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GAME IN A NUTSHELL: Where to begin with this one? Guess we need to start at the beginning, with A.J. Cole making his major-league debut and getting beat up to the tune of nine runs in only two innings, a painful way to be introduced to the world. Who would’ve believed that would be a footnote by night’s end?
The Nationals did everything in their power to bail out the rookie right-hander, and somehow they pulled it off in historic fashion. Down 9-1 after two innings and 10-2 after four innings, they put together a furious rally, scoring four times in the fifth, once in the sixth and three times in the seventh, trimming the lead to 11-10 at the crowd at Turner Field stood to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.