After a fairy story common season that noticed the Washington Nationals go from 19-31 to the playoffs, the stage was set for a winner take all matchup with the Brewers. The ambiance was a mixture of pleasure and excessive anxiousness. The Nats have been 0-3 in winner take all matchups since 2012, shedding every in traumatic trend. Heartbreak was the one factor playoff baseball had given Nationals followers.
Nonetheless, on October 1st, 2019, that may all change. It might be probably the most stunning nights within the historical past of the franchise. It didn’t look that means early on. After two batters, the sport was 2-0 Brewers. Max Scherzer walked the lead off man after which gave up a two run dwelling run to Yasmani Grandal. It was a intestine punch to the 42,993 followers in attendance. Issues wouldn’t get significantly better within the second inning, with future Nationwide Eric Thames hitting a solo shot to make it 3-0 after 2 innings.
It felt like deja vu for Nats followers who had seen so many magical seasons come crashing down with no playoff collection win. The temper would brighten when Trea Turner launched a Brandon Woodruff fastball into the left area bullpen to make it 3-1. The crimson towels have been waving throughout Nationals Park and the enjoyment that had turn out to be synonymous with the 2019 season was again.
After that, it turned a pitchers duel. Following the Thames dwelling run, Scherzer locked in and began to pitch like his dominant self. He settled down and stopped overthrowing. Whereas it wasn’t a classic Scherzer efficiency, he saved the Nats within the recreation, going 5 innings and permitting 3 runs.
Regardless of solely permitting two hits and one run, Brandon Woodruff was on a brief leash and exited after 4 innings. Relievers Brent Suter and Drew Pomeranz would give Nationals hitters matches over the subsequent three innings, holding our ferocious lineup at bay.
In the meantime, Stephen Strasburg would are available for Scherzer, making the one reduction look of his profession, common or postseason. Strasburg did what he at all times did within the playoffs, dominate. He threw three scoreless innings, permitting two hits, strolling no person and hanging out 4.
Getting into the eight inning, issues regarded grim. Josh Hader, essentially the most dominant reliever within the sport was set to come back on for a two inning save. Hader was a strikeout machine, fanning 16.4 hitters per 9 innings. Making contact was a battle, not to mention scoring runs. Hader regarded the half early, hanging out two of the primary three hitters he confronted, with Michael A Taylor reaching on a success by pitch.
Franchise icon and grizzled veteran Ryan Zimmerman stepped to the plate with an opportunity to ship. As he had achieved so many occasions earlier than, the Z-man got here by within the clutch. A wonderfully positioned damaged bat single prolonged the inning and put runners on the corners. After Anthony Rendon labored a stroll by shedding some pitches most would swing by, the Phenom Juan Soto stepped to the plate.
Whereas he was simply 20 years outdated, he was the person for the second. Soto simply had a supernatural means to hit the baseball. In opposition to the very best left handed reliever within the sport, the 20 12 months outdated delivered with a single to proper area. Then the baseball gods gave the Nats a present. The ball went previous proper fielder Trent Grisham and all three runners scored. Whereas Soto acquired caught in a rundown between second and third, as Ernie Johnson famous, no person in Nats Park cared.
The Nats had the lead, and the ballpark was in a state of utter euphoria. This staff felt totally different, and the followers have been able to consider. It was the best second I’ve ever seen at Nationals Park. Tens of 1000’s of individuals have been shedding their minds.
Nonetheless, the job was not but completed. The Nationals nonetheless wanted to get three extra outs. That job fell to commerce deadline acquisition Daniel Hudson. After getting a strikeout, Huddy allowed a base hit to Lorenzo Cain. With all of the Drew Storen scars of years previous, the followers weren’t feeling comfy. Nonetheless, this time actually was totally different. Hudson acquired Orlando Arcia out to convey the Nats one out away. Then Ben Gamel flew out to Victor Robles to complete the job.
The monkey was lastly off the Nationals backs. Because of their 20 12 months outdated sensation and a little bit of luck, the Nationals had lastly superior within the playoffs. This exhilarating victory proved to be a catalyst for an iconic playoff run. The Nats would go onto slay giants en path to a World Sequence title. There have been so many occasions the Nats have been on the point of elimination, however they at all times discovered a means. The 2019 Nationals have been to not be denied.
