Lind, Turner and Baker explain ninth-inning misplays in loss to Orioles

BALTIMORE - In a game that seemed out of reach, the Nationals clawed their way back and had a shot at tying or taking the lead in the ninth inning.

The Orioles won the game 6-4, but the Nationals must have felt like they let a huge opportunity tslip away.

Down 6-3 in the top of the ninth against Orioles reliever Brad Brach, Daniel Murphy started off with a walk. After Anthony Rendon struck out, Adam Lind singled to move Murphy to second.

Former Orioles catcher Matt Wieters stepped into the batter's box representing the tying run. Wieters doubled to score Murphy, cutting the lead to 6-4, but Lind hesitated rounding second and only made it to third base.

Manager Dusty Baker then decided to pinch-run Trea Turner for Wieters and pinch-hit Brian Goodwin for Michael A. Taylor.

Goodwin grounded out to first baseman Chris Davis, who threw to shortstop J.J. Hardy. Hardy ran Turner, who was caught up between second and third, toward third and then went after Lind, tagging him out between third and home to end the game.

Instead of having the game cut to 6-5 with a chance to get to the top of the order, the game was over.

Manager Dusty Baker on the final play of the game: "My read and the baserunners' read were two different things, so it was just miscommunication."

Lind regretted his final decision as he watched the play unfold.

"It wasn't good," Lind said. "I saw the play develop. I realized it was going to be a tough situation to get out of."

What was Lind thinking when Turner got hung up past second base?

"I was just hoping his speed would get him out of it," Lind said. "I know he was probably about halfway and Chris Davis was still on the other side of the diamond. That's all I was (thinking) - somehow his speed would get him to the base."

During the play, did Lind consider just going for home plate or did he feel he was too far away?

"I don't know what happened, man," Lind said. "If I'd knew what happened, it probably wouldn't have happened."

Turner watched as Goodwin's hot shot headed toward Davis at first base. Davis made the catch, touched first, and threw the ball to Hardy, who then headed towards Turner.

"Trying to run the bases as best I can," Turner said. "I saw infield back. Knew Goodie was up and saw the ball hit to the right side. I figured we'd move up. But (Bobby Henley) told me before the play I was supposed to keep my eyes on Adam (Lind), and I had been watching the ball to see if it had gotten through and if I could score. I got a little ahead of myself and caused the situation."

But Turner knew the runners were in trouble as Hardy closed in. He knew he was going to have trouble extending the play much longer.

"Especially with a veteran guy like Hardy. He did the right thing," Turner said. "He didn't give up the ball. He pushed me all the way to third. And then he's either going to get me or Adam. One way or another. You hope for an error of some sort. But they have a good infield so I didn't expect it."

But even before that final play, Lind had a chance to score on the Wieters double but misjudged the play in the outfield. Instead of trailing 6-5, the Nationals scored just one run on the extra-base hit, cutting the lead to 6-4.

"My initial read, I took off when he hit it," Lind said. "Then I saw (Joey) Rickard close some ground. From my angle, it looked like he caught it. I don't know if you watched the replay. I started going back to first and then I realized, saw the ball bounce around and continued to third."

Baker made a decision in that inning after the Wieters double. He decided to pinch-run Turner and pinch-hit Goodwin.

"I needed some contact," Baker said. "And then I was going to hit (Chris) Heisey for (Wilmer) Difo, Trea goes to shortstop stays in the game and then (Jose) Lobaton goes in Difo's spot."

"It was working, and then in the ninth, it didn't work out," Baker said.