One-run wins build character, show quality Nats bullpen

The Nationals are now 25-17 in one-run games after Thursday's 4-3 victory over the Phillies. The victory was the Nats' 34th comeback win of the season. Three of the Nats' last five wins have come by a single run.

They have gone 30-16 in series openers this season, as well.

These are statistics that could be beneficial come playoff time. There will be opportunities against good teams, most likely in the postseason, where the Nats will be down by one run, or up by one run, in the late going.

The three new relievers the club brought on in July - Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle - have done a nice job holding leads, especially those of the one-run variety. They accomplished the feat again Thursday, hurling three scoreless frames for the Nats' win.

Winning pitcher Tanner Roark understands the significance that holding on in a close game can make come October.

"One-run victories are huge," Roark said. "Anything could happen with a one-run victory. A guy could get walked and then there's a home run and you're losing by one. It's big for our starters and relievers to come in there a put up a zero - every single time. Just try to get in and out to get our offense up there at the plate.

"That's how a lot of things are going to be. If a starter doesn't have it that day, it's going to be quick trigger. You got to be out there and like I always say give 110 percent and go as long as you can."

Center fielder Michael A. Taylor appreciates any win, but especially when it's by a single run. His catch in the seventh of an Andrés Blanco blast kept the score at 4-3 Nats.

"These are great games to win," Taylor said. "Every night, our bullpen has come out and done a great job and shut them down and closed the door on those games. I think it's good to get that experience and play those games like that. They keep coming out and doing their job, so it's a good thing."

One can envision the scenario play itself out in a possible postseason game where an outfield catch or scoreless work from the bullpen will turn out to be the difference between a series deficit and a series lead.

The Nats' magic number to clinch the National League East is now at four. Is the club thinking about the idea of clinching with that prospect so close?

Manager Dusty Baker says this team is not into pre-emptive celebrations.

"No, not with this club," Baker said. "I mean, these guys, they take it one pitch, one inning at a time, one game at a time, and that's all you can concentrate and focus on, just what's immediate in front of your face. We'd like to win every game. We don't win every game, but this team has spoiled itself by winning and we like to win."

Taylor, who went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored on Thursday, said this team is not staring at the big picture just yet.

"We are taking it day by day right now," Taylor said. "There's still a lot of baseball left. Doesn't really help to kind of watch that number, you just go out and play every day."