Nationals sign Bruntlett after 2 years with Phillies

Eric Bruntlett, who twice scored the winning run as the Phillies won the second world championship in franchise history in 2008, has signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals with an invitation to big-league camp.

Bruntlett, 31, entered weather-delayed Game 5 of the World Series against Tampa Bay as a pinch-runner after Pat Burrell led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. Bruntlett eventually scored the decisive run on a single by Pedro Feliz. He also scored the walkoff game-winner in Game 3.

He made 48 starts in '08, including 28 straight at shortstop while Jimmy Rollins was on the disabled list. He also batted .250 as a pinch-hitter.

Last season, however, Bruntlett had just 105 at-bats and batted .171 including just 4-for-28 (.143) as a pinch-hitter.

He had the 15th unassisted tripleplay in major league history on Aug. 23 against the Mets, but was not offered a 2010 contract by the Phillies, making him a free agent.

Bruntlett was originally acquired from the Astros, along with Brad Lidge, for Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary and Mike Costanzo in November 2007.

- Paul Hagen