Best of the best: Top moments in Nationals history

Since their inaugural season in 2005, the Nationals have brought iconic moments to the nation’s capital. Here are 10 that stand out, in chronological order.

First curly ‘W’ in team history
In their second game since relocating to Washington, D.C., the Nationals earned their first win in team history on April 6, 2005, with a 7-3 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. They were led by outfielder Brad Wilkerson hitting for the cycle. Wilkerson drew a lead-off walk against Brett Myers, then homered in the third inning and singled in the fifth. He tripled off Rheal Cormier in the seventh frame, and then completed the cycle with a ground-rule double against Aaron Fultz in the eighth.

Zimmerman's walk-off HR in Nats Park opener
Ryan Zimmerman opened Nationals Park in celebratory fashion on March 30, 2008, with a walk-off home run, propelling the Nats to a 3-2 win over the Braves. Zimmerman exemplified his nickname, “Mr. Walk-off,” when he belted a two-out line-drive homer to center field off Peter Moylan in the bottom of the ninth inning and sent the brand new stadium into a frenzy.

Strasburg K's 14 in debut
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 Draft, Stephen Strasburg made his Major League debut just one year later. He took the mound at Nationals Park on June 8, 2010, against the Pirates at age 21 and dazzled with a performance beyond his years. Strasburg struck out 14 batters in seven innings, hurling 94 pitches (65 for strikes) and allowing two runs off four hits. The highly anticipated day, dubbed “Strasmas,” delivered an early holiday gift for the baseball world.

Werth's heroic 13-pitch battle in NLDS walk-off
The Nationals were fighting to keep their first playoff berth in team history alive on Oct. 11 in Game 4 of the 2012 National League Division Series against the Cardinals. Washington entered the bottom of the ninth inning in a 1-1 tie, having been held scoreless since the second frame. Jayson Werth battled Lance Lynn in an epic 13-pitch at-bat, ultimately winning the duel with a walk-off solo home run in front of a postseason-hungry home crowd to save the campaign.

Zimmermann hurls Nats’ first no-hitter
Jordan Zimmermann put on a regular season finale spectacle by throwing a no-hitter against the Marlins on Sept. 28, 2014, at Nationals Park. With two outs in the ninth inning, a backwards-diving Steven Souza Jr. secured the feat with a dramatic, over-the-shoulder line-drive robbery off Christian Yelich. Zimmermann completed the day with 10 strikeouts and one walk on 104 pitches.

Scherzer strikes out 20 -- in one game
Max Scherzer dazzled with two no-hitters as a member of the Nationals, but he makes this list with his jaw-dropping strikeout total. On May 11, 2016, Scherzer tallied 20 K's in a complete game at home against the Tigers, his former club. He tied Randy Johnson, Kerry Wood and Roger Clemens for the strikeout record in a start of nine-innings or fewer. Scherzer also joined Johnson as the only other pitcher to record a 20-strikeout game and a no-hitter.

Parra debuts “Baby Shark”
Looking to snap an offensive slump, Gerardo Parra changed his walk-up music on June 19, 2019, to one of his children’s favorite songs. He chose the viral hit “Baby Shark” in hopes it would provide a spark at the plate. As fast as you could clap your hands in tune with the beat, Parra and the Nats went on a hot streak, and "Baby Shark” became an anthem worthy of a championship, taking over Nationals Park in 2019.

Soto's wild go-ahead hit in 2019 Wild Card Game
The Nationals began their World Series run with a dramatic NL Wild Card Game win over the Brewers on Oct. 1, 2019. Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, a young Juan Soto came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. He sliced a line-drive single off Josh Hader into right field, where the ball bounced past Trent Grisham. The Nationals cleared the bases and took the deciding lead on the defensive miscue.

Kendrick’s heroic ‘clang’
The Nationals' first World Series didn’t happen without some in-game dramatics. Trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning in Houston, Howie Kendrick stepped to the plate for an at-bat that would change the course of Nats history. Kendrick clanged a two-run, go-ahead homer off the right-field foul pole against Will Harris. The Minute Maid Park home crowd was silenced as the Nats bullpen erupted upon taking the deciding lead.

Nationals become World Series champs
On Oct. 30, 2019, the Nationals completed a remarkable turnaround from a 19-31 start to their season by defeating the Astros on the road in Game 7 of the World Series for the first championship in team history. Fueled by a fearless attitude (“Natitude”) and mantras like manager Dave Martinez’s “Go 1-0 every day,” the Nationals defeated the Astros in a 6-2 comeback that concluded with Daniel Hudson and Yan Gomes embracing on the mound after striking out Michael Brantley.