Nationals score franchise playoff record 8 runs in Game 3 victory
The Washington Nationals are one win away from the franchise's first NLCS appearance in 35 years, and they're doing it in record-setting style.
Washington rode a four-run ninth inning to an 8-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in their division series. The Nationals' eight runs set a new franchise record for a postseason game, breaking their previous mark of seven set during the 2012 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals.
| Date | Series | Opp. | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/10/2016 | NLDS | Dodgers | 8 |
| 10/12/2012 | NLDS | Cardinals | 7 |
| 10/9/2016 | NLDS | Dodgers | 5 |
| 10/10/1981* | NLDS | Phillies | 5 |
*Montreal Expos playoff game
The late outburst was highlighted by a 450-foot homer into the pavilion by former Dodger Jayson Werth, his 15th career playoff home run.
Werth's blast was one of four runs allowed in just one-third of an inning by Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen. Ryan Zimmerman added a two-run double that was misplayed by Josh Reddick which broke the game open.
Washington will look to close out the Dodgers on Tuesday and complete what would be a historic victory. The Nationals franchise hasn't won a playoff series since 1981, when they were known as the Montreal Expos and beat Philadelphia in a best-of-five series necessitated by a mid-season players' strike; it remains the Expos/Nationals' lone playoff series victory.
Baseball fans in the District of Columbia haven't seen their baseball team win a postseason series since 1924, when the Washington Senators beat the New York Giants in the World Series.
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)