PHOENIX -- Jose Vidro was happy to see the arrival of
September.
Vidro had two hits and four RBIs, including a go-ahead,
bases-loaded walk in the ninth, and Nick Johnson knocked in two
runs as the Washington Nationals posted a 7-6 victory over the
Arizona Diamondbacks.
Due to injuries and ineffectiveness, Vidro tallied only four RBIs
in July and August combined. However, the 15-year veteran has
turned it on this month, hitting .391 with nine RBIs in his last
six games.
"I was struggling a little bit," Vidro said. "I told (manager
Frank Robinson) I want to finish up strong and he can play me
more often now. I am glad he listened because right now, I feel
great and I don't have any injuries. I am getting that swing
back again."
Felipe Lopez and Ryan Zimmerman opened the ninth with
back-to-back singles and both runners moved up on a wild pitch
by Luis Vizcaino (4-5). After an intentional walk to Austin
Kearns loaded the bases, Vizcaino walked Vidro to force home the
go-ahead run. It was the 10th free pass by Diamondbacks
pitching in the contest.
"The guy was struggling to throw a pitch over the strike zone
and Frank gave me the green light with 3-0," Vidro said. "I had
seen plenty of pitches and had a pretty good idea the stuff the
guy had. I knew it was low right away when it left his arm. I
was seeing the ball great and had a great at-bat."
Vidro and Johnson both delivered two-run singles in the seventh
inning to cap a four-run frame and give Washington a 6-4 lead.
However, Damion Easley tied the game at 6-6 in the eighth with
his ninth homer, a two-run shot.
"We have played them four times now and they have come from
behind in taking all four games from us," Easley said. "We are
all aware of that, but you don't go out there thinking about
it. You compete until there are no more outs. I got down 0-2
and was just trying to battle and stay in the at-bat as long as
I can and hope for a pitch I can hit."
Nationals starter Billy Traber struggled, allowing four runs -
three on solo homers - and eight hits in only three innings.
Jon Rauch (2-2) picked up the win despite facing his own
struggles in his two innings of relief.
"I could live with giving up a solo home run here and there
because the hitter is beating me," Rauch said. "The walks,
though, that frustrates me more then anything because I have
control over it. The first inning I pitched, I was fortunate to
get out of it. I almost (messed) it up again and it is
frustrating."
Chad Cordero came on and pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out
two to pick up his 25th save of the year.
Claudio Vargas allowed four runs and five hits in six innings,
but also issued six walks as the Diamondbacks (68-76) dropped
seven games behind idle San Diego in the National League wild
card race.
"It unraveled there (in the seventh inning)," Arizona manager
Bob Melvin said. "We tied it up, but then on a close pitch they
walked in the winning run. We walked too many guys, put too
many guys on base without them working for it.
"Vargas did his job. He put two guys on in the seventh and now
it was the time for the bullpen to pick him up. It didn't
happen."
Washington's Alfonso Soriano picked up his 20th outfield assist
to become the first player in major league history with at least
40 homers, 30 steals and 20 assists in a season.