In this edition of 20th anniversary series, we will re-live the Nats first iconic playoff moment
2012 was one of the most magical seasons in Washington Nationals history. They made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and won 98 games, still a single season record.
There was a buzz in DC heading into the playoffs. The franchise was entering uncharted waters with a team that was ready to win in the present and future. Headlines by a 19 year old Bryce Harper, the team had the world at its feet.
In the NLDS, they would face a team that was the opposite of them in many ways. The Cardinals were a veteran laden team, who had been there and done that. They were the defending World Series champions. The upstart Nationals were looking to knock them off their perch.
After a game one victory, two blowout losses put the Nationals on the brink of elimination. Game four would be a low scoring affair. Entering the ninth inning, the ballgame was tied at one. Adam Laroche provided the Nats only run of the game, with a second inning solo homer.
In the ninth inning, the Cardinals would turn to a young Lance Lynn. He had just enjoyed a breakout 2012 season for the Cardinals as a starter, but was moved to the bullpen for the playoffs. Leading off the inning was Jayson Werth, who needed a big moment. After signing a monster seven-year 126 million dollar contract prior to the 2011 season, Werth had been disappointing. His numbers fell off a cliff in 2011, and he was hurt for a big chunk of the 2012 season.
The Nationals were not getting their money’s worth. However, this at bat would change the narrative. Werth went to war with Lance Lynn, with both battling tooth and nail. Werth kept spoiling Lynn’s efforts to strike him out. He battled for 11 pitches, until he got something to hit. On the 12th pitch, Lynn served up a meatball right down the heart of the plate, and Werth did not miss. He drove a no-doubter to left field, sending the Nats crowd into pandemonium. It was the greatest moment the burgeoning fanbase had ever seen.
One swing of the bat took Jayson Werth from an overpaid pariah to a Nationals hero. It sent the Nationals to a game 5 in DC. That is a game still keeps Nats fans up at night. However, we will save that story for a different edition of the 20th anniversary series.