The Nationals needed a win and a Chicago Cubs’ loss to clinch a playoff berth. They got both Tuesday night. The win came courtesy of a clutch grand slam by Trea Turner.
Trailing 4-2 in the sixth, the Nationals rallied loading the bases with two outs in the frame. Asdrubal Cabrera battled back from down 1-2 in the count to draw a walk. Two batters later Victor Robles singled to left. After a strikeout of Yan Gomes, Howie Kendrick drew a controversial walk to load the bases.
That’s where Turner stepped in.
Turner got on top of a 1-0 sinker from Aaron Nola, driving it over the wall in left center. Washington took the lead 6-4 and never looked back.
Despite a Bryce Harper pinch-hit home run in the seventh, Washington secured the 6-5 win as Victor Robles chased down a fly ball from Maikel Franco for the game’s final out, putting the Nationals in position to clinch a playoff berth.
All they needed was a Chicago Cubs’ loss, and they got it shortly after their dramatic win. It was fitting the resilient Nationals would clinch a berth in such a fashion with Turner completing the comeback.
It was the Nationals who climbed out of an early season 19-31 record, won 58 of their next 85 games to turn around their season.
