An emotional Ian Desmond provides walk-off win

On an emotional night, Ian Desmond delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th inning, scoring Bryce Harper to give the Nationals their fifth straight win in a 2-1 triumph over the Braves.

It's been a season full of ups and downs for Desmond, who is likely to be playing his last year with the Washington Nationals, the only professional organization he has known. But news of the passing of Kimberly Knorr, wife of Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr, on Tuesday extended far deeper than any batting slump Desmond has battled this year.

Knorr was around when the Expos selected Desmond as an 18-year-old in the third round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. Shortly after, Knorr managed Desmond at Single-A Savannah.

Desmond wrote Knorr's No. 53 on his hat tonight. After the win, he fought back tears, saying he dedicated the win to Knorr.

"I can't say, words can't describe it," Desmond said. "This guy has been there for me since I was 18. We've been through a lot together ... I'd do anything to be able to go and give him a hug."

Desmond's issues have been well documented this year beginning with his error-filled April to his strikeout-laden June. He was 0-for-3 again tonight with a walk and another whiff, but with the game on the line, Desmond came through.

"It felt good to win," Desmond said. "Whether I get hits, or whatever. I feel like I bring something to the team every day. I feel like I contribute. The box score may not say that. I know what I bring to the team. Yeah, it felt good to drive a run in there.

"We still got a lot of time to play. Whether you're getting hits or not, there are still a lot of other ways to contribute to the team. I try to be a professional and handle my business the right way. I try to get better every day, whether I'm doing well or I'm doing terrible. I still try to come to the ballpark and contribute to the team and to win."

Nationals manager Matt Williams had sat Desmond for two of the past four games in hopes of calming down the seven-year veteran, who was clearing pressing at the plate.

"I think he's a pro," Williams said. "He works and works and works and works. And he's told you guys, he's told everybody, that he will be OK and he's going to work out of it. We try to give him a rest when we can, and tonight he came up big for us."

Clint Robinson battled through eight pitches with Braves left-hander Dana Eveland before drawing a huge walk to load the bases and set the stage for Desmond in the 11th. Standing a few lockers away, Robinson spoke of his admiration for Desmond.

"It's great for him," Robinson said. "He's come to the ballpark every day. He hasn't hung his head. Whatever struggles he's going through, whatever is being said off the field about him by everybody, he hasn't listened to it. He still comes here and is the same person every day. He's a great example for anybody who is watching for how to conduct yourself as a professional. He's the gold standard in my opinion. To see him come up in that situation and come through, I'm very, very happy for him."