With trade rumors, injury news news, and Bryce Harper all circling Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night, the Washington Nationals went out and won a ballgame 6-4, finally fending off the Philadelphia Phillies, a five-game losing streak, and quite a few demons.
The latest display of resilience came from closer Brad Hand, who not only ended a personal two-game blown save and loss streak, but retired three straight batters after yet another ninth-inning leadoff man reached base.
As sad and desperate as the Nationals have looked in the past few days, Hand and the team, as Davey Martinez loves to point out, “went 1-0 today.