Wang’s victory over Braves keeps winning mark possible The dream of a winning season lives.
The Nationals still need to win their final four games to finish above .500 for the first time since the team moved to the District from Montreal in 2005. But that’s far better than the bleak alternative they have faced in recent years.
On Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park, right-hander Chien-Ming Wang continued to craft one of baseball’s best comeback stories in 2011 with six more strong innings in an eventual 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Chris Marrero had an RBI hit in the second inning, fellow rookie Danny Espinosa produced a two-run single in the fourth and Wang improbably added another run with his first major league hit in 33 tries. That was more than enough support for Wang (4-3, 4.04 ERA), who allowed just one earned run on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Washington improved to 77-80 and has won 12 of 16 overall dating to Sept. 9. It’s a nice way to end the season for a club that hopes with a few tweaks it can make the leap to bona fide playoff contender in 2012. A large part of that will be a full season with ace Stephen Strasburg, just back from Tommy John surgery. But Wang could be a nice piece to next year’s rotation, too, if the two sides can work out a new contract. He is a free agent at the end of the season and can sign with any team.
“At the beginning I still didn’t get the feel back,” Wang said through a translator of his early starts after a two-year rehabilitation process following shoulder surgery. “But the more outings I get I feel more on the ball. I’ll try to work on my breaking ball more, and hopefully I can get better and better and better.”
It was a nice win for the Nats and a difficult loss for the Braves (89-69), who saw their lead for the National League wild-card berth cut to two games with four to play when the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs.
Washington catcher Ivan Rodriguez had a fine day as well in what amounted to his own comeback from the oblique strain that ruined the second half of his season. Rodriguez last started a game July 4. Yet he singled, drew a walk and threw out two runners, including Braves speedster Michael Bourn, who leads the majors with 58 steals.
“I always keep myself in good shape,” Rodriguez said. “I train. I work hard for any opportunity I get to go out there and win for the team. That’s what I did today.”
