At the end of a game that had everything — including two grand slams, a blown save and eight Nationals pitchers piecing together a wild nine innings — Jordy Mercer knelt behind second base, towel pressed to his bloody nose and lip.
The would-be game-ending ground ball had skipped off Mercer’s glove, bounced up and caught the second baseman in the face. Paolo Espino — a spot starter pressed into closing duties because of how thin the Nationals’ bullpen was — watched. But Mercer got the bleeding under control, and Espino retook the mound, and soon the game-ending line drive flew Mercer’s way.