Nats gain playoff berth with win over Dodgers
The Washington Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 to clinch a coveted spot in the National League playoffs. It will be the first time that there has been playoff baseball in Washington in 79 years. Ross Detwiler was dominant for six innings and Ryan Zimmerman had an RBI double to lead Washington. The Nationals added two runs in the fourth on a walk to Ian Desmond, an RBI double by Danny Espinosa and a sacrifice fly by Kurt Suzuki.
Detwiler is scheduled to replace Stephen Strasburg in the Nationals postseason rotation. The Nationals will be making their first playoff appearance since moving to Washington in 2005 from Montréal. The Nationals lost more than 100 games in 2008 and 2009, which put them in position to draft Strasburg and rookie sensation Bryce Harper.
“We’re shooting to win a division,” closer Tyler Clippard said Wednesday night. “It’s just a testament to what kind of season we’ve had up until this point. And what kind of ballclub that we think we are. We’re a confident bunch of guys. Just getting in isn’t good enough right now.”
The Nationals lowered their magic number to 8 with 13 games to play and maintain a five half-game lead over the Atlanta Braves.
