"I'm very proud of this team. For a team to have that kind of record and still play with that kind of intensity at the end is really great." --Interim manager Jim Riggleman, on Sunday's 15-inning win, Oct. 4, 2009.
THE RESULTS: The Washington Nationals ended the 2009 campaign with a seven-game winning streak, sweeping the Atlanta Braves in a four-game series. Sunday's game was a 15 inning marathon that Alberto Gonzalez won 2-1 with a two-out, run-scoring single.
J.D. Martin had a very strong start for the Nats. He went six innings, allowing six hits and no walks. He gave up one run, a solo shot by Nate McLouth, and struck out two.
Tyler Clippard, Ron Villone, Jason Bergmann, Saul Rivera and Logan Kenising (W, 1-2, 8.92) threw scoreless relief for nine innings.
Boone Logan (L, 1-1) took the loss for Atlanta. Elijah Dukes took a one-out walk and advanced to second on Wil Nieves' single to right field. Then, with two outs, Gonzalez singled safely up the middle to push across the tiebreaker.
Kensing got into some trouble in the bottom of the 15th, but struck out Brooks Conrad with runners at second and third to cement the win.
The only bad news from the seven-game winning streak to end the season was Adam Dunn's failure to hit two more home runs, breaking his streak of 40-homer seasons at five, tying him with several others for the third longest streak of 40-home run seasons.
The Nats final record stands one game worse than last season, at 59-103.
THE TAKEAWAY: Over the next couple of days I'll do a more in-depth season recap, but the 2009 season is mercifully in the books.
It's been a long season, starting with Jim Bowden's ouster in spring training amidst reports of abuse and scandal, continuing with a 5-16 April, Manny Acta's firing at the all-star break, Jordan Zimmermann's elbow reconstruction surgery... I could go one, but I won't.
THE GOOD: Way to finish strong, Nats. A seven-game streak to close out the season is a nice thing.
THE BAD: No more Nats games until March.
THE UGLY: 103 losses. Hopefully it's the last time we have to talk about 100-loss seasons in D.C.
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