Washington Nationals: Top 10 moments from the 2018 season

2 – Trea Turner’s grand slam in a huge comeback win

With the Washington Nationals continuing to teeter on the edge of contention in early July, the team needed a spark. They had just been swept by the Boston Red Sox and had called a players-only meeting the previous day.

That meeting didn’t appear to have worked initially as the Marlins jumped out to a 9-0 lead early on. They pounded starter Jeremy Hellickson for nine runs on nine hits and a walk, as the right-hander tried to battle through illness.

The air was sucked out of the stadium, boos rang out with the crowd seemingly feeling postseason hopes slipping away. But then the Nats began chipping away at the deficit, starting with Trea Turner on a solo home run deep to right-center field.

Then they got the line moving in the fifth inning with a bases-loaded walk to Adam Eaton, and an RBI fielder’s choice from Turner. Juan Soto proceeded to drill a two-RBI double to centerfield and the crowd began hoping again with the score at 9-5.

Shawn Kelley navigated an interesting top of the sixth to keep the deficit at four runs. A Daniel Murphy sac fly drove one in, then with Adam Conley walking the bases loaded, Trea Turner dug in, and the rest is history.

The Nationals shortstop hit a line drive laser into the visitor’s bullpen to give the Nats a 10-9 lead. The stadium went into pandemonium, feeling that this may finally be the moment that sparks their season. And while it didn’t end up playing out that way, it was still one of the best moments of the season.

It was the first time in franchise history that the Nats had ever come back from nine runs down to win. They were also the first to come back from nine runs down in the major leagues since 2016. A truly historic comeback, spearheaded by one of those most vocal about the team’s struggles before the game.