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The Washington Nationals just won their first playoff series ever

By Ian Oland

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October 10, 2019 1:52 am

Game Five of the NLDS didn’t start well for the Nationals. In fact, it was almost a worst-case scenario. Stephen Strasburg, who struck out 10 batters in Game Two, got rocked. In the first inning, Joc Pederson hit a ground-rule double literally through the fence of Dodger Stadium. The next batter, Max Muncy, went yard giving Los Angeles a 2-0 lead. In the second inning, Enrique Hernández hit a solo bomb giving the Dodgers, the best team in the National League, a 3-0 lead.

But the Nationals, like they have all year, clawed back.

“Nobody gave up,” Michael A. Taylor said. “Every time we got back to the dugout, it was like, ‘Here we go, here we go.’ Every inning, ‘Here we go.'”

Juan Soto hit a sac fly in the sixth inning to bring the Nationals within two. Then, on two pitches in the eighth, the entire complexion of the game changed. Anthony Rendon hit a solo homer off three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. On the next pitch, Juan Soto went yard. Kershaw fell to his knees on the mound overwhelmed with grief.

“I let down the guys in the clubhouse,” Kershaw said. “That’s the hardest part every year. When you don’t win the last game of the season, and you’re to blame for it, it’s not fun. It’s a terrible feeling.”

The insane comeback was completed in extras. After the Nationals loaded the bases in the 10th, Howie Kendrick hit a 410-foot moonshot over the center field pitch giving the Nats a 7-3 lead.

Nationals fans inside Nats Park, who were watching at a viewing party, and fans at Walter’s Sports Bar went wild.

Nationals closer Sean Doolittle came out to close and got all three outs. On the play that clinched the win, Michael A. Taylor dove headfirst and scooped the ball into his glove as he tumbled into the grass. The play started an epic celebration. Max Scherzer did a full sprint to the mound from the bullpen. Players jumped up and down on the mound, hugging each other.

“You know what, we never gave up,” Howie Kendrick, the hero of the evening, said. “The city had faith in us. The fans had faith in us. We believed in ourselves. Everybody came through for us. Every guy on this roster, and some guys that aren’t, stepped up and did a great job.”

The Washington Nationals started the season 19-31 after superstar Bryce Harper left for the Phillies in the spring. But they found their footing midseason and clinched the first wildcard spot by the end of the year with a 93-69 record. The Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in the wildcard game after an improbable comeback and then won their first-ever playoff series in their 14-year history (sorry Expos and Senators).

“You know, that’s just what we’ve been doing,” Taylor said. “Staying in the game the whole time. Everybody believes. Everyone playing together, sticking together. It paid off.”

After the entire team received NLDS hats, the Nationals took a team picture on the field, smiling ear to ear.

They then made their way to the clubhouse. Dave Martinez made a small speech to his club before players sprayed each other with champagne. There were whistles. There were goggles. Brian Dozier was shirtless. Again.

The Nationals received ample support from the Washington Capitals, despite the team being in Nashville ahead of their regular-season game Thursday night. Alex Ovechkin, TJ Oshie, and Brendan Leipsic sent out supportive tweets.

John Walton screamed and jumped up and down at a downtown bar.

Even former Capital Joel Ward watched and tweeted from afar.

Game One of the NLCS is Friday at 8pm in St. Louis. Get the gear here.

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