Top Ten Plays So Far, Part 2

When last we left...

5: July 16th against the Houston Astros, 36% increase

Play: Dmitri Young's three-run homer off Woody Williams

The Nats entered the bottom of the sixth trailing by a run, 2-1 thanks to the surprising efforts of Mike Bacsik. Belliard reached, and Zimmerman dropped one of those beautiful bunt singles down the line, putting two men on with just one out. Williams threw a sloppy curveball over the heart of the plate, and Young turned on it, ripping it to deep right field. With one swing, a one-run deficit became a two-run lead. With the Astros having just three innings to claw back in. They'd chip away, getting a run with the heart of their order in the 8th, but the bottom of the lineup went down quickly against Chad Cordero.

4: July 22nd against the Colorado Rockies, 33% increase

Play: Austin Kearns' 3-run homer in the 8th inning off Jorge Julio

Trading zeros, the Nats and Rockies were tied in the 8th inning, when the Nats got two runners on and two outs. The Nats' favorite foil hung a slider and Kearns turned on it, destroying it into the mezzanine.

That shot shows how important power is. Had he singled, the one-run lead would've been nice, but the three-run bomb effectively ended the game. The Rockies weren't going to put up a 4-spot.

Tie for #2: June 13th against the Baltimore Orioles, 43% increase

Play: Felipe Lopez' three-RBI triple off Orioles closer Chris Ray in the 11th inning, 43% increase

The Nats found themselves in another game that wound its way to extra innings thanks to a blown save by Chad Cordero. As the Nats got to the 6th inning, they found themselves short on pitchers thanks to the 6 they had already used and a few nights of short starts.

Two quick outs, and the Nats looked cooked. Fick singled, then Langerhans and Guzman walked, setting up the struggling Felipe Lopez. With two outs, another one of his outs would've killed the rally. Instead, he ripped one deep to right, plating all three runs, and giving the Nats a near-lock of a lead.

Tied for #2, July 19th against the Colorado Rockies off Jeremy Affeldt, 43% increase

Play: Jesus Flores' single-turned-triple.

Trailing by two with two outs in the 8th inning, backup catcher Jesus Flores found himself in the middle of a rally. It was the Nats' best chance, but with runners on first and second, it would take an extra-base hit to tie the game.

Or a single, misplayed into a triple. The Rockies RFer booted the ball, kicking it behind him. Flores chugged to third, and all the runners scored, tying the game in a situation where all looked lost. It doesn't get much better than that.

1: May 20th against the Baltimore Orioles, 49% increase

Play: Nook Logan's 2-RBI single off Danys Baez

The Nats entered the 8th inning trailing by 2. A quick run pulled them close before they managed to load the bases off the beleaguered Baltimore pen. With the bases loaded and two outs, Logan turned a near loss into a surprise win, with a 2-RBI single just through the infield.

I had completely forgotten about the Logan play!

It's interesting how many of them are fairly recent, and how many of them are off Jorge Julio (CUE SBF!!!)

If I had had to guess a play, I'd probably have guessed the Flores "triple" or the Kearns homer. I'd have been close, at least.