Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton has been struggling this postseason, but he managed to come through in a big spot in Game 2 of the NLCS thanks to a little inspiration from … George Costanza?
In a game that has been consumed by analytics, it was the “Seinfeld” character who helped Eaton bust out of his 4-for-27 postseason slump.
Costanza, of course, reacted against his instincts in the 1994 episode, “The Opposite,” to help land himself a girlfriend and a job with the New York Yankees.
Eaton decided it was time to do the same on Saturday with two runners on base and one out.
“Everything I was thinking, they did the opposite,” he said, per ESPN. “So I was thinking 3-2 [count] should be a heater here and I’m like, well, that’s the opposite, so I should George Costanza it and just go ahead and said breaking ball, and that’s what happened.”
Eaton ripped the ball down the left field line, past a diving Paul Goldschmidt at first base, to extend the Nationals’ lead to 2-0 in the eighth inning.
It proved to be the difference in the game, as the Nationals held on to win 3-1, and take a 2-0 NLCS lead as the series heads back home to Washington.
“George was right and I happened to be right,” Eaton added.
Eaton will see if the opposite strategy will continue to work on Monday, when the two teams meet again for Game 3 at 7:38 p.m. ET.
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