Soto’s heroics lift Nationals over Brewers
By Eamon Walsh ‘20
The Washington Nationals eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League wildcard game, defeating the “Brew Crew” 4-3, thanks in no small part to a clutch hit by Nationals outfielder Juan Soto.
The Nationals (93-69, ranked No. 2 in NL East) struggled early in the game, with their ace Max Scherzer giving up two early home runs to the Brewers (89-73, ranked No. 2 in NL Central). Yasmani Grandal, the second batter of the game, hit a two-run home run off Scherzer after Trent Grisham drew a lead-off walk.
Juan Soto fields a fly ball earlier this season. Image courtesy of David B. King
.jpg){kind=link}
In the second inning, Eric Thames, the Brewers’ first baseman, also teed off against Scherzer, this one a solo shot. The Nationals got one back, though, with a Trea Turner solo homer in the third.
All was quiet until the seventh inning, due to some stellar pitching by Brandon Woodruff (4.0 IP, 3 K, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 ER), Brent Suter (1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER), and Drew Pomeranz (2.0 IP, 2 K, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER) of the Brewers and Stephen Strasburg (3.0 IP, 2 H, 4 K, 0BB, 0 ER) of the Nationals. Strasburg is usually a starter but came in out of the bullpen to rescue his squad in this “win or go home” game.In the bottom of the eighth, however, the Nationals’ offense came alive. The Brewers brought in their shutdown man, Josh Hader, to stifle the Nationals but Hader was anything but his usual dominating self.
Hader hit Michael Taylor with a pitch, then allowed a broken-bat bloop single by Ryan Zimmerman as well as a walk by Anthony Rendon.
That brought up Soto, the Nats’ 20-year-old star. With two outs, Soto hit a line-drive base hit to left field, where it was bobbled by Grisham, allowing all three runners to score before Soto was thrown out at third.
Soto’s clutch hit gave the Nats a 4-3 lead.
The Nationals brought in closer Daniel Hudson to pitch the ninth, and he delivered, striking out one on his way to a save.
The Nationals will next face the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday, October 3rd, in L.A.