The Major League Baseball post-season began last night with an exciting comeback win for the Washington Nationals in the National League Wild Card game. The Nationals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 with three runs in the eighth inning of their one-game playoff. Brewers reliever Josh Hader allowed all three runs, and the Nationals were aided by an error by Milwaukee right fielder Trent Grisham. The win ended a three-game losing streak in “winner-take-all” postseason games for the Nats. They had lost three National League Divisional Game Five’s, all at home.
Steven Strasburg earned the win in relief of Max Scherzer. Former Pirate reliever Daniel Hudson earned a save.
Washington advances into a National League Divisional Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Thursday.
In the other N.L. Divisional match-up, Atlanta will host the St. Louis Cardinals, also on Thursday.
The Oakland Athletics will host the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Wild Card tonight. The winner of tonight’s game will meet the Houston Astros. Former Pirate Charlie Morton will start for the Rays. Sean Manaea gets the start for the A’s. Game time is 8pm. The game will be televised on ESPN.
The New York Yankees will host the Minnesota Twins in the other A.L. Divisional Series, with both of those series beginning Friday.