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The Nationals have reached 70 wins for the first time since 2007. They've pulled even with the Mets for third place in the National League East, and they might have found another pitcher to put in their future rotation.
Brad Peacock threw five shutout innings in his first major league start, allowing just two hits and three walks. The Nationals scored a pair of runs in the third inning against Mike Pelfrey, Tyler Clippard threw two shutout innings and Rick Ankiel made a diving catch (a la Willie Harris in 2008 and 2010 in New York) to end the game.
The Nationals can take over third place in the NL East and sweep the Mets with a win tomorrow. But the story tonight was Peacock.
He threw first-pitch strikes 65 percent of the time, and had only one inning (the fourth) where he threw more than 19 pitches. He established his fastball early, and threw it on 60 of his 94 pitches, mixing it with a solid changeup and an impressive curveball that had a big break.
Baseball America has rated Peacock as the 56th-best prospect in the game, and he'll get a chance to win a spot in the rotation next year. Manager Davey Johnson told reporters in New York after the game that Peacock will likely get one more start in the doubleheader in Philadelphia next week, and could pitch in the bullpen the rest of the way.
And if the Nationals can keep dressing up their record while evaluating some of their young pitchers the rest of the way, they'll have plenty to feel good about heading into the offseason.
