Adam Dunn (44) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run yesterday, helping the Nats to their eighth straight. Happy days, people. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
- Real Madrid 3, D.C. United 0: We’ll have a complete recap and photos of yesterday’s big friendly tomorrow; for now, let’s just say that Madrid is really, really, really good.
- Nationals 9, Diamondbacks 2: Okay, let’s hear it: at how long of odds would you have put the Nationals winning eight games in a row this season, even, say, a few weeks ago? 100-1? 1,000-1? A million to 1? (Alright, maybe not that high.) But if you did make that bet, congratulations, it is now time to collect. Yesterday’s victory against Arizona also got the Nationals to 40 wins, thereby assuring that they will not end the season with fewer wins than that modern pinnacle of futility, the 1962 Mets. Rookie J.D. Martin (1-2) allowed five hits in five innings to became the fifth Nat to earn his first win this season, joining Shairon Martis, Garrett Mock, Craig Stammen, and Jordan Zimmermann. Washington pounded out 16 total hits against D’backs pitchers — Ryan Zimmerman and Cristian Guzman extended their hitting streaks to 13 and 15 games, respectively, and Adam Dunn’s hit his 30th homer of the season in the first inning. It’s the sixth straight season Dunn’s gone deep at least 30 times. Even the Nats’ fielding was spectacular: the defense finished out the series without an error in the field, and turned three timely double plays. Jorge Sosa picked up the rare 2.1 inning, seven-run save — another example to toss into the argument about why the save is a statistic which demands reexamining — but still a save none the less. Yes, these are good times, folks; you’ve got all of Monday to enjoy the team’s recent success, as the Nationals take a much-deserved day off.
- Sun 96, Mystics 67: Connecticut bulldozed the Mystics last night with a 32-13 run in the fourth quarter en route to a 29-point win. All five Sun starters scored in double figures. Alana Beard had 18 for Washington in the loss.
