By Juan C. Rodriguez South Florida Sun-Sentinel
WASHINGTON – Five Leo Nunez pitches and it was over.
Anibal Sanchez’s six shutout innings, Hanley Ramirez’s 100th career homer, Chris Coghlan’s exceptional baserunning to give his team a two-run lead in the top of the ninth, all for naught.
Willie Harris crushed the first pitch he’d ever seen from Nunez into the right field seats Two batters later with a man on, Ryan Zimmerman unloaded on a 1-1 changeup to give the Nationals a series-salvaging 5-4 walk-off win at Nationals Park Sunday.
“Bam, bam, bam and we’re done,” third baseman Wes Helms said. “That’s unusual for a comeback… That’s the way it went today.”
In blowing his third save in 19 chances since assuming the closer role, Nunez allowed his 11th and 12th home runs. Seven of those have come over his last 18 1/3 innings. He is now tied with former Marlin and current Cubs right-hander Kevin Gregg for most home runs surrendered among National League relievers.
“This time of year all [losses] are tough, especially when you have leads in the eighth and ninth innings,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Those pitches there in the ninth inning, they don’t bother me as much as the eighth inning That top of the order doesn’t even come up in the ninth if we take care of business in the eighth.”
Renyel Pinto looked like he was all business in getting Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham fly outs on five pitches to start the inning. Then a four-pitch walk to Elijah Dukes, a Josh Bard pinch-hit single, and another four-pitch walk to eight-hole hitter Wil Nieves sunk him.
Kiko Calero entered the game tied for the sixth-best first batter efficiency among NL relievers, having allowed a .154 average (8 for 52). He left a slider up to Fort Lauderdale native and Nova High School product Mike Morse, who delivered a pinch-hit single good for two runs to tie it.
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