Washington Nationals Countdown To Spring Training: 17 Days

The off-season is almost over. Less than three weeks until Washington Nationals pitchers and catchers report to Viera. To celebrate this fact, we here at DistrictOnDeck will commence a countdown of sorts pointing out interesting facts about numbers.

We continue today with number 17.

May 21, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Burnett (17) celebrates after recording the last out of the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals defeated the Phillies 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Nationals franchise has scored 17 runs in one game seven times, including one time since moving to Washington in 2005. The last time that they scored 17 runs in a game was May 20, 2011 against the Baltimore Orioles. The game wasn’t always a blow out. The score was at times 3-3 and 6-5 before the Nationals scored 11 unanswered runs from the fifth inning on. Jayson Werth had two home runs and four RBI while Danny Espinosa had six RBI. The Nationals had six home runs in all.

The number 17 is also an odd record for the franchise. On June 28, 1974, relief pitchers threw 17 innings in an 18-inning 8-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Mike Torrez had the start for the Expos and pitched to two hitters in the second inning before having to come out of the game with an injury. Five pitchers threw the final 17 innings for the Expos with John Montague going 5.1 innings after replacing Torrez, allowing five runs and Don DeMola who had a fantastic game, going six innings allowing only two hits and no runs with six strikeouts from the 11th inning through the 16th.

Notable Expos to wear 17:
Felipe Alou, Manager (1992-2001)
With Expos: 691-717 (.491)
Notable: Started managerial career 238-163 (.594) from taking over in 1992 until the 1994 strike

Other players to wear 17 with the Expos/Nationals: Ellis Valentine, Floyd Youmans, Tom McCraw, George Lombard, Tim Redding, Sean Burnett