On paper, the Washington Nationals’ 7:35 PM matchup against the Atlanta Braves had less-than-zero implications. The Nats are already in the playoffs, essentially having locked up the number two seed. The Braves are already eliminated.
Sure, Max Scherzer — who, granted, is normally the main story whenever he pitches — was on the hill, but that happens a couple dozen times a year for Washington. In other words, same old, same old.
So, in the third inning, Ryan Zimmerman, bored to death, laced a single through the left side, good for his 100th RBI.
Ryan Zimmerman joins Joe Cronin, Goose Goslin, Roy Sievers, Frank Howard as players with 3 or more 100-RBI seasons for a Washington MLB team
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) September 20, 2017
Zimmerman has the fourth 30 HR/100 RBI season in Nats history. He's done it once before. Adam LaRoche, Adam Dunn have the others.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) September 20, 2017
According to the Nationals’ PR team, it was the “first 30-HR, 30-double, 100-RBI season by a Nationals player since 2012 (Adam LaRoche) & just the 4th in Nats history.”
A minor achievement in the grand scheme of things, sure, but an impressive one for a player that many were calling to be benched at the beginning of the year.
Later, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Max Scherzer struck out pitcher Luiz Gohara, again, a normally uneventful occasion.
Except that it was his 250th strikeout of the year.
Which, as it turns out, was something he has done for four years straight, putting him in pretty elite company:
When @Max_Scherzer is in company like this, you know it’s special. pic.twitter.com/wB4X0noaoT
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) September 20, 2017
Max Scherzer: 4 straight seasons with at least 250 strikeouts.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 20, 2017
Only Randy Johnson has a longer streak (6, 1997-2002)
Later, in the top of the seventh, Trea Turner stole third base. Again, another boring development. Again, one that was important, because it was his 41st of the season, which tied him with Alfonso Soriano for the most stolen bases in a single season by a National.
Trea Turner up to 41 stolen bases in just 88 games this season. He has 74 steals in 161 games over the last two seasons.
— Drew Silva (@drewsilv) September 20, 2017
Later, in the top of the ninth, Turner walked, and stole second, putting him alone at the top of the list with 42 stolen bags.
Trea Turner needed 88 games played to break the #Nats single-season stolen bases record (42).
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) September 20, 2017
With his 42nd steal of the season, Trea Turner has set a new single-season #Nats record. pic.twitter.com/LiflZw52a3
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 20, 2017
Next up: Breaking the runs record on ground-rule doubles!