The slide was more suited for second base, a takeout slide on a potential routine double play from the looks of it. Only it happened at home plate and the man on the ground trying to gain his bearings was Atlanta Braves catcher David Ross — not a middle infielder.

Jonny Gomes had just executed the play that was considered the turning point of the game, drawing the Nationals to within 3-2.

As John Lannan sent a bouncer to first base in the fourth inning with the bases loaded, the newest National came barreling home. Gomes slid feet-first in front of home plate, taking the feet of Ross out from under him, and smacked his right hand on home plate.

Gomes' slide did exactly what it was supposed to do: prevent an easy, inning-ending double play. Three pitches later, Rick Ankiel launched a grand slam to straightaway center field — his third home run in the last two games — to give the Nats a 6-3 lead that would grow to 9-3 in their fourth straight victory.

"This is my kind of game," said Nationals manager Davey Johnson. "I haven't had any here. I've been here five weeks, and I've been waiting for one like this.

"This is what this club is capable of doing. Everybody starts getting that fever, that hit fever, and it's fun. But the talent's been here."

When the dust had settled, Ankiel's homer was the headliner on a night that featured Ian Desmond's first since April 28 — a two-run shot in the fifth — and Michael Morse's 18th, a solo blast in the sixth. In total, the Nationals had 14 hits.

Source: Washington Times