinals defeat the Cubs, 3 – 2. Pujols hits a solo shot off Rodrigo Lopez in the 10th, after doing the same off Jeff Samardzija in the 12th inning of yesterday’s 5 – 4 win. Ryan Theriot sets the stage for Pujols’ heroics by driving in pinch-runner Tony Cruz from first base with a two-out, 9th-inning double off Carlos Marmol, also extending his hitting streak to 19 games in the process. No National Leaguer had hit walk-off homers in consecutive extra-inning games since Ron Santo in 1966.

ByTom

For the second straight game, Albert Pujols hits a walk-off home run in extra innings as the Cardinals defeat the Cubs, 3 – 2. Pujols hits a solo shot off Rodrigo Lopez in the 10th, after doing the same off Jeff Samardzija in the 12th inning of yesterday’s 5 – 4 win. Ryan Theriot sets the stage for Pujols’ heroics by driving in pinch-runner Tony Cruz from first base with a two-out, 9th-inning double off Carlos Marmol, also extending his hitting streak to 19 games in the process. No National Leaguer had hit walk-off homers in consecutive extra-inning games since Ron Santo in 1966.