Holding a one-run lead on Baltimore in the eighth inning on Friday night, the ideal situation for Matt Williams’ bullpen was presented. Casey Janssen came out to set up a save opportunity for Drew Storen with the Nats holding a 39-2 record this season when leading after seven innings. The Orioles, on the other hand, were an ugly 0-36 when leading after seven.
Advantage Washington, right?
But this is baseball and, naturally, nothing went as planned. Janssen allowed a softly-hit single to leadoff against a pinch-hitting Chris Parmelee. He then got Adam Jones out on a hard liner to third base.