Perhaps the latest slide down the standings for the Washington Nationals actually had something to do with the health of their players.
A number of Nationals had recently come down with a flu-like illness, which recently forced the team to bleach the entire clubhouse, manager Dave Martinez told Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post.
Martinez said he thinks the illness that hit pitcher Jeremy Hellickson and catcher Spencer Kieboom, among others, may have been norovirus or something similar.
Hellickson tried to pitch through the sickness against the Miami Marlins on Thursday but allowed eight earned runs in just four innings. His complexion was ghost white as he sweated profusely during the outing.
Fortunately for him, the Nationals overcame a 9-0 deficit to take home a 14-12 win thanks to eight RBIs from Trea Turner.
The Nationals and their newly disinfected clubhouse will host the Marlins for the second game of their series on Friday at Nationals Park.