Washington Nationals: Top 10 moments from the 2018 season

The Washington Nationals will not remember 2018 fondly as a whole, but that doesn’t mean the team didn’t have some truly memorable moments along the way.

The 2018 season didn’t play out as everyone had hoped for the Washington Nationals as they finished 82-80, missing the playoffs. The offense was inconsistent, the pitching had peaks and slumps and the bullpen never really got fully healthy.

But in every season, no matter how poor the outcome is, every team has several memorable moments fans and player alike will remember fondly. That’s no different for the Nats, and we take a look at the top 10 moments from the 2018 season.

You’ll find a lot of the usual suspects making appearances in this list, with players like Ryan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper no stranger to dramatics. A new name among them is Juan Soto, who made his debut in 2018 and had some key hits for the Nats in his rookie year.

Honorable mentions

It was a tough decision to trim the moments down to just 10, and there were a few that we felt worth mentioning. Mark Reynolds had a Cinderella start to his Nats career with two home runs in his debut as he steered his team to a 6-4 win in Arizona on Sunday Night Baseball.

Reynolds also had quite the series against the Miami Marlins in early July. The Nationals had just completed a dramatic comeback the night before and Reynolds hit the walk-off home run to keep the feel-good factor around. Then he went 5 for 5 while driving in 10 runs in the third game of the series. Not bad.

The legend of Juan Soto began on May 20th when he received his first major league call-up, but yet he has a home run registered to his name before that date. He’s now an expert time traveler, as he hit a long ball when playing in a resumed game against the New York Yankees from May 15th. Freaky.

Our final honorable mention comes from the day that the Nationals actually traded away two of their better hitters. Earlier in the day, Daniel Murphy and Matt Adams left for pastures new, but the game that followed was particularly wild.

With those two leaving, new call-ups Andrew Stevenson and Adrian Sanchez had to drive from Syracuse to Washington for the game. Thankfully, the rain delay meant they arrived early on, cue the stage being set for the adrenaline-filled Stevenson to hit a pinch-hit game-tying home run that showed the Nats would be ok without Murphy and Adams.

So, let’s get to the top 10, and funnily enough, we start with another game that followed the Nats making an interesting trade.

10 – Nationals post a football score against the Mets

July 31st was a weird day for the Washington Nationals. At the MLB Trade Deadline, nobody was sure whether they were buyers or sellers, and in the end, they stood pat outside of dealing away Brandon Kintzler.

Mike Rizzo and the Lerner family had come out and publicly supported the current crop of players to fight their way back into the playoff race. The players were able to respond in the best possible way on the last game in July

They came out all guns blazing in the first inning, chasing Mets start Steven Matz from the game after giving up seven runs. The line just kept on moving, even when he intentionally walked Matt Wieters to get to Tanner Roark, who duly doubled to left field to pile on the misery for his opposite number.

The runs kept coming and coming with three runs in each of the next four innings. The onslaught included two home runs from Daniel Murphy who continued the demolition of his former team with a 3 for 4 night including six RBI.

The game even ended in pretty bizarre circumstances as Shawn Kelley attempted to finish the game off. He gave up an RBI groundout to Jeff McNeil and then a two-run homer from Austin Jackson in the ninth.

Kelley then proceeded to throw his glove on the ground and stared back at the Nats dugout in frustration. The reliever was then designated for assignment the next day by Mike Rizzo, as he thought Kelley was showing up his manager.

On the whole a great day for the nats, and one that won’t be forgotten in a hurry for multiple reasons.

9 – Daniel Murphy’s late hit against the Phillies wins it in the early hours

With the end of June looming, and the Washington Nationals still in first gear, they needed a spark. For a moment, it looked like they may have had that spark when they scored six unanswered runs against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday Night Baseball.

The matchup had all the drama you could handle in a game with long balls early, a short rain delay, and then the late dramatics. But early on, it looked like the Phillies may complete a crucial three-game sweep of the Nats as they jumped out to a 6-2 lead through five innings.

The Nationals then had a two-out rally in the sixth inning, with four straight hits including Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon doubles to trim the deficit to one. Midnight struck and the teams continued to play on with a couple of innings remaining.

Seranthony Dominguez had his fair share of drama against the Nationals this year, and in this one, he surrendered the eventual game-winner. The Nats loaded the bases for the second time in the game and this time Daniel Murphy made them pay by blooping a two-RBI go-ahead single into right field.

Michael A. Taylor then followed Murphy’s single with one of his own to add some extra breathing room. Sean Doolittle then mercifully shut the door at nearly 1 am in the morning, sending Nats fans to bed happy.

The game didn’t end up being the turning point Nats fans hoped for as they then went on to lose two games against the Tampa Bay Rays. But anytime you can look back at a huge win over a divisional rival, it’s a fond memory and this cracks our list at number nine.

8 – Jayson Werth goes into the Ring of Honor

Many people in and around the Washington Nationals organization still miss long-time Nat Jayson Werth. They got their chance to show their appreciation for the bearded outfielder during his Ring of Honor induction in September.

The ceremony took place between two games of a doubleheader after the previous day’s game was rained out. Several former teammates were shown on the board offering their praise and appreciation to Werth for helping them in their career.

Next up for induction will almost certainly be Ryan Zimmerman, and he had a role to play in the ceremony. He presented Werth with a camouflage rocking chair, now that he’s old and needs to kick back and relax.

It was almost certainly a coincidence, but the Nats got Werth back in the building for one day, and the team was able to sweep the doubleheader. Even though he regressed significantly towards the end of his time in D.C., his presence in the dugout would always lift everyone up.

It remains to be seen whether Jayson Werth may come back to the Nationals in a non-playing capacity. He would fit in well as a bench coach down the line, but for now, he’s got other things on his plate that will come first before he returns to baseball.

7 – Caps take over Nats Park with the Stanley Cup

Although the Washington Nationals didn’t make the postseason themselves, it didn’t mean they couldn’t help another team celebrate their playoff success.

Just a few days after the Washington Capitals made history by lifting the team’s first Stanley Cup, they took over Nats Park. With the whole of D.C. still on a high after the victory, it was a perfect celebration for the Caps.

Initially, the Caps were supposed to show up, throw the first pitch, take some questions and leave. But after a few beers, they decided to stay at the game up in one of the suites, as they became the stars of the game.

Every time a player lifted the cup, the whole crowd cheered, between each hitter, all eyes were on the Caps. MASN even sent Dan Kolko up to the suite to interview some of the players, which went about as you would expect an interview with boozed up hockey players to go.

Their antics at Nats Park were the catalyst for a glorious rampage across Washington D.C. celebrating with their city. It included keg stands out of the cup, swimming in the Georgetown Fountain, a party bus and long trip to Cafe Milano.

The Caps get their title defense underway on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins as D.C. switches its focus from baseball to football and hockey. Hopefully, someday the Nationals win a World Series and go on a bender of their own.

6 – Mr. Walkoff does his thing against the Phillies

Another season in the books, another Ryan Zimmerman walk-off home run for the Washington Nationals. It’s one of our favorite yearly traditions, and this time, he chose the Philadelphia Phillies as his victim.

Just as they did earlier in the season, and earlier in our list, the Phillies jumped out to an early lead and the Nats were rallying late on. The hosts trailed 7-5 heading into the eighth, and an Andrew Stevenson sac fly brought them within one before the fateful ninth.

Bryce Harper then Anthony Rendon went down pretty quickly against Seranthony Dominguez to start the ninth. But the Nats were able to rally off him again, as Juan Soto doubled before Zimmerman jacked one just over the fence.

It wasn’t without a little bit of drama as initially, the umpires ruled the ball had come off the wall and was only a game-tying double. But after a crew chief review, they rightly overturned the call and Zimmerman was allowed to trot on home, strategically avoiding Soto on the way.

The home run was Zimmerman’s 11th career walk-off dinger, that leaves him only two off the all-time lead. With at least a few more years left in the tank, he definitely has a chance to chase down that mark with the Nationals.

2019 is the last year on Zimmerman’s contract, and while he does have an option for 2020, the Nats would likely buy that out as things stand. He recently hinted that he really wants to stay and retire as a Nat, so a contract extension shouldn’t be ruled out at some point.

4 – Juan Soto hits his first home run in his first start

He wasn’t supposed to be this good, this soon, but Juan Soto doesn’t care about that narrative. In his first career start for the Washington Nationals, they knew they had a star on their hands.

The day before, Soto struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance as they attempted to shield him from a tough lefty in his first start. Then the next day against Robbie Erlin, he announced his arrival with aplomb, and wouldn’t be shielded against tough lefties again.

It had been a whirlwind beginning of the year for Soto, who was with the Single-A Hagerstown Suns just a month before. Then a meteoric rise peaked after Howie Kendrick tore his Achilles, forcing the young Dominican into major league action.

The rookie showed absolutely no fear at the plate, as he drove the first pitch he saw the other way for a towering home run. It was the first of many for the youngster as the opposite-field home run has now become his specialty.

For the fans in the stadium, it felt like a star had been born after hearing about this kid tear up the minor leagues to start the year. And as we all saw from his play the rest of the way, he’s going to be in the heart of this lineup for years to come.

He ended up putting together a compelling Rookie of the Year campaign in 2018. He slashed .292/.406/.517 with 22 home runs and 70 RBI as he battles with Ronald Acuña Jr. for rookie honors.

3 – Max Scherzer’s 300th strikeout

It still remains to be seen whether Washington Nationals starter Max Scherzer will take home his third straight NL Cy Young award in 2018. But even if he doesn’t, he managed a feat that not many pitchers get the chance to do these days.

In what would turn out to be his final start of the year, he climbed the mountain of 300 strikeouts in a season. Scherzer became just the sixth pitcher to hit that mark since 1990 and just the 17th in major league baseball since 1900.

He entered his start against the Miami Marlins 10 shy of the big 3-0-0, and while that may be a bit much for most, for Scherzer, it wasn’t in much doubt that he would reach it. Entering the game, he had already struck out double-digit hitters in 17 games, so it just seemed a matter of time.

With eight strikeouts through seven innings, Scherzer struck out Lewis Brinson to start the frame. Then after an epic 10-pitch battle with Austin Dean, he finally got his long-deserved 300th K. In a season of many downs, the Nats fans were able to get behind their ace and show their appreciation.

The right-hander had managed at least 268 strikeouts in each of his previous three seasons with the Nationals. In 2018, he managed to finally hit 300, and somehow he’s getting better and better with each passing year.

Max Scherzer continues to wow us all every single time it takes the mound, and we all sit on no-hitter watch each game. We’re lucky to have him, and we can almost pencil in him in for another memorable moment or two in 2019.

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.

1 – Bryce Harper’s magical Home Run Derby

This was one of those “bigger than baseball” moments in the season for the Washington Nationals and Bryce Harper. The superstar put on quite the show for the home crowd in the Home Run Derby in 2018.

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After he appeared in the exhibition event back in 2013, he Harper vowed that he wouldn’t do so again until 2018 when it was at Nats Park. He held true to that promise, despite others around the league refusing the invite thinking that it would “ruin their swing”.

In the first round, he was able to dispatch against long-time rival Freddie Freeman 13-12 with 30 seconds, but he proved he was able to get on a roll when he needed it and would need that later on.

Then against Max Muncy in the second round, he also beat him by a score of 13-12, this time with over a minute to spare. He was able to conserve a lot of energy in the first two rounds for a mammoth effort in the final.

Kyle Schwarber stood between Bryce Harper and the hometown win that he craved so much. The Cubs slugger put up an impressive total of 18, but it felt like Harper would be able to chase that down with ease.

But he got off to a sluggish start, he was nine homers down with 1:20 left on the clock as he took a timeout, and it looked like a longshot. It looked even longer when his Dad couldn’t find his groove out of the timeout.

Then they both locked in during a magical 55 seconds at Nationals Park. Harper would go on to hit nine home runs in just 11 swings, the crowd was shaking and just as loud as it has been during the wildest playoff games. Their hero was peppering home runs left and right and his fans loved it.

He finished his regulation time tied at 18-18, so all he had to do was hit one in his bonus 30 seconds. It took all of two swings to do that, and cue the mad celebrations on and off the field with Harper lifting the trophy.

We don’t know whether Harper will return to D.C. in this offseason or whether he’ll leave for another team. What we do know, is the HR Derby was the perfect opportunity for both to show their appreciation for one another and it showed the star outfielder just how much he was beloved despite his poor start to the season.

There’s a long offseason ahead for the Washington Nationals, and despite the disappointing year, it’s always good to remember the good moments. We hope for more next year in 2019.