WASHINGTON — Adam Dunn will settle for a critical hit during the Washington Nationals’ wild rally rather than a game-winning grand slam.
Ivan Rodriguez capped a three-run comeback in the ninth inning with an RBI single and the Nationals, who couldn’t score for rookie starter Stephen Strasburg, beat star closer Francisco Rodriguez and the New York Mets 6-5 on Saturday.
“The worst performance I ever had in my entire life,” K-Rod said. “I should be ashamed of myself.”
Trying to protect a 5-3 lead and pitching for the fourth time in five days, Francisco Rodri-guez (2-2) opened the ninth inning by walking Cristian Guzman. Willie Harris’ one-out single and a walk to Ryan Zimmerman loaded the bases.
Dunn nearly hit a game-ending grand slam, but his drive to center just beyond the reach of Angel Pagan hit the top of the wall and caromed back onto the field.
“This ballpark is so weird in that area — sometimes it goes and sometimes it doesn’t,” Dunn said. “You never really know when you hit it to center what it’s going to do. . . . I saw it hit and bounce up. I didn’t know if there was anything back there or whatnot. I’m glad everything worked out.”
Strasburg battled early wildness, issuing three first-inning walks. He allowed two runs and four hits in five innings, striking out five.
“I’m probably trying to do too much, being a little too amped up. Once I relaxed a little bit . . . I was able to command my pitches better,” Strasburg said.
Washington has scored one run in the last 24 1/3 innings Strasburg has pitched, and none in his last 18 innings.
Matt Capps (2-3) escaped a jam in the ninth for the win.
The nationally televised game drew a sellout crowd of 39,214 to Nationals Park, though many exited after Strasburg was pulled.
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals RHP
A look at the early starts for pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg, who pitched his sixth major-league game Saturday.
Season W L ERA IP H ER BB SO
stats 2 2 2.45 36.2 29 10 10 53
Last two games
Saturday ND 3.60 5.0 4 2 3 5
June 28 L 4.27 6.1 6 3 2 7
