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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. 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Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson.Did your team live up to expectations at the weekend? We asked former Arsenal and Leicester striker - and Sky Sports Now guest - Alan Smith to give each side a grade based on their 90-minute performance in the Premier League or FA Cup over the weekend.So how did your team fare? Did they get an A+ or an F, or somewhere in between? Read on to see how your team has been ranked, starting with the Premier League...Premier League grades Premier League results Man City 4-0 Stoke City Aston Villa 2-4 Southampton Bournemouth 1-4 Chelsea Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle Sunderland 0-0 Arsenal Leicester 4-0 Swansea Leicester - A+ Jamie Redknapp was full of praise after watching Riyad Mahrez’s performance in Leicester’s 4-0 win over Swansea What a performance. I thought it could be a bit nervy, but the early goal got them on the road and they didnt look back. It was a celebration of everything thats been good about them this season.They didnt miss a beat despite Jamie Vardys absence and it would have meant a lot to the squad because nobody wants to be called a one-man team. I dont think we ever thought they were, but Leonardo Ulloa and Jeff Schlupp came in and did brilliantly to replace Vardys goals. A great day all round.Man City - A Jamie Redknapp says he is impressed with Manchester Citys Kelechi Iheanacho It looked very comfortable for City and with a Champions League match looming, they were effectively playing for places. Manuel Pellegrini played a strong side, although he left out Kevin De Bruyne. Kelechi Iheanacho once again showed us what a quality finisher he is. It was just the run-out they would have wanted ahead of the semi-final.Chelsea - A Eden Hazard scored his first Premier League goals of the season at Bournemouth It was one of Chelseas better performances this season. Cesc Fabregas was getting on the ball and kept them ticking over and he really ran the show at the Vitality Stadium. Eden Hazard got his first couple of goals in the league too, so Chelsea will be very pleased overall.Southampton - A-Shane Long has had a very good season. Hes been a player in and out at a few clubs, but hes been important to Southampton this year, and he was again on Saturday. For Ronald Koeman, it was a good win, albeit over Aston Villa, and after the game he said they were far the better team. I dont think you can argue with that.Newcastle - B+ Newcastle fought back from two goals down to draw against Liverpool at Anfield They seem to have something going under Rafa Benitez, and it looks like a renewed spirit, with everybody working for each other. When you are two goals down at Anfield at half-time, you are thinking youve lost the match. But they got a goal and all of a sudden the belief seemed to flood through them. The equaliser came from an unlikely source in Jack Colback, but that 2-2 draw will feel like a win. Sunderland - B+I think its a good point for Sunderland. They are nice and organised at the moment, but there wasnt much to the penalty shouts for eiither side.dddddddddddd I dont think the Per Mertesacker one was a penalty and the DeAndre Yedlin one popped up off his body first. Those are always very difficult to call.Bournemouth - BGreat credit to Bournemouth for getting into the position where this loss to Chelsea doesnt mean too much. They faced a Blues team that played well, and Bournemouth didnt really threaten to win at any point.Liverpool - B- England duo Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana found the net for Liverpool against Newcastle It was a little bit of a check for Liverpool. You shouldnt throw away two-goal leads at home, but Newcastle are fighting for their lives. It was a bit of a come down after the high of the Merseyside derby, but they may have been looking ahead to the Europa League semi-final.Arsenal - C Jamie Redknapp and Thierry Henry reflect on Arsenals 0-0 draw with Sunderland It was a flat attacking performance from the Gunners. It looked like the classic case where the players didnt have an edge to their game because the season is effectively finished for the club and as a result, you fail to get that intensity. They have to be careful in the race for the top four because if they dont perk up, they could get a nasty shock.Stoke City - CMark Hughes was not happy with his teams input at the Etihad, but they arent playing for too much now. As hard as you try as a manager, its difficult to do sometimes when youre in the position Stoke find themselves in.Swansea - C- Swansea struggled to cope with top-of-the-table Leicester at the King Power Ashley Williams is normally so reliable for Swansea and he knows he shot his team in the foot at the King Power. They were poor after the goal, though, and never really recovered. I dont think Kasper Schmeichel had anything to do in goal for Leicester.Aston Villa - FWhats left to say about Villa? They managed two goals, which is actually better than theyve managed in a lot of home games this season, but the F reflects their efforts over the season in general. The fans have just had enough, and it was Keystone Cops defending at times. It was shocking to see.FA Cup grades FA Cup semi-final results Everton 1-2 Man Utd C Palace 2-1 Watford Crystal Palace - A Connor Wickham scored a second-half header to send Crystal Palace to the FA Cup final Its good times for Palace and weve now got a repeat of the 1990 FA Cup final on our hands. They have had a few rough months since Christmas so its pleasing for the team and their supporters. It will be a great occasion and they were the better side against Watford at Wembley.Man Utd - B+ Anthony Martial scored the winning goal at Wembley to book Man Utds place in the FA Cup final They didnt make the most of the first half and after the break it was a close game. United showed staying power, though, when Everton were pushing in the second half. And when youve got a player like Anthony Martial, he can be the difference.Everton - B+A poor first half in a big game at Wembley, but in the second they threw everything at it. They did well in the end and pushed United very hard but just got done by the late goal. Its a B+ for Roberto Martinezs side because it was better than they have been in recent times.Watford - C Watford crashed out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage They were poor and failed to convince on the day. Odion Ighalo had a quiet game and they really need him firing to cause problems. To their credit, they did manage to peg Palace back, but in the end the better team won. It was a showpiece occasion and they didnt turn up. Also See: Mahrezs amazing story The making of Kane City-Real combined XI Live on Sky ' ' '