Nationals bullpen manages to outduel Yankees bullpen in extra-inning win

A big key to the Yankees' nice start to the season has been their bullpen, especially right-hander Dellin Betances and left-hander Andrew Miller. In 36 combined appearances, the duo accumulated a 0.00 ERA.

Miller arrived with 13 saves already this season, but the veteran hurler allowed the game-ending, two-run shot to Ryan Zimmerman in the bottom of the 10th as the Nationals stunned the Yankees, 8-6.

In what was a secondary theme of the win, the Nationals bullpen ultimately outdueled the vaunted Yankees 'pen.

Down 6-2 in the fifth, the Nationals' offense chipped away and got back into the game. But it was also the bullpen that prevented the Yankees from scoring another run. New York had just two hits in the final five innings.

Right-hander Aaron Barrett ended the eighth inning by getting second baseman Jose Pirela to line out to second base.

"Our job is to kind of come in and shut them down, whether we're winning or losing, whatever the situation, I think we just kind of try to come in and keep passing the torch along and just kind of keep ourselves in ball games," Barrett said.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said the offense did its job. Down four runs, they came back to tie the game and force extra innings. But after starter Gio Gonzalez was lifted after five frames and six runs allowed, the five Nationals relievers that came on did not allow New York to start any type of rally.

"Great job by everybody," Williams said. "You know in a game like that we get back in it and we're a little limited with Tanner (Roark) tonight because of his last outing, so we tried to mix and match the best we could.

"The fact that we got back into it is a credit to the offense. Getting back into that game, it's easy to back (down) and say, 'It's not our night,' but they don't do that."

Right-hander Blake Treinen settled down the staff with two quality innings after New York had scored six runs to erase the Nationals' early 2-0 advantage. Treinen said he was able to build off of four innings in San Diego on May 14 when he allowed only one earned run and struck out six batters. He has allowed only one earned run in his last five appearances.

"I think outside of like results oriented, I'm very pleased with the way I've been able to command the fastball both sides of the plate the last few outings, as opposed to earlier in the year I've really struggled going into lefties, so being able to do that's really opened up things for me," he said.

Closer Drew Storen came on in the ninth of the 6-6 tie game. With one away, Storen faced former All-Star Alex Rodriguez. Boos rained down from the Nats Park crowd for Rodriguez's at-bat. Storen was able to strike him out looking and the crowd erupted in cheers.

"It was pretty obvious what I was trying to do there," Storen said. "Obviously hits for great power. Guy I grew up watching and looked up to as a kid. (I was a) big Mariners fan growing up, so it was kind of cool for me to face him. I'm just trying to miss that barrel because he does have that power there to change the game. I knew if I made a mistake that I'd pay for it. Tried not to do that."

Storen was asked his reaction to all the boos for Rodriguez prior to the at-bat.

"That's right. I'm used to the 'Boos' and 'Drews'," Storen joked.

Left-hander Matt Thornton came on in the eight and recorded two outs. Later, southpaw Matt Grace (2-0) finished the game with a scoreless 10th frame. Grace said he was glad he was asked to face lefties plus right-hander Chris Young in the final inning.

"I think earlier on (in the season) I was facing a little bit more lefties but situations have kind of dictated me facing more righties as of late, especially tonight too," Grace said. "Yeah, it's something I still need to get better at. I feel pretty comfortable against lefties but still I need to get that change-up going if I'm going to face more righties and really focus down in the zone, get the sink working with those righties, but I think I did a better job tonight against them."