WASHINGTON -- For a kid whos still only 20 and had yet to hit a game-ending homer in his nascent career, Bryce Harper sure inspired a lot of confidence in his teammates as he walked to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. "You could feel it. You could just feel it in the dugout," reliever Ian Krol said. "You know something specials going to happen when you put him in that kind of situation." The score was tied, a man was on base, and Harper was hoping to do something to avert what could have become a devastating defeat for the Washington Nationals. They already blew a substantial lead Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. And as it is, the Nationals were 0-6 since the All-Star break to fall way below .500 and way behind in the NL East. Precisely as Krol and other Nationals anticipated, Harper delivered. Right in the middle of it all from the very start to the finish, the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year hit a two-run shot over the wall to the left of straightaway centre, lifting Washington past Pittsburgh 9-7 for a late-July victory that felt late-season pivotal to the Nationals. "Great to get the W today. We really needed it," said Harper, who sat out Wednesday because of the bothersome left knee that put him on the disabled list until July 1, the last time he homered. "Hopefully this one will carry on into tomorrow and the next day." Harper raised his right fist overhead as he rounded first base and was mobbed by a bouncing pack of teammates as he reached home plate after his homer off Bryan Morris (4-4). "Its kind of sometimes like pickup basketball," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, who like Nationals skipper Davey Johnson was ejected on a wild afternoon that also included three errors by Pittsburgh infielders in the first inning. "They had the ball last." Krol (1-0) earned his first major league win despite being part of poor relief in the ninth that allowed the Pirates to erase a four-run deficit. The Nationals blew leads of 4-0 and 7-3, the latter when closer Rafael Soriano was charged with four runs while getting only one out in the ninth. He walked the first two batters, then gave up Jordy Mercers run-scoring double and Russell Martins RBI single. Until then, the Pirates were 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position. Nationals bench coach Randy Knorr, who took over after Johnson left in the fifth, then lifted Soriano -- the established guy with the $28 million, two-year contract and 25 saves -- and turned to Krol -- a rookie without a save in the majors. "Figured, if you dont want to be in that mode to shut the game down," Knorr said, "Ill bring somebody else in." Gutsy? Sure. Unorthodox? Without a doubt. Did it work? Well, Krol loaded the bases by walking his first batter, and after a strikeout, Josh Harrison -- who homered earlier -- tied the game at 7 with a two-run single. "I havent felt nerves like that since my debut," Krol acknowledged afterward. "So it was kind of crazy to be out there in that situation. Something that Im not comfortable with. Something that I dont normally do." But Harper is someone who never seems fazed on the field. He made a headfirst diving catch for the days first out, then got hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the first to start Washingtons four-run outburst. A double in the sixth followed, then a single and run in the eighth, and then his 14th homer of the season to cap it. "You never know what you get out of Bryce. But thats the most exciting part about Bryce. Hes always going to put on a show," said Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez, who struck out 11 and allowed three runs in 5 2-3 innings. "What he did today is typical Bryce." Briefly breaking out of a slump that had seen it score a total of 13 runs while going 0-6 since the All-Star break, Washington batted around to go ahead 4-0 against A.J. Burnett after one inning. First baseman Gaby Sanchez, second baseman Mercer and third baseman Pedro Alvarez each committed an error, meaning only one run was earned. Harper was right in the thick of it all, of course. After Harper reached by getting plunked, Steve Lombardozzi followed with a bunt single for the first of his three hits. Harper strayed too far off second, getting caught in a rundown. But shortstop Clint Barmes throw got past Alvarez, who was charged with an error. That allowed Harper to come all the way around to score. "It worked out," Harper said. Harrisons two-run shot off Gonzalez in the sixth -- his first homer of 2013 -- pulled Pittsburgh within 4-3. But the Nationals added insurance off Vin Mazzaro in the eighth on Lombardozzis RBI ground-rule double and Adam LaRoches two-run triple. Wasnt enough. Nothing seems to be lately for Washington, which led the majors with 98 wins last year but entered Thursday 48-53 and a season-high nine games behind division leader Atlanta. They had scored a total of 13 runs in their previous six games, all losses. They had dropped 11 of 13. So this felt significant, especially considering the way Washington led leads slip away Thursday. "That wouldve been tough to overcome," Knorr said. "To tell you how it feels, just walking into the clubhouse right now, youd think we won the World Series or something." NOTES: Nationals 2B Lombardozzi made two nifty inning-ending double plays. ... The last time the Nationals produced four runs in an inning was the fifth on July 7, during an 11-7 victory over the Padres. ... Burnett wound up going seven innings, allowing one earned run. ... RHP Vic Black made his major league debut, entering with two outs in the eighth. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Demarcus-Lawrence-Jersey/ . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Travis-Frederick-Jersey/ . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Daryl-Johnston-Jersey/ .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Sean-Lee-Jersey/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Darren-Woodson-Jersey/ . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Monumental. Unprecedented. Daunting. Epic.These are some of the words that could describe the undertaking known as the Street Fighter V tournament at the Evolution Championship Series (Evo). After Day 1 and with more than 200 pools finished, were at the point where games come packed with heavy drama.Its a brutal process, but the second round of pools on Day 2 will represent the further whittling of pretenders from the actual contenders. For many, the first day of pools was business as usual and Evo was no exception; there were no major upsets that really rocked the world. For the beginning of the second day, it will be a little more of the same. This is a tournament with more than 5,000 participants, after all.There were several notable performances from players that both excited and amazed audiences..dddddddddddd Day 1 allowed for top players to really affirm the consensus that they do belong on top of the mountain. Twitch and Red Bulls Daigo The Beast Umehara cruised through his matches with a signature calm demeanor and clutch. For others, it was proof that they still belonged. Another player, Red Bulls Darryl SnakeEyez Lewis, showed off his new main character, Ryu, and moved onto to the next step after a closely contested pool. Finally, Ryo Dogura Nozaki (a good representative of a middle-tier player from Asia) struggled, but still qualified in his pool.What to expect from an action-packed Day 2? The ending of the warm-up pools and the start of the real tournament. 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