WASHINGTON — Ian Desmond strode the plate Sunday afternoon with a .175 average after going 1-for-14 with six strikeouts in the three previous games of the series against the Nationals.
Naturally, Desmond blasted a solo homer to center in the ninth inning off of Sean Doolittle, lifting the Rockies to an improbable 6-5 victory and allowing them to capture the four-game series. Desmond was down 0-2 and then worked the count full before hitting his game-winner. It was the first go-head homer in the top of the ninth on Desmond’s career.
Desmond rescued reliever Adam Ottavino, whose wild pitch allowed Michael Taylor to score from third base and tie the game, 5-5, in the eighth.