Nationals play with their ‘hair on fire’ in record-breaking sweep

WASHINGTON — Almost two years had handed for the reason that Nationals had swept a sequence. They final swept a three-game set June 14-16, 2021, versus the Pirates and a two-game sequence towards the Blue Jays on Aug. 17-18, 2021.

A 6-1 win over the Giants on Sunday at Nationals Park snapped the longest skid in baseball historical past.

“To come back out and win all three towards a very good staff, it’s very rewarding to those guys,” stated supervisor Dave Martinez. “They performed with their hair on hearth this weekend, and it was numerous enjoyable.”

Led by a 3-for-4 efficiency by Lane Thomas that included a team-record-tying 4 stolen bases, a homer by Riley Adams and a scoreless outing by MacKenzie Gore, the Nationals took the three-game sequence in convincing style. They outscored San Francisco, 21-5, since Friday.

The Nats’ final sweep over the Giants had been Aug. 5-7, 2019, within the Bay Space, and their final sweep towards the NL West opponent in Washington, D.C., was July 3-5, 2015.

“I used to be happy with the boys,” stated Martinez. “You noticed us go first-to-third, you noticed us flip double performs after we wanted to, make some good performs, steal some bases, get large outs — all people was on level.”

Thomas dazzled on Sunday with an all-around recreation that earned him a spot within the Nationals file books (2005-present). The one two different gamers who’ve stolen 4 bases in a single recreation are Michael A. Taylor (June 17, 2018 on the Blue Jays) and Trea Turner (June 18, 2017 on the Mets and June 27, 2017 vs. the Cubs). The final participant to steal 4 bases towards the Giants was Everth Cabrera of the Padres on Sept. 30, 2012.

“I feel that’s a cool stat,” stated Thomas, whose earlier profession excessive in a recreation was one stolen base. “Sweet [Jeimer Candelario] is a very good hitter, and so they have been extra apprehensive about him than me. It provides you a chance to be aggressive and get a bag, and perhaps give him an opportunity to drive a run in, so it was good.”

Amongst his defensive highlights was a nine-three double play to finish the eighth inning whereby Thomas nabbed a deep fly ball hit by Patrick Bailey and threw out Wilmer Flores at first base.

“I informed him at the moment, ‘You’re a five-tool participant, you probably did all of it so good for you, excellent,’” stated Martinez. “He was all-in. He’s been that manner all yr, actually. He’s performed actually onerous all yr for us.”

Backup catcher Adams continued to take advantage of his taking part in time. He singled after which went yard for the fourth time in 24 video games performed. Adams is batting .438 in his final 4 contests.

“Riley’s nice,” stated Gore. “He’s accomplished such a great job of when he performs doing a very good job of every little thing. He’s an incredible teammate, so it’s all the time good to see guys like that achieve success and he did it once more at the moment.”

The Giants’ offense, in the meantime, was quieted by the southpaw Gore. He bounced again from a five-run look towards the Cubs on July 17 to throw his fourth scoreless begin of the season. Gore gave up 4 hits and two walks with eight strikeouts throughout 90 pitches.

“You possibly can’t say sufficient concerning the group of men in right here,” stated Gore. “This sequence was nice. We’ve been taking part in onerous and doing issues the precise manner. We lastly received some outcomes this sequence the place we gained all three. However all of the credit score goes to those guys in right here. They’ve been doing it the precise manner, and it was enjoyable to simply be part of it.”

The sweep was an encouraging signal of their play at Nationals Park. The Nats are 18-32 at residence in comparison with 23-26 on the street. However they gained the earlier residence sequence towards the Rangers earlier than the All-Star break, and so they took back-to-back residence sequence for the primary time since June 14-20, 2021 (towards the Pirates and Mets).

“It’s superior,” stated Martinez. “I all the time speak about our followers being the twenty seventh man, so it’s good to return residence and win video games for them and see the vitality that they’re bringing. I feel the boys are beginning to understand they’re behind us, they need us to go on the market and compete and win video games, they caught with us. So it’s numerous enjoyable to return residence and win.”