The Nationals were partying like it was 2019.
In the first home game with fans since claiming the World Series, a spartan 4,801 with none in the upper deck thanks to the pandemic saw the championship flag finally raised in Washington. No matter a mini-season had already passed. Last year was never taken seriously by the team, which led to a losing mark.
But this season, the Nats are playing for real once more. And, their best player won Tuesday's opener with a walk-off single over nemesis Atlanta.
It was a magical moment in a game the Nats were destined to lose. Max Scherzer, a brilliant pitcher with a penchant for allowing solo homers, gave up four. The first pitch was lost to the bleachers where fans needed long runs to the ball versus someone in that seat just reaching for it. Indeed, anything hit into the upper deck this season may not be retrieved until 2022.
And then Scherzer settled down and struck out nine before leaving after six innings. Scherzer can be both awesome and awful in the same game. Those solo homers are the one stain on a Hall of Fame resume. Just mindless moments as his head whips around to follow the shots into stands.
The Nats were missing four starters thanks to positive COVID tests that sidelined one-third of the team and will continue to linger for several more days. And that's why Washington desperately needed to win that opening game. The early schedule is brutal. After missing the opening weekend series to the New York Mets, who are favored to win the NL East, projected runner-up Atlanta is next with a doubleheader on Wednesday. The old-fashioned kind where the second game starts 45 minutes after the first ends. Time to grab a fresh uniform and a drink so both teams can later exit at a reasonable hour.
Washington heads to Los Angeles and St. Louis next. Without four starters, this could be a brutal start that leaves the team scrambling. Getting that first win takes the pressure off even if a 1-4 start doesn't seem much better than 0-5. But, the latter would definitely grind on the Nats' minds so that's now gone. Cite 19-31 all you want, but Washington used its once-in-a-lifetime comeback in 2019.
Instead, the Boys of Summer found instant joy in spring. Washington rekindled the 2019 postseason magic by winning a game late that seemed a sure loss. Juan Soto's RBI single saw teammates swarm him on the field before the winning run crossed the plate.
The joy is back. Fans are back. The pandemic is hopefully leaving soon.
And we'll all party like it's 1999.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
