The Nats have just lost five in a row.
They’re 19-31.
But tonight—something big changed.
Fire Davey like we have been saying for weeks!!
— Bryan (@Nsomnia34) May 23, 2019
It was a sweep in four games by the Mets, coming into this.
Davey Martinez getting ejected. Nats fans calling for him to be fired.
Writers saying a turnaround is “impossible”.
Can the #Nats mount an historic comeback? @MarkZuckerman weighs in. https://t.co/SVdLnuu16S
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) May 24, 2019
The first season without Bryce Harper. Murphy, Gonzalez, Roark and Ramos gone, too.
A shell of that perennial contender these past seven years…
As they creep closer, unbelievably, toward Marlinsville.
The Nationals and Marlins have lost the same number of games: 31.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 23, 2019
With no break in sight, even with the Marlins in town—after they just won six in a row.
Making people wonder, making them think outlandish thoughts.
Clearing out my October schedule for the Marlins in the World Series. pic.twitter.com/mVj0qLBBAE
— Will Manso (@WillManso) May 23, 2019
And so tonight the Nats are down three runs in the middle innings, heading for another loss, as the fans everywhere tilt forward on the meltdown timeline. Heading for a summer of tuning out completely.
And then it gets worse:
A line drive that hits Trea Turner's glove goes into center field and the Marlins take a 9-8 lead. He should have caught it. It's scored a single, but it should be his third error of the night.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 25, 2019
As ugly as it can be, going into the 8th inning.
And then on cue, crunch time kicks off with that soul-crushing kind of strikeout.
Trea Turner, going down looking on a pitch below his knees.
Rock-bottom crashing into the living rooms of NatsWorld.
TV sets turning off.
The Nats are straight garbage!!! Error after error. Weak hitting and awful bullpen. #nats
— Jeff Barnette (@jeff_barnette) May 24, 2019
But then.
But then.
The worst wriggled its way up into something.
As these Nats, just barely, creep their way out of collapse.
Adam Eaton draws a walk. Then Anthony Rendon walks.
The Marlins make a double switch, and a bullpen change.
Did you know that Anthony Rendon walked more than he K'd in college? #Itstrue Rendon takes the 2nd walk of the #Nats' 8th and Juan Soto is up with two on and one out in #Nationals Park… Rendon up to 18 BB/26 Ks on the season.
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) May 25, 2019
Juan Soto comes up, the 20-year-old star, with two men on.
Takes two pitches, fouls off a heater over the plate.
Then a 3-1 count, a 100-mph fastball right down the middle from Guerrero.
And… out of nowhere, there it is.
Home run to deep left-center.
Nats lead, 11-9.
The pitch came in at 💯 mph.
Juan Soto marked it "RETURN TO SENDER."#ChildishBambino // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/2XpVW3SxiY
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 25, 2019
Juan Soto crushed the go-ahead HR in the 8th off a 100.1 mph fastball from Tayron Guerrero.
It's the only triple-digit pitch a Nationals player has homered against in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008). pic.twitter.com/T9PgvsGWhH
— David Adler (@_dadler) May 25, 2019
Matt Adams comes up next, with the bases empty.
And he, too, gets the triple-digit mph fastball over the plate.
Then he, too, sends it into the stands.
12-9, Nationals ahead.
BIG CITY FOR REAL!!!! Matt Adams slays his 100th career HR with a 101 MPH fastball
— Rachel Hopmayer (@rachelhopmayer) May 25, 2019
“The crowd’s going nuts,” they’re saying on the broadcast.
“They’re losing their minds right now at Nats Park!”
Before last night, the @Nationals hadn't homered off a 100+ mph pitch since pitch tracking began in 2008.
Then Juan Soto and Matt Adams took 100.1 mph and 101.5 mph pitches deep against the Marlins. pic.twitter.com/ZK8Iz3ihhQ
— #Statcast (@statcast) May 25, 2019
One of the most wild, back-and-forth games all year.
A tourniquet for the bleeding Nationals.
And, well—UPDATE: OCTOBER 30, 2019
The Nationals have won the World Series.
On May 23rd, the Washington Nationals were 19-31, and in 4th place in the NL East.
Tonight, they are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history 🏆 pic.twitter.com/NcBmNXfHKO
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) October 31, 2019
And the moment it all changed, was this game.
Twelves games below .500, then soaring from that point on.
47-42 by the All-Star Break, and the best team in baseball the rest of the way.
That winning moment. The @Nationals, who started 19-31 with their manager on life support, are the 2019 champs. pic.twitter.com/BSGGnmPv70
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 31, 2019
So remember this, Nats fans.
The night the dream season began.