Ryan Zimmerman's Walk-Off HR Ends Eight-Game Losing Streak, Washington Nationals 5-4 Over The Florida Marlins.

Just when it seemed like all hope was lost. After the Nationals had rallied to tie the Marlins at 2-2 in the eighth and then watched as closer Mike MacDougal gave up a two-out hit to Nick Johnson that put Florida back up 4-2...Just then...Willie Harris stepped to the plate against the Marlins' closer Leo Nunez and sent a solo shot to right, right into the second deck to remind everyone why he's TAWH!!! The Amazing Willie Harris!!! Cristian Guzman follows with a sharp grounder to second, deep in the hole, and Guzman, (bunions and all), beats the throw to first and is actually called, "SAFE!!" Do You BELIEVE, DC FAITHFUL? Ryan Zimmerman steps in against Leo Nunez. First pitch change in at 86 and it's called ball one. Nunez comes back with a fastball and dials it up to 96 for a swinging strike and a 1-1 count. Is Nunez crazy? The Florida closer comes back inside with a 1-1 change and Ryan Zimmerm---THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! TWO-RUN WALK-OFF HR TO CENTER AND GONE!!! Ryan Zimmerman's 28th HR of 2009 wins it for Washington!! The Nationals break an eight-game losing streak!!! The NATIONALS WIN! THE NATIONALS WIN!!!

Nationals win, 5-4 Final.

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"Game 137: Like old times--in a GOOD way!" -Doghouse.

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• Elijah Dukes, Socks High, Sends A DY WAVE To The Dugout From Second!!!

• The Kids Call Him Zim!! A Win That Almost Wasn't And Why.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...

Nationals now 47-90.

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• Elijah Dukes, Socks High, Sends A DY WAVE To The Dugout From Second!!!

Elijah Dukes had the red socks pulled high today as the Nationals donned their Sunday Reds with the alternate BIG "W" logo in white and white piping on the jerseys, and the Nationals' right fielder had another impressive outing as all eyes in DC, with not much else to watch, have turned their attention to right to see if Dukes can claim the job for 2010 in the last month of the season, and it seems like Dukes knows he's playing for a spot. Dukes is 11 for 25 in his last 8 games played before this afternoon, and Dukes ended the day 2 for 2 with a walk, a double, his 18th, and a run scored. So far in September, Dukes is hitting .444 in 4 games, and he's using the Discerning Eye passed on by the great Nick Johnson, walking 5 times in 9 at bats and posting a .643 OBP so far in the final month of the season. They're not yelling, "Boo"...They're Yelling DUKES!!!!

• The Kids Call Him Zim!! A Win That Almost Wasn't And Why.

D.C. right-hander J.D. Martin held the Florida Marlins to one run through six, and had two out in the seventh when two two-strike pitches to Cameron Maybin were called balls** and the Marlins' center fielder walked. Pinch hitter Ross Gload followed with a single to right that sent Maybin to third, and Chris Coghlan's single scored the two-out walk to make it 2-0 Marlins after seven. DC right-hander Tyler Clippard pitched a quick scoreless eighth and the Nationals got a bases-loaded, two-out, two-run single from pinch hitter Mike Morse to tie it, only to give up the third out of the inning when Wil Nieves failed to advance to third on the throw home and Morse ran into him at second and was tagged out. 2-2 after eight. 

Mike MacDougal takes over for the Nationals in the ninth. The DC Closer gives up a single, throws a wild pitch and issues a walk to Cameron Maybin put two on for Marlins' third baseman Wes Helms, who bunts both pinch runner Emilio Bonifacio and Maybin into scoring position. Chris Coghlan had another chance to win it, but he hit a ground ball to second that Willie Harris threw home for Wil Nieves who blocked and tagged Bonifacio. One down, first and third and...Oh no!...It's Nick Johnson! And the Former Nationals' first baseman hit a Trademark Single™ to center to give the Marlins the lead, and an ill-advised dive and miss by the "defensive replacement" Justin Maxwell allows Coghlan to score from first for a 4-2 lead after eight and a half...

And Then TAWH!! THE GUZ!!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! LOSING STREAK OVER!!!! 

(ed. note - " ** = Check the MLB.com Gameday Link And Tell Me Pitches 5 and 7 aren't strikes!!)

GAME REPORT: 

Florida Marlins At Washington Nationals. Game 137 Of 162.

J.D. Martin starts the afternoon by popping up Chris Coghlan for the first out of the series finale with the Florida Marlns. Former Washington Nationals’ first baseman Nick Johnson strikes out swinging at a fastball up high. Hanley Ramirez flies weakly enough to left that Cristian Guzman runs out to get it...In the absence of Nyjer Morgan, Willie Harris is leading off against Anibal Sanchez, and he flies out to center. In the absence of  "Two-Spot" Johnson, Cristian Guzman’s batting second. Guzman hits one up into the wind toward center for Cameron Maybin to catch. Ryan Zimmerman hustles but he’s thrown out by Hanley Ramirez after a grounder to short.

Cristian Guzman throws to first to get Jorge Cantu. Dan Uggla pops a slow curve up to the infield. Cody Ross gets a hold a hanger and lines it over Willingham’s head in left. Ronny Paulino flies to Willie Harris to end the top of the second...Adam Dunn K’s chasing a fastball up out of the zone. Josh Willingham grounds out to the pitcher. Elijah Dukes rips a single through short off Sanchez. Alberto Gonzalez hits another two-out single to send Dukes to third. Wil Nieves swings through a high fastball to end the second.

Cameron Maybin grounds out to Guzman to start the Marlins’ third. Wil Nieves fires the ball to Ryan Zimmerman at third after catching the third strike thrown by the opposing pitcher. Chris Coghlan hits another single to center. Nick Johnson gets jammed and he pops one straight up...J.D. Martin tests Nick Johnson’s reflexes with a line drive to first. Willie Harris walks with one down. Cristian Guzman K’s swinging through a high fastball from Sanchez. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to center to end the third.

Hanley Ramirez launches a leadoff HR to left for a 1-0 Marlins’ lead. Jorge Cantu fouls strike three into Wil Nieves’ glove. Dan Uggla grounds out to Zimmerman at third. J.D. Martin hangs another bender to Cody Ross, who sends a screamer to left for a two-out double. Ronny Paulino grounds out to short...Adam Dunn flies out to left field for Chris Coghlan to catch. Willingham grounds out to third. Elijah Dukes up with two down, and he goes the othe way with a line drive double to right. DY WAVE FROM SECOND BY DUKES!!! Alberto Gonzalez K’s swinging.

Cameron Maybin doesn’t think the low outside corner counts, but J.D. Martin hits it. Elijah Dukes sprints in and makes an underhand catch on a liner from the pitcher. Martin gets Chris Coghlan to ground to short to end the Fish’s fifth...Wil Nieves sends a fly ball out to Cameron Maybin in center. J.D. Martin K’s swinging over a two-strike bender from Anibal Sanchez. Willie Harris flies to the warning track in right to end the fifth.

Elijah Dukes leaps at the wall, but misses a fly ball off Nick Johnson’s bat. Johnson in with a double, so Hanley Ramirez gets the intentionals with first open. Jorge Cantu grounds to short, Guzman to Alberto Gonzalez to Dunn, double play. Johnson takes third. Uggla up with two down. J.D. Martin gets a grounder back to the mound and throws to Dunn to end the threat...Cristian Guzman pops out to Cantu foul of third. Ryan Zimmerman grounds out to Uggla at second. Adam Dunn hits a two-out double to right and off the wall on one hop. Josh Willingham walks, and Elijah Dukes gets a two-out RBI opportunity. Dukes takes a curve in the numbers and takes first. Alberto Gonzalez grounds out to first to end any threat.

Cody Ross pops out to the infield. Ronny Paulino grounds back to the mound. Cameron Maybin takes a low fastball for ball four and a two-out walk. Ross Gload gets a PH opportunity. Gload singles to center, Maybin moves around to third. Chris Coghlan lines an RBI single into right to score Maybin, 2-0 Marlins. Nick Johnson hits one straight down that stays fair, Johnson out at first, 2-0 Fish in the seventh...Wil Nieves leads off the seventh against Matt Lindstrom. Nieves flies out to Maybin in left center. "Pinch Hittin’" Pete Orr drops a single into short right. Willie Harris lines out to Cody Ross in right. Cristian Guzman walks with two down. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to Chris Coghlan in left.

Tyler Clippard blows Hanley Ramirez away with a 90 mph two-strike fastball for a swinging strike three. Jorge Cantu singles to left with one down. Dan Uggla pops out to short center. Cody Ross pops out to center to end the top of the eighth....Renyel Pinto’s dealing to Dunn in the eighth. Dunn flies out to left field. Josh Willingham flies out to Cody Ross in right. Elijah Dukes takes a two-out walk. Josh Bard moves Dukes to third with a two-out single. Wil Nieves takes a second two-out walk. Mike Morse will see Kiko Calero. Morse lines up the middle, two runs score, tie game, 2-2, but Wil Nieves is still on second when Morse arrives there, and Morse gets tagged out to end the inning.

Mike MacDougal is on in the ninth. Ronny Paulino singles through short to start the ninth. Emilio Bonifacio runs for Paulino. Cameron Maybin take a two-out walk in front of Wes Helms. Helms bunts to third, Zim fields and throws, but both runners advance. Chris Coghlan grounds back to the mound, Willie Harris throws home and nails Bonifacio at the plate. Two down. Nick Johnson with two on and two out, hits a Trademark single™ to center to score Maybin, Justin Maxwell misplays it, and the Marlins score two, 4-2 Fish. MacDougal walks Hanley Ramirez and gets a ground ball from John Baker to end the inning...TAWH GOES DEEP!! GONE!! Solo shot by Harris to cut the lead in half!!! 4-3 FISH!! Cristian Guzman grounds deep in the hole near second and beats the throw to first. Tying run on for Ryan Zimmerm---WHO WANTS A TIE!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Ryan Zimmerman hits a two-run walk-off HR to win it for the Nationals. 5-3 final. THE NATIONALS WIN! THE NATIONALS WIN!!!! 

Nationals now 47-90.