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General manager Mike Rizzo proclaimed he believed in his Washington Nationals as they face the final two months of the season. That’s why he essentially stood pat and did not have a fire sale of players despite being out 5.5 games out of first place. With the first game after the trade deadline and the numerous reports of uncertainty behind them, the Nationals unloaded on the New York Mets with a club-record of 25 runs.
https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/1024482428260216832
Washington piled up 26 hits and eight walks. Daniel Murphy hit two home runs against his former team leading the way with six RBIs. Anthony Rendon knocked in four in his first game back from paternity leave. Ryan Zimmerman became the franchise’s all-time hits leader and drove in three. Bryce Harper shook off the uncertainty of being made available in trade talks to go 2-for-4 with a walk at the plate, driving in two runs and scoring thrice.
The Nationals are the first team to have each starter record a hit within the first two innings of a game since the Yankees on July 30, 2011.
h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/fgWwSnp3yM
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 1, 2018
The Nats got off to a great start with Harper driving Trea Turner with an RBI-double in the first, leading to the Nats to score seven runs on Mets starter Steven Matz, chasing him after just two-thirds of an inning. The seven runs was the most of any NL team this season in the first inning.
The Nationals' 7 runs were the most in the 1st inning of a game by an NL team this season.
Steven Matz allowed 7 ER that inning, tying Dylan Bundy and Felix PeƱa for the most allowed in the opening frame by any pitcher this season.
Those 7 ER also tied a career-high for Matz. pic.twitter.com/T5GEBw1SCe
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 31, 2018
The Mets used seven pitchers and had to go with shortstop Jose Reyes on the mound in the eighth. He gave up six runs, two walks and two RBIs.
The only highlight from tonight's Mets-Nationals game you need: Mark Reynolds going yard… off Jose Reyes
(via @masnNationals) pic.twitter.com/4zzqeJ7qwT— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 1, 2018
With talks of a messy clubhouse and veteran players questioning the leadership of first-year manager Dave Martinez, the Nationals were all over place with their mindset of handling the trade deadline. Harper was made available and ownership pressured Rizzo to sell. Ultimately, Rizzo decided against it, keeping Harper and only trading reliever Brandon Kintzler. Rizzo’s decision was rewarded with Tuesday’s output.
Despite scoring the most runs in an MLB game since 2007, the Nationals did not gain any ground in the NL East standings as the Phillies topped the Red Sox.
Despite 25 runs and a monster win tonight, the Nationals won't get any help from the teams their chasing. The Phillies have won and the Braves are up big.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 1, 2018
This counts as just one win, moving them to 53-53 on the season and it’s no indication of what shall happen in the remaining 56 games, but this one is in the record books and one that will be looked back on for quite some time.
