Dan Uggla provides ultimate comeback story in epic 13-12 win

ATLANTA - After two innings, the Nationals found themselves down eight runs and staring at a seventh straight loss. But an amazing display of resiliency put themselves back into position for one mighty swing of the bat from second baseman Dan Uggla to regain all of the confidence that was seemingly lost throughout the season's disappointing first month.

With one out in the ninth and the Nats trailing by two, Braves closer Jason Grilli had Uggla in an 0-2 hole. Catcher Jose Lobaton was standing on second and third baseman Danny Espinosa on first when Grilli fired a fastball that Uggla measured. With one big bat twirl, Uggla connected on a titanic three-run homer to give the Nats their biggest comeback win in team history, a 13-12 stunner.

"It felt pretty good, I can't lie. That felt good," Uggla said. "It was a fastball. I was able to catch up to it. Once I hit it, it was like a feeling of ease came over me. I hadn't felt that feeling in a long time. It was my first homer this year. Yeah, it was cool."

Uggla wasn't the only one feeling relief. The Nats have been slumping throughout April and left answering repeated questions of whether the championship expectations following them around were too much to handle.

"It was just awesome," said Espinosa, whose ninth-inning walk was huge. "I was just so happy. We've been in a tough streak, losing some bad games. To see that happen, everyone was just real happy for the team, happy for him. It was great. It was a great swing and he drove that ball. It's an awesome feeling to work so hard that whole game and come back and get that victory."

Nationals manager Matt Williams was impressed with the fortitude his team showed.

"The fact that they didn't quit," Williams said. "It's easy to fold tents and look forward to tomorrow but they fought. They fought really well."

Uggla's story has been well-documented since he showed up at spring training as a longshot to make the roster. But Uggla finally felt healthy and his renewed confidence resulted in an impressive spring at the plate. And with the Nats dealing with injuries, not only did Uggla find a spot on the team, but he started on opening day.

Since then, Uggla hadn't experienced much success until he returned to Turner Field, where he played three-plus years before he was released last season after struggling terribly with his hitting. The fans began showering relentless boos on Uggla from the time he took the field on Monday evening. Most of the 14,833 in attendance on Tuesday were left quiet and stunned by Uggla's homer.

"Well, the good thing about getting booed, someone once told me a long time ago: 'They don't boo nobodies,'" Uggla said. "It's pretty cool to get booed every once in a while. And it's always good just to hear some cheers at home. It's good to hear some boos and then (when you do) something good, they boo you even harder after that. I don't know about shutting them up, but it was cool that it went our way tonight."

The boos were replaced by sounds of pandemonium from the Nats dugout as Uggla's blast sailed deep into the left field stands. He was asked afterward if it was hard to not swing for a home run in that situation.

"No, not at all. That's pretty much all I was thinking about," Uggla said. "I mean, I was just champing at the bit to get a chance, an opportunity to do something like that. Loby had a great at-bat, a great hit. Espinosa grinded his at-bat. What a great at-bat that was. It kind of set it up, and I got lucky that (Grilli) kind of left one out over and I caught up to it."

After a couple forearm smashes with Espinosa and Lobaton, Uggla was greeted by massive bear hug from right fielder Bryce Harper at the third base dugout steps before being swarmed by his teammates.

"You know, these are some crazy dudes in here," Uggla said. "They get excited and love to show it. It fired me up. I'm a pretty low-key, mellow guy, but seeing them excited ... I was already pretty jacked up, but seeing how excited they were, just the energy that flows through your body and flows through the dugout like it did, it was cool."

Center fielder Denard Span sparked the Nats comeback with a 5-for-6 night that included three doubles, a solo home run and four runs scored. After the game, though, his focus was Uggla's moment.

"That fired me up, to be honest with you," Span said. "I was coming on deck after he crossed home plate and I just looked at him. I didn't even say anything. I just looked straight in his eyes. You guys can't write that any better. A guy that's been through a lot these last few years, just good for him."

Nats ace Max Scherzer capped Uggla's night off by pouring chocolate syrup on him during his postgame interview on MASN. Uggla said that was a first for him.

"Like I said, we've got some crazy dudes in here. I'm sure I looked pretty appetizing after all that. I've got to get new clothes, a new hat, new gloves and all that. Hopefully that'll be the last time we do that," Uggla said.