Albers strikes out side in ninth inning for second win of season

The Nationals needed this one. A comeback victory over a strong opponent when trailing with three outs remaining.

Down 6-2, the Nationals rallied for a 7-6 win over the Orioles.

The home team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it.

The rally was set up by the precision pitching of reliever Matt Albers, who won his second decision of the season by striking out the side in the ninth.

Albers was able to bounce back from allowing a three-run shot in Philadelphia on Sunday. In that game, pinch-hitter Aaron Altherr smacked a three-run homer erasing the Nationals' 5-2 lead. The Phillies went on to win 6-5 in 10 innings.

Manager Dusty Baker was very impressed with Albers' ninth inning strikeouts of Joey Rickard, Craig Gentry and Adam Jones.

"That was huge," Baker said. "Other than that one game in Philly where he hung the slider, Matt Albers has been outstanding for us."

Albers was called up April 9 from Triple-A Syracuse after having a solid spring training with the Nationals. Since then he has posted a 2-0 record with a 0.69 ERA.

With all the flack the bullpen has been receiving recently with failed outings and leads relinquished, catcher Matt Wieters says Albers deserves a hat tip for what he did to help the club Wednesday.

"That lineup over there, if you lose your focus for a second, they can put a run or two up on you," Wieters said. "And at the end of the game, that's big to keep making his pitches and get us back to where we had a shot at it."

The Nationals are hoping to get Koda Glover and Shawn Kelley back by this weekend. But the hat tip so far this young season for an inconsistent bullpen has been the pitching of Albers.

"So far, he's been the find of the year for our ball club," Baker said.