Alex Call hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning, and Mitchell Parker pitched 6 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run as the Washington Nationals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Friday night in the first game of a three-game series.
Washington got its second walk-off win of the season and its first since April 20 against Houston.
Los Angeles’ Anthony Rendon had three hits in his first road game against Washington, where he spent his first seven seasons. The Angels hadn’t played a road game against the Nationals since 2017.
After rookie Nasim Nuñez moved automatic runner Jacob Young to third base against Matt Moore (5-3), Angels manager Ron Washington brought in right-hander Ben Joyce from the bullpen.
Call worked the count full, facing three consecutive pitches over 100 mph before hitting a 99-mph fastball off the drawn-in Luis Guillorme at second base to score the winning run.
“It just looked like it was going right in his glove, so I was kind of deflated because I hit it hard,” Call said. “Then it just happened fast and I saw the ball kind of floating and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, you didn’t catch it, and it’s time to have some fun.’”
Washington brought in Joyce to make a potential squeeze bunt more difficult for the Nationals. He said Joyce did his job by getting a hard-hit ball to an infielder.
“We’re in the big leagues,” Washington said. “That ball hit his glove. He’s in a position where the ball comes off the bat, you play with that. You’re not in the minor leagues.”
Call had a three-hit night and is hitting .548 (17 for 31) with a homer and eight RBIs since being called up from Triple-A Rochester on July 29.
Kyle Finnegan (3-5) pitched two scoreless innings for the Nationals. The All-Star threw 29 pitches a day after throwing 28 in the ninth inning of a loss to San Francisco, and asked manager Dave Martinez to let him pitch in the 10th.
“Every time we get to that ninth inning or 10th inning, whatever it is, he’s the guy,” Martinez said. “I love having him out there. I know he’s going to give everything he’s got. A lot of times, it works out really well for him.”
