An unfathomable loss, a new challenge
After blowing a late eight-run lead for the first time in franchise history, the Nationals must find a way to rebound and remain in a surprising pennant race
SAN FRANCISCO – Once it was over, once Mitchell Parker and the Nationals had trudged off the field and down the dugout steps in disbelief over what had just transpired, Blake Butera decided it was an appropriate time to speak to the entire team.
Not that there’s standard procedure for dealing with a 9-1 lead that somehow turned into an 11-10 loss in the span of two innings. But Butera had two distinct points he wanted to make to his young roster.
“These guys are hurting right now,” the rookie manager said. “And I told them this one should sting. This will probably be our worst loss of the year. It’s one of the worst losses I’ve been a part of.”
It was arguably the worst loss in Nationals history. Certainly the stakes weren’t as high as they were when they blew late leads in pre-2019 Octobers. But never before in franchise history – and that includes the Montreal Expos – had they blown an eight-run lead in the eighth inning or later.
So, yeah, this was as brutal as they get. And Butera wanted them to feel that.
