If the
Nationals pull off this epic turnaround and win the NL East, we'll look back on Wednesday as a huge reason why.
Entering the day 5.5 games back of the Braves in the division standings, Washington swept its day-night doubleheader with the Rockies, winning Game 1 3-2 before shutting out Colorado 2-0 in the nightcap.
The Nats got home runs in several clutch spots Wednesday,
Anthony Rendon hitting a go-ahead solo shot in the seventh inning of Game 1 which proved to be the game-winner, while
Yan Gomes' solo shot in the seventh inning of Game 2 gave Washington a big insurance run.
-- I hope you daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaance,I hope youuuuuu daaaaaance. --@Yan_AGomes // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/EXLsyrJ0ye
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals)
July 25, 2019 The oft-criticiezed bullpen was nearly flawless, pitching eight total innings of one-run ball in the two victories, Sean Doolittle closing out both wins for his 22nd and 23rd saves. The Nats are surging, winners of 18 of their last 24 games and 35 of their last 50, tying a record for best 50-game stretch in franchise history.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the Braves are stumbling.
#Braves get shut out on five hits by #Royals' Brad Keller and two relievers, lose 2-0 and get swept in two-game series by K.C. That's six losses in eight games since the Braves' five-game winning streak ended. Lead is down to 4 1/2 games pending outcome of Nationals' late game.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL)
July 25, 2019 The Braves have lost six of eight, including Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the Royals. That defeat combined with the Nats' two wins over the Rockies, and Washington gained 1.5 games in the division race Wednesday and are now just four games back in the NL East.
“A lot of people wrote us off and said we need to make moves already or we need to do this, we need to do that,”
Rendon told reporters. “But you don’t win the division, you don’t win the pennant or whatever you want to call it, in the first 50 games of the season or first 100 games of the season. So anything can happen.”
Something special is certainly happening with this Nationals team. And with 10 games against the Braves still to come, the Nats have a huge opportunity to complete one of the greatest comebacks in MLB history.
The #Nats take two from the Rockies and have a chance at a 4-game sweep with Max Scherzer returning from injury tomorrow.23 of their last 3124 of their last 3327 of their last 3836 of their last 51They are now just 4.0 games back in the NL East.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen)
July 25, 2019 Follow Josh Luckenbaugh and 106.7 The Fan on Twitter and Instagram.
