We may have witnessed the end of the Jonathan Papelbon era, but good news, Washington Nationals fans: the Nats held on.
Shawn Kelley got the last out when Papelbon couldn’t to close out a 4-2 Nationals win over the San Francisco Giants Thursday night.
Kelley (6 saves, 3.08 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) pitched around ninth-inning trouble that got going with Papelbon (19 saves, 4.41 ERA, 1.47 ERA) on the mound.
The Nats’ titular closer, entering the game with a 4-1 lead, allowed a one-out ninth-inning bloop single to Brandon Belt before walking Mac Williamson, and manager Dusty Baker had seen enough, after Papelbon had suffered losses in back-to-back appearances in losses to San Diego and Cleveland, and he went to Oliver Perez.
Perez (4.20 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) walked Trevor Brown, before Gregor Blanco hit into a fielders’ choice that scored Belt and cut the lead to 4-2.
Baker then went to Kelley, who struck out Span, a former Nat, and then struck out Angel Pagan for the final out.
Tanner Roark (10-6, 2.96 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) earned the win, giving up a run on four hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking three.
Roark also had an RBI single in a three-run Nats second off Giants starter Johnny Cueto (13-3, 2.63 ERA, 1.07 WHIP).
Washington (60-42) has a five-game lead on Miami (55-47) in the NL East.
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Chris Graham
