danny espinosa. doubles to the wall. he scores ian desmond, the birthday boy. nats get a solid performance from ross detwiler as well pitching wise. and we can say it, it's official, nats playoffs here we go. >> what's the big deal? [ laughing ] >> it was fun, but it's not what i had my eye on. it's a nice step to get here. but, you know, every manager that is leading the division, that's the only thing that matters winning the division. >> reporter: what a night out here. again, 30,000 plus witnessing this history. the first time a dc area baseball team can say they're going to the playoffs in 79 years. much more coming up in sports. we'll hear from the players at about 11:20. back to you new not studio. matt jablow is live in the studio. matt, what is going on with the celebration. >> reporter: anita, as you can well imagine, there were thousands of extremely excited nats fans. just about an hour ago, 10:01 p.m. when the game actually ended. here is a fan's reaction. >> their first ever playoff. >> this is awesome. >> wonderful. >> 79 years. >> absolutely fan

danny espinosa singles up the middle. nats take three of four in the series and win today 4-3, their 81st victory of the year matching the team's record set in 2005. >> all these games are big games and we play a really good opponent that's got a good chance to be in the hunt in october. i mean you sense it. >> when you're 15 games out of going to playoff, it's tough to go in there and try to win a ball game when you're constantly down. so knowing that we have a chance to be in the playoffs and we're in first place right now, it's a lot of fun to come to the park every day. >> this afternoon was start no. 27 for stephen strasburg, he walked one batter, struck out nine with no earned runs. the only batter with a hit off him today, matt holliday. he threw 97 pitches on the day now to 156 in the 3rd innings on the year. here's strasburg after the game. . >> i just really wanted to go out there and use all my pitches, not necessarily use one like i did last outing and it seemed to work a lot better. >> strasburg was great. la

danny espinosa said we're doing just fine. >> you hit six home runs and set a team record and come backhe next night and get the six home runs to back that up. >> and everyone is at the place now and this is comfortable. when you go on the team, you're getting pitches and you're not missing them. that is the biggest thing and -- and you are not missing the pitches. >> is it one thing where you feed off of each other now and see one guy doing it, like adam laroche and so on and so forth? >> and that is not like a home run. why do you want to get a couple of base hits, you address the team and don't want to be the loose person of the team and everyone said it's contageous. >> and this is, as you closed in on a division title and we have magic numbers out there and that is the sort of thing. what is that like? >> exciting. >> and i have never been in this opportunity. excited and they behind us. you go out there and do what we do and not let down. >> that smile gave espinosa away and they're excited about that and should be excited in baltimore. the orioles put on a show, too and that home

so it's not going to hold us. >> true to danny espinosa's words the nats rallied down 6-2 at one point now tied up at since 6 in the bottom of the 8th. -- 6-6 in the bottom of the 8th. >> plus later in this show 39 hours till kickoff, but who's counting? >>> a lot of fans aren't happy strasburg is being shut down, but many in the medical community believe it is the right decision. on fox 5 news at 5:00 scott epsly joined us, a physical therapist in physical medicine at georgetown university. >> it isn't an exact science, although to some extent from a physiological standpoint the science behind what they're doing is very sound. >> strasburg underwent tomorrow johns surgery to replace a -- tommy johns surgery to replace a torn ligament in his elbow in 2010. the key is for strasburg to stay healthy long term and building up strength in his arm and that could also take time. >>> fox 5 monitoring metro with a heads up for commuters. this expect delays -- expect delays this weekend. shuttle buses will replace trains between dupont circle and gallaudet stations. four hours will have limited

same score, bottom 7, danny espinosa facing edward mohica who smacks one to center.spinosa, that big time hit, big time web gem for the cards. tied at nine, good matchup. the world series mvp wins the battle, singles to left, allen craig scores and that proves to be the game winning run. cards down the nats 10-9. steven strasbourg on the hill tomorrow afternoon. >>> the yankees are ahead of the nats in the a.l. east. >>> the maryland terrapins football team this year, a win is a win. his team is now halfway to matching last year's total number of victories. a new beginning for the terps, with a lot of beginners. perry hill is one of them. the true freshman getting pressured in the quarter right here. it goes to brian thompson. perry, one of three picks, he went 16 for 24, 125 yards. this is one of those completions right here. down 6-0 in the fourth quarter, on third down, he finds kevin dorsey who takes it to the tribe's 14 yard line. big game. two plays later, they go to the ground. here it,justice picket. he's going to untouch, run right into the end zone. marylan

danny espinosa with a shot down the left line. there it goes. ian desmond was on first.he bases and beat the throw to the plate. nats are up 3-1. then we head to the 9th. they're up three. drew storen, strikes out the side. the nationals are playoff-bound after the game nats' manager davey johnson reacting to the win -- >> what's the big deal? [ laughter ] it was fun but it's not what i had my eye on you know. i mean it's a nice step to get here. but you know, every manager that's leading the division -- that's the only thing that matters, winning your division. >> that's the truth. the first time in the d.c. area baseball has gone to the playoffs since 1933. now of course they were the expos before they moved here and when they were the expos they made et to the postseason back in 1981. last night's win was the 91st win on the season and that's a record for the nats. the magic number eight to win the division. >> as you can expect nationals fans were ecstatic about the win and the first playoff appearance in decades. >> you got it and matt jablow didn't have

danny espinosa, ground ball down the line. ian desmond scores. nats go up 3-1. now, to the ninth.n closing things out. the nats clinch the first playoff berth since 1981. >>> and the reds are also headed to the playoffs, clinching their playoff berth, as well. >> looking forward to cincinnati winning the world series. >>> tiger woods has a share of the lead as the second round of the tour championship gets under way today. he had six birdies in his first round yesterday. if woods wins the tournament on sunday, it would mean a $10 million payday, which is the largest payout in golf. 10 million bucks. >> not too shabby. and he happens to have a few million already. just to go along with all that other good stuff. >>> here's a remarkable moment from a high school soccer game in massachusetts, straight from a corner kick. watch this. nicolae calabri uses one leg to get to the net. >> he plays on the national amputee soccer team. when he became 13, he was the first person to ever summit mt. kilimanjaro on crutches. >> he's unbelievable. >> oh, my gosh. inspirational. >>> up next, "the

then in the nats' half of inning, danny espinosa goes to work with his own audio daily double. ian desmond the birthday boy scores to make it 4-1 nats. drew storen versus hanley ramirez. dr. drew wins, the nats going to the playoffs 4-1 the final. >> fortous to be guaranteed to play in a playoff game. for what they've been throw is you know it's very special. >> we want to say thanks to them for holding on. it's got to be tough holding on. i know that being a rams fan and everything. >> we always believe in ourselves, we know the talent we have on this team and for our fans to come out and know what was on the line and to win the game and to hear them be as excited as they were. it was just a great feeling to be on the field you know almost kind of send chills through you. >> here's how big of a deals this. it's the first time a d.c. area baseball team going to the playoffs since 1933. 91 wins is a nats' record. the expos had more in their heyday of course. the magic number though to clinch the dig is now eight and whoever -- division and now eight and whoever thought we would