Three runs from the Washington Nationals in the top of the ninth inning salvaged a strong start against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night
Entering Monday night's three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, the Washington Nationals were winless in 29 tries when trailing after eight innings. But just like everything else, all streaks come to an end eventually. For manager Blake Butera, that's exactly what happened for his squad in the final at bats on Monday after capitalizing a comeback opportunity to get back over .500.
"Through the roof but we'll take it when we win games like that," Butera said after the win.
The Nationals appeared to be staring at a late inning loss in a low scoring outing for the bulk of Monday night after the Giants added a pair of runs in the eighth inning with Clayton Beeter on the mound. Yet the Nationals bats would just enough in the ninth inning to secure the win, all started by a double from Luis Garcia Jr before Curtis Mead became the second base runner.
CJ Abrams would then step to the plate where he joined Garcia as the only Nationals to record a multi-hit game in the win, yet his second hit proved to be more important after his RBI single to center on a 91 mph splitter was enough to tie the game at three.
"We love when he's in those situations. He wants to win and when he gets a chance up there to help us win and can drive in runs that can contribute to us winning, there's nothing he wants more than that," Butera said of Abrams.
Dylan Crews then followed it up with a strikeout for the second out of the inning - and fourth hitless game of the month - before Daylen Lile answered with his first hit of the night, also a single into center that was enough to drive in CJ Abrams for the game-winning run.
"Baseball is so up and down and you get moments like that. Sometime you don't come through and then today, finally coming through for the team. It was just awesome," Lille said postgame.
The bottom of the inning wouldn't come without drama after Gus Varland walked his first batter before a two-out single put the game tying run on third base, but a four pitch at-bat ended in Varland's lone strikeout of the night to record the save.
While the late game heroics are the latest source of optimism in year one of the rebuild, it also salvaged the most encouraging start from Miles Mikolas as a National.
After Richard Lovelady allowed a pair of hits as the opener, Mikolas tossed a pair of strikeouts and allowing just three hits in 4.2 innings and 54 pitches, the second time over his last four starts he exited the mound without allowing a run. For the starter who has struggled the most through the first third of the regular season, it's a source of renewed confidence out of the veteran with a chance to stabilize the end of the rotation.
Washington will look to secure the series win when the two teams meet for another 9:45 PM EST first pitch.
Nationals Roundtable also offers a fan community. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Nationals. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our free community and follow for all of our coverage, analysis and more!
