Washington Nationals: Nats Beat Philllies in Wildest Game of Season

The Washington Nationals found a way to win last night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies in one of the craziest games in Nationals history.

The Washington Nationals are certainly no strangers to insane baseball games.  Over the past two seasons, it is slowly becoming the norm.  However, last night, fans witnessed a game unlike any other.

Let’s start with the pre-game news.  Manager Davey Martinez announced that Juan Soto was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with back spasms.  This left the Nats bench disturbingly thin.

Things only got worse during the game.

During the first four innings, both Matt Adams and Michael A. Taylor left the game with injuries.  Adams exited due to a jammed shoulder and Taylor left with a jammed left wrist.

Fast-forward to the bottom of the sixth inning, and Davey Martinez has a decision to make.  With two on and one out, does he leave Patrick Corbin in, who is over 100 pitches, or go to the bullpen?

He goes to the mound, converses, and leaves Corbin in.  Corbin proceeds to strike out Cesar Hernandez and Andrew McCutchen, preserving the tie.

Corbin finished with 118 pitches, the most in a game in his career.

After his teammates scored two runs in the top of the seventh, Joe Ross entered the game.  After letting the first two batters he faced to reach safely, he surrendered doubles to four of the next five hitters.

The Phillies put up five runs in the inning.

In the top of the eighth, two of the first three Nationals got out.  With two on, two out, and the pitcher’s spot up, the Nats emptied their bench and pinch-hit catcher Kurt Suzuki.

Boom.  Home run. Tie game.

But the madness didn’t stop there.  Two pitches later, the Boo Birds in Philadelphia were out in full force after Victor Robles sent a solo shot to right field, directly over the head of Bryce Harper.

Did you think that was it?  Guess again!

In the top of the ninth inning, the Phillies intentionally walked Carter Kieboom, the No. 8 hitter, to set up a bases-loaded, two out at-bat for… Max Scherzer!

The game returned to normal after that point.  Scherzer grounded out, and Sean Doolittle locked down his fifth save of the season.

And yes, vegetables were violated in the clubhouse after the game.