Washington Nationals Achieve Most Potent Late-Inning Explosion in a Century

The Nationals' offense never let up against the Colorado Rockies, scoring four-plus runs between the eighth and ninth innings in all three games this week.

The Washington Nationals made history with another late offensive push Wednesday afternoon.

Washington trailed the Colorado Rockies 4-1 headed into the ninth inning at Nationals Park, needing to make a highly improbable comeback to clinch a series victory. That's exactly what they did, rattling off four runs against reliever Daniel Bard to clinch the walk-off win.

It marked the third game in a row in which the Nationals scored four-plus combined runs in the eighth and ninth innings against the Rockies. According to OptaSTATS, they became the first team to achieve that feat across an entire series since the Detroit Tigers did it four games in a row against the Milwaukee Brewers in April, 1901.

The @Nationals scored 4+ combined runs in the 8th & 9th inning in all 3 games this week vs. the Rockies, including two 3+ run comeback wins in the 8th inning or later.

The last team to do that in a series (min. 3 G) was the Tigers vs. Brewers in a 4-G set on April 25-28, 1901. pic.twitter.com/rzH1cBpnLV

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 26, 2023

The Nationals were unable to spin that into a sweep, though, since they lost the series opener 10-6 on Monday. Colorado led 6-1 entering the eighth inning, and while Washington did score five runs in the following two frames, the Rockies added four more of their own.

It appeared to be a similar situation on Tuesday, with the Rockies getting out to a quick 4-1 lead. The Nationals still trailed 5-2 midway through the eighth, but a two-RBI double by third baseman Jeimer Candelario and a three-run home run by first baseman Joey Meneses in the bottom of the inning lifted them their first of two comeback wins over the visiting Rockies.

On Wednesday, a hit-by-pitch, groundout and walk all led to runs, then shortstop CJ Abrams won it with an RBI single to right. Colorado, which had gotten all four of its runs off of three home runs, didn't have a chance to respond at the plate.

wheee! pic.twitter.com/IEyz6HW0B8

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 26, 2023

The rollercoaster series between the Nationals and Rockies likely won't have much of an impact on the final playoff picture, as both teams are in last place in their own divisions. Washington improved to 43-59 with the wins Tuesday and Wednesday, while Colorado dropped to 40-62.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.