Game 7 WPA: Your new “Mr. Nationals” Matt Albers. Washington Nationals defeat St. Louis Cardinals 14-6 in grueling, ridiculous MLB contest, fortunately shortened by nearly a minute thanks to abominable new auto-walk rule.

Image courtesy Fangraphs.

(What do these graphs mean?)

• Labored and error’d: Tanner Roark (-34.3%) gives up 5 runs (3 earned) over 5 IP with 3 Ks, no walks, and a high degree of defensive clownery behind him.
• All over the scorebook: Adam Eaton (+25.3%) is 3-4 with a walk, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI on the night, including a game-tying, two-out RBI single in the 2nd (+10.1%).
• Turnabout is fair play: Roark butcher-boys his way into a FC+error to set up a runners-corners situation that ends up tying the game again in the 4th (+11.9%).
• Rally time: Stephen Drew (+21.8%) has a 3-4, 4-RBI, 3-run day, including a 5th-inning double to get the Nats within one and put runners 2nd/3rd (+20.3%). Matt Wieters (+9.1) obligingly delivers the game-tying RBI single in the next AB (+10.5%).
• This is just stat-padding: Bryce Harper (+21.0%) is 4-4 with a pair of walks, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
• Continuing to hit: Ryan Zimmerman (+13.6%) is 3-4 with a double and a walk.
• 1-2-3: Koda Glover (+7.5%) chalks up 3 quick outs in the ayeth to hold the lead and earn a shutdown.
• The real hero: Matt Albers (+15.1%) makes the most of his Nationals debut, throwing 2 scoreless after Roark’s exit, fanning two and working about a hit and an error to earn a shutdown of his own.

Tonight’s WPA brought to you by sometimes clowning is fun: