How we’re feeling: Positively Half Street

Why: The Nats won a game! On the brink of elimination, not only did they beat the San Francisco Giants, but they beat the Giants’ star pitcher, Madison Bumgarner, thanks largely to his ill-advised, errant throw to third base on a bunt by Nats catcher Wilson Ramos, which allowed two runs to score. Closer Drew Storen showed more composure than probably every Nats fan watching the game after he gave up a run in the ninth inning, then recovered to preserve the win.

What’s next: Game 4 against the Giants, tonight in San Francisco at 9:07 p.m. Again, the Nats have to win to prolong their season. They’ll be reaping the one benefit of Saturday night’s demoralizing 18-inning loss (other than enabling fans who stayed for the entirety to feel superior to those who left early): Yusmeiro Petit won’t be able to start Game 4, since the Giants used him for innings 12 through 17 of the Game 2 slog. Instead, the Giants will be forced to start Ryan Vogelsong, who has struggled the past two seasons.

Illustration by Jandos Rothstein / photo by Mrs. Gemstone via Flickr