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The Nationals trail the Braves 1-0 in the first inning at Nationals Park, after Brian McCann singled to center to drive in a run on Jordan Zimmermann. But the run could've been unearned, if not for a gaffe by Danny Espinosa and a flaw in the way baseball awards responsibility for runs.
Espinosa muffed a would-be double play on Chipper Jones, only having time to throw to first instead of flipping to Ian Desmond. So the Braves were spared an out, but because there was an out recorded on the play, Espinosa wasn't charged an error, even though the effect was the same.
It extended the inning, and McCann took advantage, singling off a pitcher who has a 6.26 career ERA in the first inning. Zimmermann could have closed the inning out, but he should have been off the hook after generating a double-play ball off Jones. Because the Nationals couldn't turn it, the Braves lead 1-0 in the first.
Desmond, by the way, struck out in the first inning, so he's now 0-for-10 in the leadoff spot.
