ekansekans's blog: "df"

WASHINGTON -- It was well after midnight. Ryan Tannehill White Jersey . The Nationals had exhausted their bullpen and had a starting pitcher warming up. Thanks to Chad Tracys hard-hit infield single in the 13th inning and alert baserunning by Danny Espinosa, Washington beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Monday night to take a six-game lead in the NL East. "It was almost like a playoff game," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "They had their chances. We had our chances. It was that kind of game." Ian Desmond led off the 13th with an infield single off Cristhian Martinez (5-3) before Espinosa tried to bunt and hit into a forceout. Kurt Suzuki then hit a slow roller for an infield hit, allowing Espinosa to take third. "Once I saw everybody break, I hit second. I saw there was no one at third, I kept rolling," Espinosa said. With the infield in, Tracy hit a ball to Braves second baseman Dan Uggla. Instead of either trying to get Espinosa at the plate or attempting to turn a double play, Uggla fumbled it, and Espinosa scored the game-winner. "Thats a tough play," Espinosa said. "Its a good play to keep it in the infield." Uggla was initially given an error before it was changed to a single for Tracy. "Speed on the bases makes people panic," Tracy said. "Once you dont get a good handle on it with someone like Espy on the bases, you got no shot." Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said Uggla should have thrown the ball home to try and get Espinosa. "You cant go anywhere else but the play at the plate," Gonzalez said. Suzuki froze when the ball was hit, trying to avoid a double play. "He hit me a tough groundball that I dropped to my knees to catch and I didnt exactly know where Kurt was once I got up," said Uggla, whose inaction gave Atlanta a third straight loss. "And I just tried to throw the ball home, and I couldnt get the thing out of my glove." Craig Stammen (6-1), Washingtons eighth pitcher and final remaining reliever, pitched two hitless innings for the win. The Nationals took a 4-1 lead off Tim Hudson in the first, but he allowed just three hits until he was removed after one batter in the seventh. The Braves tied it in the fifth. The teams played seven scoreless innings, and by the 13th, Johnson was ready to use Edwin Jackson for the 14th if Washington hadnt scored. Hudson watched the 13th inning and shuddered. "That last inning, it was Little League-esque," Hudson said In the first, Martin Prado, who had three hits, doubled with one out against Jordan Zimmermann. He scored on Jason Heywards single. The Nationals scored four runs in the first off Hudson. Jayson Werth led off with a double and scored on Bryce Harpers single. Ryan Zimmerman then singled, and both runners moved up when Michael Morse lined a ball that ricocheted off Hudsons right hand. Harper came home on Adam LaRoches infield out and Desmond hit a two-run home run to left -- his 18th of the season. In the fourth, Chipper Jones walked, Uggla doubled, and with one out Paul Janish lined to Espinosa at second. He couldnt handle it, and Jones scored on the single. Heywards two-run homer in the fifth tied the score at 4. It was his 21st of the season. Jordan Zimmermann pitched five innings, equaling his shortest outing of the season. He allowed four runs on four hits, walking two and striking out two. Hudson, who hasnt lost since the Nationals beat him July 1, allowed four runs and eight hits. He walked two and struck out two. NOTES: The Braves signed 1B Lyle Overbay to a minor league contract. Overbay, released by Arizona on Aug. 5, will report to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday. ... RHP Lucas Giolito, the Nationals first-round draft choice, has been shut down and will have his right elbow examined in Los Angeles by Dr. Lewis Yocum. "The worst-case scenario is Tommy John surgery, and well see if thats where were headed," Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said. ... The games start was delayed by rain for 56 minutes. ... Gonzalez said that RHPs Ben Sheets and Tommy Hanson, who usually start could pitch in the bullpen on Tuesday when Atlantas Paul Maholm (11-7, 4.39 ERA) will face Stephen Strasburg (14-5, 2.91). Ryan Tannehill Pink Jersey . According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the annual outdoor contest will take place at Citizens Bank Park -- home of baseballs Philadelphia Phillies. A league source told the paper that a contract has yet to be signed and an actual date has not yet been determined. Dan Carpenter Womens Jersey . The Detroit native, who died Thursday at the age of 86, helped Montreal secure an expansion franchise while working in the baseball commissioners office in 1968, and then served as the Expos president - later adding the duties of general manager - until 1986. http://www.miamidolphinsfansprostore.com/dan-carpenter-jerseys . Rousey submitted Kaufman in just 54 seconds Saturday at "Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman" with the same move shes used to finish every opponent in her career -- an armbar -- to defend the Strikeforce womens bantamweight title. Ryan Tannehill Jersey . Armstead is entering his ninth CFL season and has recorded 13,812 combined yards and 24 touchdowns in 106 games played with Ottawa, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Montreal, Winnipeg and Edmonton. Ryan Tannehill Womens Jersey . -- Saints interim coach Joe Vitt wont reveal the quarterback rotation against Arizona for the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday in Canton, Ohio, saying only that it will be similar to other preseason openers. NEWTON, Iowa -- Some fatherly advice helped Elliott Sadler adjust his attitude after a controversial penalty cost him a race in Indianapolis last week. Sadler rebounded from that much-talked-about restart penalty to win the NASCAR Nationwide race at Iowa Speedway on Saturday night. Before Sadler left North Carolina on Thursday, his dad told him he could either wallow in self-pity or come out with greater determination to keep and build on his series points lead. "He said, Youve got to fight for your right to be in the position youre in, and dont let these guys take this championship from you. You can either lay over and die or you can stand up and fight," Sadler said. "He wanted me to come and fight this weekend." Sadlers No. 2 Chevrolet was on the pole with a track-record qualifying speed of 135.141 mph and was near or at the front of the pack the entire race. He overtook Justin Allgaier on the 192nd of 250 laps and went on to his fourth victory of the season. Sadler denied Ricky Stenhouse Jr. a fourth straight victory on the 0.875-mile track, and increased his lead in the series standings to 18 points over Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon. "We all had one thing in mind: Lets go to Iowa and kick some butt and show everybody what were all about and what kind of men we are," Sadler said. "I think this is a great statement race for our race team." Allgaier was second, followed by Sam Hornish Jr., Michael Annett and Stenhouse. "Man, its so frustrating to run second when you can see him and are catching him at the end," Allgaier said. Danica Patrick, who crashed early in Indianapolis last week, finished 11th. Hornish won the final "Dash4Cash" bonus of $100,000. His fan partner, Tammy Altieri of Spokane, Wash., also won $100,000. Stenhouse, who led 209 of 250 laps at Iowa in May, was no threat this time. Drivers were using new right-side tires for this race, and Stenhouse said he never got a good feel on the track. "We lacked right-side grip," he said. &quuot;But its the same tire for everybody, and we didnt quite figure it out. Larry Csonka Jersey. Its just part of the game." Sadler came into the race still smarting from what he believed was an unjust penalty. He had won in Chicago two weeks ago and was in contention for the win in Indianapolis when he passed eventual winner Brad Keselowski on a restart with 18 laps to go. Officials ruled that Sadler went too early and black-flagged him. Sadler, who finished 15th, said he did nothing wrong because Keselowski slowed unexpectedly and Sadler was getting pushed from behind. "Im not going to lie to you, Im still disappointed about last week," he said. "This would be three wins in a row for my race team." Sadlers crew chief, Luke Lambert, said what transpired the week before made the victory win all the sweeter. "It means a ton to us right now," he said. "What happened last week is something were putting in the past. its a little bit of a heart-breaker, but when we got to work Monday morning we were here to race Iowa. Were moving forward, and were going to win a championship." The third and final caution came on the 172nd lap. Sadler came out third on the restart behind Allgaier and Kurt Busch. Sadler picked off Busch right away, then steadily cut into Allgaiers lead before passing him on the inside with 58 laps left. "When I got to Justin, I had a hard time passing him," Sadler said. "He kind of knew where my car was fast. He made one slip off turn four and opened the door for me. I got a really good bite under him. I knew once I got out front we were in really good shape." Busch, running third, shredded a tire with six laps to go. Sadler had come close to winning at Iowa before. He won the pole in two previous starts here, and he also had three top-five finishes at the track. He was second to Stenhouse in May. Once Sadler crossed the finish line, he popped out of his car, pounded the roof and raised his arms over his head in celebration before taking the checkered flag. ' ' '