The Washington Nationals are two wins away from clinching an NL wild card spot after their 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night.
The Nationals got three solo home runs in the first three innings to seize control of the game. Adam Eaton hit a solo blast for his career-high 15th home run of the season in the first inning. Catcher Yan Gomes followed suit in the second, and Trea Turner got his 17th of the season in the third.
Nationals ace Patrick Corbin picked up his 14th win of the season, allowing one run off three hits while striking out six and walking four in six innings of work. Washington’s bullpen stayed steady, as Fernando Rodney pitched a clean seventh and Daniel Hudson smoothed through the eighth.
More importantly the Nationals picked up their 86th win of the season, reducing their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to three.
They’ll head into Tuesday’s doubleheader with a chance to clinch for the postseason if they sweep the day and the Chicago Cubs lose at Pittsburgh. Coincidentally, the Nationals are two wins over the Phillies away from eliminating Bryce Harper and Philadelphia from postseason contention.
Washington remains one up in the lost column over the Milwaukee Brewers for home-field advantage in the NL wild card game. Washington must one better in order to host the do-or-die playoff game next week, as the Brewers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
