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As usual, the suggestions are based on certain objective metrics, and as such, it's likely that I'll have missed out games worthy of inclusion. Therefore, please suggest alternatives in the comments, or if you see one mentioned there you think deserves a nomination, give it a rec. Well-liked candidates will be folded into the final list, which will be posted on Wednesday, along with the poll which will decide the winner - the result will be declared on Friday. But for now, here are some suggestions to get you started.
- Best pitching performance: 3-0 vs. Cardinals, April 28
- Biggest shutout: 9-0 @ Mets, August 11
- Biggest comeback: 9-8 vs. Braves, August 22
- Longest win by time: 10-9 vs. Braves, August 24
- Best offensive performance: 14-4 @ Nationals, September 26
It's a little odd how the above are all clustered relatively late in the season, but that seems to be the way the season went. Even if our winning percentage was similar before and after the All-Star Game, any memorable drama seemed heavily skewed towards the latter. We had just a single walk-off win in the entire first half, among the team's first 38 victories. Compare that to the seven Diamondbacks' walk-off victories after the break, in only 31 wins there.
You could likely also make alternative cases for some of the categories. Another possibility for the best pitching performance would be the 6-0 win over the Marlins on June 12, where Miami sent only two batters over the minimum to the plate. For offensive performance, the Nationals' game only tied for 24th this year in hits by the D-backs, even as it led in runs scored. We had three more hits and five more total bases in the 10-2 win over the Phillies on June 17, for example. And while the Braves' game was the longest win by time, there were three victories which went more innings: two over the Dodgers (July 16, Sep 18) and one against the Mets (Aug 10).
So, those are some things to think about and consider. As previously, this is not intended as a forum to discuss which was the best game, but to offer up suggestions of alternatives. We'll have time to discuss the merits of the candidates, when we have the poll thread on Wednesday!