When the National League Wild Card Game began, the Washington Nationals had never advanced in the playoffs since they moved to D.C.
It took a three-run comeback in the bottom of the eighth against one of the best relievers in the sport on the back of their franchise’s best player (Ryan Zimmerman) and the face of their future (Juan Soto) to win the Wild Card Game and get over the hump.
After 30 seasons of pain, starting Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Coliseum the Oakland Athletics will get a chance to exorcise their own playoff demons.