Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
The Nationals are closing in on their longest winning streak since the team won 6-games in a row in May. The Nats now have 5 consecutive wins and tonight they scored 3-runs in the 1st inning off of Cy Young candidate Aaron Nola. In all, they scored 4-runs off of Nola and knocked him out in the 5th inning on their way to a 5-1 victory behind a 7-inning gem from Stephen Strasburg. The big blow in this game was a mammoth two-run home run from Bryce Harper which was all the Nationals needed. Those 2-RBIs that Harper collected gave him 94 on the season which is 6 away from his goal of reaching the century mark.
“We’re trying to get some extra runs on [Nola] so Scherzer can win the Cy Young,” said Bryce Harper.
This win by the Nationals was drama-free as the team rolled over the Phillies for the series sweep. Juan Soto absolutely crushed a home run into the upper deck on this 100th game as a Major Leaguer. That home run tied Mel Ott for the 3rd highest home run total for a teenager only trailing Tony Conigliaro who hit 24 home runs as a teen and Soto’s teammate Bryce Harper who cranked 22 home runs as a teenage phenom.
With his tater tonight, Soto now has 6 home runs in Philadelphia which is more than he has in his home stadium in Nationals Park. Soto also now has 61 RBIs which tied Ken Griffey Jr. for 7th most RBIs for a teenager in a season.
“Our guys were ready and swung the bats well,” manager Dave Martinez said. “We got [Aaron Nola] early.”
Every Nats position player reached base safely tonight, and Ryan Zimmerman also had a big night with a home run as well as a RISP single for 47 RBIs on his season.
The Nationals return tonight to D.C. for a one-game make-up game against the Cubs.
