Uggla's home run could have lasting effect on Nationals season

The Nationals needed someone, anyone, to make a play.

Denard Span and Jose Lobaton made plays to get the Nationals back in the game.

But it was a former Braves player, who is still drawing a paycheck from Atlanta (the Braves owe Uggla $12,692,500 in 2015, the most of any player on their current roster in 2015), who was still booed by the home team each early at-bat (drawing the admiration of a Braves legend) that provided the most dramatic of swings for a struggling team.

Disappointed with reaction of fans to Uggla last night. Unbelievable teammate, hard worker, always hustled and loves Atlanta. Miss ya buddy!

-- Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) April 28, 2015

Uggla turned on an 0-2 four-seam fastball from Atlanta reliever Jason Grilli and deposited a three-run homer way up the left field stands at Turner Field, and suddenly the Nationals finally had a win they could build off of early in a season that had otherwise been surprisingly difficult.

On the road, against a divisional opponent, somebody made a play.

Like a pro football team who needed their linebacker to knock down one more pass to win the Super Bowl, somebody made a play.

Like that pro hockey team getting a timely goal in the third period to finally win a Game 7 at home, somebody made a play.

Like a certain NBA team bringing in Paul Pierce, who let his mouth and his shot beat the Raptors and give the Wizards their first-ever four-game sweep in a playoff series, somebody made a play.

It was the twice-discarded-last-season newcomer to the Nationals, veteran 35-year-old Dan Uggla, who became that ultimate hero.

Waiting for him at the top step of the dugout after his monster shot was the Nationals' youngest sensation, Bryce Harper, who welcomed the Louisville, KY, native back to his teammates with an all enveloping bear hug.

The Nationals, down 9-1 early and 10-2 after four frames, came back to stun the Braves, 13-12. Uggla had five RBIs in the last three innings to force the biggest comeback in club history. The Nationals scored 13 runs in one game Tuesday, they had managed a total of 14 runs their previous six games, all losses.

It felt like this season was in trouble, and it still may be in some respects. The bullpen has question marks, and the offense needs to be consistent every game, but now the Nationals at least have that no-doubt-about-it benchmark game they have been searching for in April to build around.

Tuesday night in Atlanta that victory arrived, 13-12.

With the Mets losing to the Marlins 4-3, the Nationals are only seven games back of the lead in their division. They still have a chance to win the series in Atlanta. Then, they go to New York for a showdown series against the Mets, who are 10-0 at Citi Field, and there is a good chance starting third baseman Anthony Rendon will be back in the lineup.

So when Rendon is activated, you got to keep Uggla on the active roster, right?

Appears that question was answered with one gigantic home run in Georgia on Tuesday night.

That somebody has a name. It's Dan Uggla.