Josh Bard saved a run with this nice play at the plate — a run which came in handyin preventing the Nats’ 100th loss of the year. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Nationals 5, Dodgers 4: I’ve got to be honest, I thought that I’d be talking all about the number 100 in this space tonight — the Nats have looked especially poor as of late and were stuck on 99 losses. I mean, there’s been no question since, well, May or so, that this team would lose 100 games. Eventually, I’d have to write about it. So, color me surprised that particular post will have to wait until another day (probably tomorrow). The Nationals can savor one more day as a non-member of the 100-loss club, defeating the Dodgers with a walk-off sacrifice fly by Pete Orr. For a team that has such a terrible record, the Nats once again confirmed their penchant for resilience — it was the 27th come-from-behind win this season. He didn’t get the win, but starter Ross Detweiler was solid, if unspectacular, allowing the Dodgers to three runs in nearly six innings. And I get to write about 100 after all: with his three-run homer in the sixth, Ryan Zimmerman not only broke up Chad Billingsley’s no-hitter, but he also eclipsed 100 RBI on the season; Zim and Adam Dunn are the first pair of Washington franchise (that is, from 1969 on) hitters to both eclipse that figure in a single season.
