After keeping the prodigous offense of the Washington Nationals to only three runs in two games, the Baltimore Orioles could not contain their opponents as Washington slugger Adam Dunn had a career day with two home runs and six RBIs; therefore, in the end, the Orioles lost to the Nationals in the final of a three game series, 8-5.
Both rookie starting pitchers on the afternoon — Washington’s Shairon Martis and Baltimore’s Brad Bergesen — struggled.
Bergesen went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits — meanwhile, he collected his first ever major league hit in the third inning. Shairon Martis allowed five runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out two. Veteran Ron Villone would earn the win as he tossed a scoreless inning, while Chris Ray would take the loss for Baltimore.
It looked like Baltimore was well on their way to sweeping Washington as they took a 2-0 lead in the third inning as Nick Markakis hit a two-run triple, and Aubrey Huff added another run with a RBI single in the fifth; however, Washington would rally back.
In the bottom of the fith inning, the Nationals came within one of the lead, 3-2, as Wil Nieves had an RBI double, and pitcher Shairon Martis followed up with an RBI single of his own. They would take a 4-3 lead as Adam Dunn hit a two run homer — his first of the day — that plated Ryan Zimmerman.
Baltimore took a brief 5-4 lead in the seventh inning as Adam Jones hit a two-run homer to center — his tenth of the season — however, Washington would strike back hard in the bottom of the inning. Oriole reliever Chris Ray would give up back to back singles to Anderson Hernandez and Willie Harris; thereafter, Ray would walk Zimmerman intentionally to load the bases and get to Dunn.
For Baltimore, that would serve as the turning point in the close contest. Dave Trembley — Baltimore’s manager — would pull in Ray in favor of southpaw Jamie Walker to create a lefty-lefty match-up with Dunn in hopes of a strikeout or double play. They would get neither as Dunn hit a grand slam home run — his second of the day — on a 2-2 offering and sent the Washington faithful into a frenzy as he made the score, 8-5.
Joe Beimel would pitch a scoreless eighth inning, and Joel Hanrahan would come to pitch a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 5th save in 2009.
