In this edition of the 20th anniversary series, we will recap the most iconic regular season game of the 2019 season
Even before the playoff run, the 2019 Washington Nationals were involved in some iconic games. No game was more iconic than the 11-10 comeback thriller against the Mets on September 3rd.
When fans showed up to the ballpark to see a matchup between Jacob Degrom and Max Scherzer, they were not expecting a combined 21 runs, but that is what they got. Neither pitcher was at their best, but both completed at least six innings. Degrom had allowed only two runs through seven innings, but he gave up a two run home run to Juan Soto in the eighth.
Entering the 9th inning, the Mets were leading 5-4, then madness ensued. Forgotten Nationals reliever Roenis Elias started the inning, and allowed a home run to Brandon Nimmo and a single to Joe Panik before getting pulled. He was replaced by Daniel Hudson.
After some adventures in the field and a Pete Alonso home run, the score was 10-4. At that point, I turned off the game to watch an episode of the HBO classic Entourage. As Paul Sewald entered the game for the Mets, Nationals Park was clearing out.
After Victor Robles reached on an infield single, a Howie Kendrick flyout looked to kill the glimmer of hope the Nats had for a comeback. However, this is where the fun began. The Nats would not make another out. After three straight hits, the score was 10-6, Sewald was out of the game, and Entourage had to be paused.
Lefty specialist Luis Avilan came into the game to face Juan Soto. The 20 year old Soto smartly moved up in the box against Avilan, who threw changeups 58% of the time. This resulted in a single to right to load the bases.
As Ryan Zimmerman stepped to the plate to pinch hit, the struggling Mets closer Edwin Diaz entered the game. As he usually did in key moments, the Z-man delivered and smoked a double to right field, just out of reach of the diving Michael Conforto.
At 10-8, Kurt Suzuki walked up to the plate for what would become the most legendary at bat of his career. Diaz gave him everything he had, from 100 MPH fastballs, to nasty 93 MPH sliders dotted on the corner. However, Suzuki stayed in the fight, battling until he got a pitch to hit. On the 8th pitch, he got a mistake and didn’t miss. Off the bat there was never any doubt. Edwin Diaz was walking off the field instantly after contact.
As Suzuki rounded home plate, the iconic radio crew of Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler had a legendary moment. In perfect, they told the Nationals fans who had left that they blew it! As if the moment was not magical enough already, this call brought even more pixie dust to the moment.
In an unforgettable 2019 season, this 11-10 win was the greatest moment of the regular season. It was the moment Nationals fans truly started to believe that this team was different.