Nats lose Harper in a hit to hopes
WASHINGTON — The Giants know more than most teams the importance of staying healthy in a postseason run. Their World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014 were the result of overpowering pitching, clean defense and timely hitting.
Along with mostly a clean bill of health.
None of their core players, give or take an Angel Pagan in 2013, were missing in October, permitting the Giants to be at their physical best at the most important time.
The Nationals wish they could be so fortunate. They lost their best player,
Bryce Harper, in Saturday night’s 3-1 victory over the Giants to a left knee injury that could detour the Washington’s title hopes.
Harper slipped on first base while running out a grounder, went airborne and violently fell to the ground. His leg hyperextended, and he landed on his hands and immediately clutched his knee. Fans at Nationals Park held their collective breath as the National League’s best overall player writhed in pain.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker said after the game more will be known when Harper gets an MRI. Baker, with no World Series title on an otherwise decorated managing resume, placed his hands on his head and initially appeared expressionless except when he shook his head in shock.
Harper, hitting .326 with 26 homers and 81 RBIs, needed help getting up and was carried off the field by hitting coach Rick Schu and trainer Paul Lessard.
“It was a freak accident,” said Giants first baseman Ryder Jones, who noted the bag was wet because it rained in the first inning. “I didn’t really notice what happened. I tagged the bag and then heard the fans go ‘Oh.’ He was in pretty good pain.”
The Giants know the impact of a serious injury to a superstar player. Key injuries came more regularly in odd years following championship seasons. They lost Buster Posey in May 2011 to major ankle and leg injuries that cost him the season and the Giants any realistic chance of repeating their 2010 title.
Ryan Vogelsong, a vital part of the 2012 championship season, was shelved much of 2013. And Hunter Pence missed most of 2015 after appearing in 162 games each of the previous two years.
“I don’t know the extent of Bryce’s injury, and hopefully he’ll be there for them because they’re in a great situation,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “You want your guys there. For the most part, we had our guys.
“But if you remember, we lost our best hitter, Melky (Cabrera), to different circumstances (a drug suspension in 2012), and the team came together. They did a good job of bonding despite what happened.
“Pagan, we lost, which was key for us. Unfortunately, teams have to deal with this, the fact that this happened. I’d like to think (Harper) would get back before they get to the postseason.”
First base was slippery Saturday night following a 3-hour, 1-minute rain delay. Friday’s scheduled opener was postponed because of rain, so the first pitch of the series, Edwin Jackson to Denard Span, was delivered 27 hours late.
After making a diving stop on the line, Jones beat Harper to the base, and pitcher Jeff Samardzija lunged out of the way at the last moment to avoid contact. The Nationals scored two quick runs after Harper departed on Ryan Zimmerman’s double and Daniel Murphy’s single.
The Giants scored in the top of the first on Joe Panik’s home run. Samardzija gave up one more run on Adam Lind’s double in the sixth, his final inning. He threw 120 pitches.
Center fielder Brian Goodwin took Harper’s spot in right and Andrew Stevenson entered to play center.
It’s the first series between the teams since the May 29 brawl in San Francisco between Harper and Giants reliever Hunter Strickland. Both players were suspended, Strickland for six games and Harper for three.