Yunel Escobar celebrates walk-off homer his own way in Nats' 2-1 win

The Nationals blew a one-run lead in the top of the ninth, but battled back behind third baseman Yunel Escobar's walk-off homer to beat the Cardinals 2-1 in the 10th. Escobar wasted no time smacking a first-pitch fastball off right-hander Carlos Villanueva over the left field wall to even the Nats' record at 7-7.

"I (was) aggressive (when I went) to home plate and tried to get a fastball," said Escobar through a translator, Nats bullpen catcher Nilson Robledo. "I knew that if I could get the pitch that I wanted, we can win the game."

Nationals manager Matt Williams has bounced Escobar around the lineup through the first two weeks of the season. Escobar had been serving as the team's leadoff hitter for the past week until injuring his groin in Friday night's game. Tonight, with center fielder Denard Span back at the top of the order, Escobar batted sixth. There were two outs when he stepped to the plate in the 10th.

"In that situation, he took a chance on getting a fastball and got it and hit it to his pull side," said Williams. "He got it elevated and over the fence. But he just understands situations. It's calm and it's collected. He's a good hitter."

Escobar's dramatics were set up by closer Drew Storen's first blown save of the season. Williams called on Storen to start the ninth with the Nats clinging to a 1-0 lead. Storen immediately gave up a base hit to Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice before left fielder Matt Holliday drove him with a single in to tie the game.

"I don't know if he was as sharp as he wanted to be," Williams said of Storen. "Throwing strikes, but not necessarily where he wanted to. Pulled a couple of breaking balls in the dirt, so all in all, not as sharp as he would like to be. Happens sometimes though. So we have regroup and go get 'em again."

"Tonight we picked up Drew. He'll pick us up a lot."

Starter Gio Gonzalez labored through six innings, but managed to not allow a run despite giving up eight hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Having already thrown 96 pitches after five innings, Williams stuck with Gonzalez in the sixth and he responded with another scoreless frame.

"It doesn't matter how you go out there and compete," said Gonzalez. "It's a manager trusting in you. Matt giving me an opportunity to go out there again, (pitching coach Steve) McCatty fighting for me to get one more inning in. It shows kind of respect and confidence in your starting pitcher, especially coming from a manager. Go out there and battle."

Escobar, who has brought flare to the Nats, decided to cap off his memorable trip around the bases with a headfirst slide into home as his teammates mobbed him. The nine-year veteran said he had never reacted in such a manner before.

"Sometimes, you have to change things," he said. "I'm just trying to have fun."