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COLIN COWHERD ON THE NATIONALS’ GAME 2 MELTDOWN VS. PITTSBURGH
You know, every October we get a game that isn’t just a loss… it’s a revelation.
And folks, Game 2 of the 1928 NLCS — Nationals, Pirates — that wasn’t a loss.
That was a loud, blinking neon sign saying:
“Washington isn’t ready. Pittsburgh is.”
“Let’s start with this…”
Some teams just have a playoff identity. Pittsburgh does.
They’re the bar fight team. They’re the alley brawler. You don’t want to get into four-hour, fifteen-run chaos with them — because they love that. They thrive in that.
And Washington?
This is the country club team. The well-manicured roster. The curated, polished Nationals brand — ‘We win with efficiency, precision, pitching depth.’
Well guess what?
Efficiency doesn’t help you when you give up 15 runs at home in October.
Juan Rivera. Oh my.
Three home runs.
Twelve total bases.
Four runs scored.
And the swagger of a guy who walked into Nationals Park like it was his Airbnb for the day.
This was a superstar saying:
“I’m the best player in this series, and it’s not close.”
Washington had no answer.
They kept pitching to him like they hadn’t seen the scouting report.
Like he was some September call-up and not the most dangerous hitter in the National League this month.
And then came the turning point…
Top of the seventh.
Nationals still kind of, sort of in it.
Crowd’s hanging on…
And Darrell Verni — a guy who’s been a contact hitter most of his career — barrels one up and hits a grand slam that basically sent the whole stadium to early dinner.
That wasn’t a dagger.
That was a harpoon.
13–2. Game over. Series? Pretty much leaning that way.
“Where Cowherd was right…”
I TOLD you Pittsburgh’s depth matters in October.
Nine different guys with hits.
Everybody contributing.
They’re the opposite of top-heavy.
Washington?
Dependence on stars.
When the stars don’t carry?
This is what happens — you get boat-raced in your own ballpark.
“Where I was wrong…”
I thought the Nationals’ bullpen was at least serviceable.
Nope. That was a horror film.
Barnard, Garcia, Julia — it didn’t matter.
Everybody who took the mound looked like they were throwing a wiffle ball in the backyard.
Identity. Identity. Identity.
Pittsburgh has one.
Washington still doesn’t.
Pittsburgh plays fast, aggressive, pressure-filled baseball.
Steals bases.
Takes big swings.
Punishes mistakes.
Washington plays cautious, careful, “let’s-keep-it-close” baseball.
But this is October.
You don’t survive October playing not to lose.
You survive by overwhelming teams.
Pittsburgh overwhelmed them — in their ballpark — for 3 hours and 22 minutes.
Bottom line?
This series is 2–0, and it feels like 4–0.
Washington now has to go to Pittsburgh — one of the toughest places to win — down two games, out-hit, out-pitched, out-hustled, and frankly… out-toughed.
The Pirates aren’t just winning.
They’re imposing their will.
Game 3 is Tuesday.
And if Washington doesn’t discover some urgency, some fire, some something…
This thing might not make it back to D.C.
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