Fister calls complete-game shutout, home-field clincher a "big milestone"

Nationals starter Doug Fister notched his 16th win with a complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win over the Marlins Friday afternoon. He allowed only three hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. But afterward, it was all about the ballclub. "It's a great team win," Fister said. "Something we can enjoy for a little while and get ready for tonight. Guys are rolling, putting good at-bats together. What was there? Eight or nine walks. I mean, guys are seeing the ball well. That's what you want to have especially going into the playoffs like we are. Guys are locked in." Fister had quite the day, but was uneasy talking about myself. "Not particularly (comfortable)," Fister said when asked about talking about his outing. "This is a team game. We are a team. We are all brothers in here. That's how we play it. That's how we want to play it. We have something special in here." Fister's win also clinched home-field advantage for the Nationals throughout the National League postseason. "That was a big milestone for us today," Fister said. "That will give us some edge in the playoffs. It's always nice to be home. You got your home fans, we've got our own lockers, our own chairs, guys are comfortable here and that means a lot." Did being able to pitch in the first game make a difference with his quick, get-going tempo? "I like getting here, being ready to play," Fister said. "Wake up and go. I don't want to sit around all day and kinda mentally, physically, whatever it is - I just like being able to get up and play ball." Will the team relax a bit now that it has home-field clinched? "Absolutely not. We've got to go full bore every day," Fister said. "Guys are going in fully locked in, mentally ready, physically ready. We've got a few days when the season's over. We've got to stay ready. We've got to carry that through the last few days here." Fister also received a tremendous ovation as he strolled out of the dugout to start the ninth inning with the possibility of a complete game, which he had not enjoyed since September 2012. "It's one of those things you take a second, you soak it in and then you get back to work," Fister said. "That's kinda what I did. I took a deep breath and soaked it in and got right back to work."