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District On Deck

Washington Nationals: One Last Look Back At 2016

By Ricky Keeler

Jun 15, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth (28) is mobbed by teammates after hitting the game-winning single against the Chicago Cubs in the twelfth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Jayson Werth (28) is mobbed by teammates after hitting the game-winning single against the Chicago Cubs in the twelfth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals
May 9, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) reacts towards home plate umpire Brian Knight (not pictured) as first baseman Clint Robinson (25) is greeted by teammates after hitting walk off homer against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Nats Win The Night On And Off The Field

Back on May 9, the Washington Nationals began a three game home series against the Detroit Tigers. Stephen Strasburg got the start for the Nats, but that wasn’t the main story that night.

To everyone’s surprise, including mine, it was reported during this game that the team and Strasburg had agreed on a seven year, $175 million contract extension. Normally, Scott Boras clients don’t do extensions before they reach free agency, so this was a major shock.

During this start, Strasburg did give up a pair of home runs, but he had his moments of dominance as he struck out 11 batters over seven innings and he even picked up a base hit.

Facing a 4-1 deficit heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Nats fought back against Anibal Sanchez. Daniel Murphy had three RBI’s in this game, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. This past season, it seemed Murphy always found a way to come up with the big hit in the big spot.

Later in the game, with the score tied at four in the bottom of the ninth, the on-field drama began. Danny Espinosa struck out to start the inning. After the strikeout, Bryce Harper was ejected while in the dugout by home plate umpire Brian Knight.

On the second pitch after the ejection, Clint Robinson hit a walk-off solo home run to right to seal the victory. Harper would end up coming out of the dugout to celebrate and yelled swear words at Knight. He would end up serving a suspension because of the incident.

This game had all the on and off field drama you could ask for, which makes it my favorite moment from the 2016 season. Batting cleanup is my fellow co-editor, Ron Juckett, who has his own perspective on the NL East clincher:

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