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The Nationals pulled even with the Padres in the seventh, getting runners on first and third with none out and scoring when Chase Headley decided to try and throw Jayson Werth out at home, instead of taking the automatic out on a Michael Morse grounder to third. But they only ended up with one run, and their small-ball tactics, which helped them score a couple runs in the first inning, might have cost them one or two in the sixth.
With runners on first and second and none out, manager Jim Riggleman had Wilson Ramos bunt to move Nix and Michael Morse to second and third. In the process, though, he traded an out to ensure Jerry Hairston Jr. didn't hit into a double play, and when Hairston grounded to third, Nix got thrown out at home. Then, with runners on first and second, Hairston got picked off first, after it looked like Morse missed a sign for a double steal or a hit-and-run. After starting the inning with runners on first and third and none out, the Nationals got one run after playing for one run. And they just finished the seventh inning without a run, despite starting it with runners on first and second.
Now, there are times when you have to get one run, but the sixth inning of a home game against a last-place team doesn't seem like one of them. And with the score still tied, it could come back to bite the Nationals.
