Taylor displays defense and skill in return to lineup

Michael A. Taylor's timing was right on target on defense in his return to the lineup.

His strike from the outfield to get Joe Panik attempting to score kept the Nationals within striking distance of the Giants on Sunday night. The Nats eventually won the game 6-2 on a walk-off grand slam by Howie Kendrick in the 11th inning.

Taylor fired a strike from center field to Matt Wieters at home, who's sweep tag hit Joe Panik on the head for the out.

Manager Dusty Baker said the defensive play was huge for the Nats' chances to not allow the Giants have a big inning against Max Scherzer. In the fourth, Hunter Pence's single to center scored a run, but then Panik was stopped because of Taylor's throw.

"The time that it happened," Baker said. "Who knows, they might have been off to the races because they had gotten three hits in a row off of Max and you don't hardly see that. The catch was outstanding, but the throw, I didn't think he had a chance to throw out Panik because most of the time if a guy hadn't got to third base or just rounded it you got a chance to throw him out. But once a guy rounds a bag you don't have much chance to throw him out, especially from center field. He charged and threw a strike, Wieters made a great play. That was big. That kept the game in tact."

Taylor also made a spectacular over-the-shoulder defensive catch in the game as well, displaying the defense in center field that has made him a fan favorite.

Baker said Taylor still has work to do to catch up with fastballs again after being out for so long with an oblique injury. Taylor went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts but had one long drive well over the wall that went foul.

"He looked a little bit behind, but that's to be expected," Baker said. "I'm glad he's back. He's going to get better and better and better the more at-bats he gets and the better his timing gets. The more at-bats he gets the timing is going to be better."

Baker noted the importance of a healthy outfield with guys like Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper on the disabled list and Brian Goodwin nursing a sore groin from the early game Sunday.

"I'm just glad to have Michael back especially (since) it's been a tough year injury-wise," he said. "We lost Harp and we lost Goodie in the first game. It seems like one guy comes and another guy goes down. At least we have guys to replace them."