Los Angeles: Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos drove in two runs as the Washington Nationals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 Saturday and clinched the National League East title.
The Nationals earned their third division title in five years but they needed some help to do it as the second place New York Mets lost 10-8 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
“It never gets old,” said Nationals outfielder Jayson Worth, who now has won eight division titles in his career.
“It’s such a hard thing to accomplish. You spent six months trying to do it. It’s why you go to spring training early, so you can do everything possible to put yourself in position to do this. It’s really special.”
The celebration didn’t end with the players.
“This is what I came back into baseball for,” said Nationals manager Dusty Baker, who is 67 years old.
“Man, I was called back into it. This is where I am supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Relief pitcher Reynaldo Lopez threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings for Washington.
The loss hurt the host Pirates’ dwindling chance to get into the Major League Baseball playoffs. Pittsburgh has won seven of its past 10 games but can’t afford any more losses in its final eight games.
Washington’s Joe Ross was making his second start since missing 66 games because of a sore shoulder.
He pitched three innings but got pulled with two outs in the third after giving up a run. He also left the bases loaded for reliever Sean Burnett.
Ross was charged with one run and five hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Pirates starter Ivan Nova dropped to 12-8 on the season. Since starting his Pittsburgh career with five wins and no losses after being acquired August 1 from the New York Yankees, he lost for the second start in a row.
Nova gave up six runs and eight hits in four innings of work. He also hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.
— AFP
