WASHINGTON -- Cheers emerged from different sections of the Nationals' clubhouse early on Wednesday afternoon when the Red Sox took a ninth-inning lead over the Braves en route to Boston completing a sweep of the National League East leaders. For a Nationals team clinging to faint postseason hopes, any sort of opening can be something to latch onto.
When the Nationals look back and review this season gone wrong, they are likely to look at the past few weeks and lament their missed opportunity. Both the Braves and Phillies -- the two teams ahead of them in the standings in the NL East -- have been playing under .