It was a Magical Day in Washington D.C. Today

On the heels of one of the most tragic days ever in the nation’s capital – a day that the Nationals game was rightfully cancelled – the Nationals played a doubleheader that ended up being their most magical day of the season.

They entered the ninth of their afternoon game down 5-3, and with Craig Kimbrel entering the game it looked to be lights out on the game and possibly the entire season. But the sun shined especially bright in the sky, and luck shined on the Nats. A Denard Span bouncer went through the legs of the great-gloved Andrelton Simmons with the Nationals down 5-4. That allowed the Nats to win 6-5.

The Nats then took the nightcap 4-0 with Tanner Roark throwing seven shutout innings. The Nationals are 4.5 games out of the Wildcard race with 11 left to play.

• Denard Span had hits in both games, extending his hitting streak to an MLB best 28 games on the season.
• Bryce Harper had a couple of knocks and a couple of runs in the second game.
• Ryan Zimmerman homered again.
• The Nationals wore Navy caps during batting practice.
• It was the first time in his career that Craig Kimbrel had given up three runs in an outing.

I was at the Navy Yards just a few weeks back in my visit to Washington. We walked around near it after the game. It’s a quaint little area that will make for a great living spot for people that want to be around the park in DC in the future. It seemed relatively peaceful. And as horrible as this tragedy that so many are numb today in today’s sick world was unspeakable and cowardly; I feel like it helped bond a city and it’s new team today. The Washington Nationals made the people of that city forget about the ruin that had happened just a day before, even if it was just for a minute.

Good for the Nats. They’re not going to catch anyone, but they’re finally playing like the team they should have been all year.