Wee Willie Keeler was a left-handed hitting outfielder who played in the majors more than 100 years ago. But his advice also works in today’s game, with multiple shifts employed by managers at every level of pro baseball.
“Keep your eye clear, and hit ’em where they ain’t,” was the advice from Keeler.
Wilmer Difo may not have heard of Keeler, but the Nationals infielder had a similar approach in the last of the ninth inning Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.
With the Phillies using just two outfielders and five infielders with the bases loaded and no out in a tie game, Difo drilled a line drive to straightaway center field where no one was standing for an RBI single that gave the Nationals a 5-4 win.
The clutch hit culminated a two-run rally in the ninth for the Nationals (18-17), who have won seven of their last eight. Difo has a nine-game hitting streak and started at second base Sunday after playing third base while Anthony Rendon was injured.
“Difo had a huge hit at the end there,” said Dave Martinez, the Nationals manager. “Happy flight now,” he said before the team flew to San Diego to begin a series Monday night.
It was the first career walkoff hit for Difo, who was mobbed by his teammates after touching first base.
The Nationals have four comeback wins this year, but Sunday was the first walkoff, and it came after the club trailed 3-1 going into the last of the eighth.
Difo’s heroics almost overshadowed starting pitcher Max Scherzer, who struck out a season-high 15 batters while giving up one run on five hits in 61/3 innings.
He did not figure in the decision as the Phillies rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-1 lead.
Scherzer, who leads the National League in wins with six, has now struck out at least 10 batters 69 times in his career.
The Nationals won two of three in the series, after losing 3-1 on Saturday to the Phillies.
“Guys just kept grinding. They found a way,” Scherzer said. “Win the series and a happy flight to San Diego.”
Rendon, who came off the disabled list on Saturday, had a two-run single in the last of the eighth to trim the margin to 4-3.
The Phillies brought in closer Hector Neris to start the last of the ninth.
Washington’s Matt Wieters reached on a single and Rafael Bautista came in to pinch run. Bautista went to third on a throwing error by Neris (1-2).
Howie Kendrick was hit by a pitch and Michael A. Taylor walked to load the bases.
Pedro Severino, a pinch hitter, drew a walk as Bautista scored to tie the game.
His walk brought up Difo, who has been getting on base regularly as the No. 9 hitter in the batting order. Martinez, last Tuesday, decided to have Bryce Harper leadoff and at the same time has been using his pitcher to bat eighth and Difo in the ninth hole, hopefully to get on base in front of Harper.
Phillies rookie manager Gabe Kapler decided to go with five infielders and two outfielders with Difo at the plate.
And this time, Harper was on the on-deck circle when Difo got the winning hit as the ball landed between outfielders stationed in right and left field. That culminated in what had been a rough day for the Washington offense, which took a 1-0 lead when Matt Adams hit a homer in the first off Phillies starter Jake Arrieta.
That was the only run that the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner allowed in a matchup against Scherzer, who has won the award the past two seasons.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision Sunday, with Nationals closer Sean Doolittle (1-1) getting credit for the win by getting three outs in the ninth.
Scherzer is the first player in major league history to strike out 15 batters in no more than 6.1 innings, according to Baseball Reference.
But on Sunday he was overshadowed by Difo, who hit it where they weren’t.
NOTES: San Diego native Stephen Strasburg will start Monday against his hometown Padres … Adams has eight homers this year and 11 of his 21 hits have been for extra bases … Harper was 0-for-4 and is batting .246 … Ryan Zimmerman did not play for the second day in a row after diving for a grounder at first on Friday night .. Nationals reliever Carlos Torres gave up a homer in the eighth. It was the 16th homer allowed by the Nationals bullpen. The Washington relievers now have three wins this year — tied for the longest in the league.
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