Harper ejected in eighth inning (Nats lose 2-1 in 10 innings)

Bryce Harper has been ejected in the top of the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. After getting called out on strikes for the second time tonight, Harper threw up his hands and gave Wendelstedt a piece of his mind. Wendelstedt was less than pleased with the display, and tossed Harper from the game. This is the second time this season that Harper has been ejected, and the third time in his career. Harper was also tossed in Miami last year. The called third strike on Harper was up and away from him. It was a borderline pitch, similar to the one that got Harper punched out back in the sixth inning. Harper's frustration with the strike zone built with that sixth-inning K and boiled over here in the eighth. Not a great time for him to get ejected, however, with the Nationals still holding a tight 1-0 lead late in the game. Update: One swing from Giancarlo Stanton and this game is tied. Leading off the bottom of the ninth, Stanton demolished - and I mean demolished - a 1-2 fastball from Rafael Soriano, sending it out to left field to knot this game 1-1. This is Soriano's fourth blown save of the season and first since May 21 against the Giants. The Nats were three outs away from evening this series and getting Dan Haren his first win since May 9. Instead, we keep playing. Update II: In a season filled with tough losses for the Nats, this one will go down as one of the toughest. Chad Tracy's two-base error leading off the bottom of the 10th put Craig Stammen in a tough spot, and four batters later, Ed Lucas beat out a potential double play ball to allow the game-winning run to score. The Nats nearly had a 1-0 win. Instead, they lose 2-1 in 10 innings, fall to 47-47 on the season and drop to seven games behind the Braves. With a loss tomorrow, the Nats would get swept by the Marlins and go into the All-Star break under .500. Shocking.