Robinson hits walk-off homer, thought it was eighth inning

What is better than hitting you first-ever walk-off homer in a Major League game?

Thinking all you did was hit the go-ahead homer.

Pinch-hitter Clint Robinson, who had struggled a bit to start the season to find his groove, slammed a Mark Lowe offering that bounced off the top of the right field wall Monday night, completing the Nationals' 5-4 come-from-behind winner over the Tigers.

"Rounding third and I saw everybody crowded around home plate. Not kidding," Robinson said.

So, wait a minute, how did it feel at second base when you realized the game was over?

"It was a great feeling, rounding first I thought it was a go-ahead homer," Robinson said. "Thinking it was the eighth inning probably had a little bit of a calming effect on me maybe going into plate thinking 'it's just the eighth inning, just another pinch hit at-bat no big deal.' And then rounding third knowing it was a walk-off homer just made it that much sweeter."

How can a player not know he is coming up in the bottom of the ninth? Robinson explains the life of a pinch-hitter. You practice a lot of times behind the scenes preparing for a singular moment.

"We spend a lot of time in the tunnel getting ready and sometimes the game can either slow down or speed up on you and you lose track of the innings sometimes," Robinson explained. "The only thing I really concern myself with is when's the pitchers spot up, when am I going to get an opportunity here I wasn't really concerned with the innings.

"I knew pitcher spot was coming up right there and I needed to be near Dusty (Baker) in case he needed to make a move. I really wasn't worried about the innings, just another pinch hit at bat for me."

Baker had just finished arguing with home plate umpire Brian Knight who had tossed slugger Bryce Harper out of the game. Harper wasn't even batting. He was arguing for teammate Danny Espinosa, who had just gotten punched out on a called third strike.

As Baker walked back to the dugout, he had some words for his power hitter from Texas.

"Oh yeah, he was like 'big boy get up there and end it,'" Robinson recalled. "You know how Dusty is, what skip what you say, then he said it again. I was kind of in the zone then so I wasn't really hearing much that's kind of how you get when you're pinch hitting. It was fun."

Robinson broke down what he was looking for from Lowe. With the count 1-1, Lowe offered Robinson a fastball that he connected on for the win.

"I've never faced the guy before I don't think," Robinson said. "If I have, I dont remember. I was just going up looking for a fastball up in the zone that I could drive and do damage with. That's kind of what you're looking for anytime you go up there and pinch hit. Threw a fastball I could handle and luckily got it out."

Robinson said he might have hit a walk-off homer in the minors, where he spent most of eight seasons from 2007-2014. The Nationals brought him in last season because of his power and pinch-hitting prowess. He delivered in the clutch Monday night to lift the Nationals to win No. 20 and end a four-game slide.

"He's been a big game guy since he was here," Baker said. "Clint and all my guys have gotten more at-bats than most teams in the league for their extra guys. We tried to get him some at-bats. He hadn't had as many at-bats lately because (Ryan Zimmerman's) been feeling good and we're trying to get Zim going. As long as he feels good, than Zim is going to be in there most of the time."

The life of a pinch-hitter, that's Robinson. He gets fewer at-bats and still has to come through. Even if it's not in the eighth inning.

Teammate Daniel Murphy was asked why did he think Robinson thought it was the eighth inning for his game winning homer?

"Focus, laser focus," Murphy quipped.