2012 Washington Nationals season
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
104 August 1 Phillies 2-3 Worley ( 6-6 ) Jackson ( 6-7 ) Papelbon ( 23 ) 23,777 61-42
105 August 2 Phillies 3-0 Detwiler ( 6-4 ) Hamels ( 11-6 ) Clippard ( 21 ) 28,825 62-42
17 August 3 ( 1 ) Marlins 7-4 Lannan ( 2-0 ) Hand ( 0-1 ) Clippard ( 22 ) 32,334 63-42
106 August 3 ( 2 ) Marlins 2-5 Johnson ( 7-7 ) Gonzalez ( 13-6 ) Cishek ( 6 ) 32,334 63-43
107 August 4 Marlins 10-7 Mattheus ( 4-1 ) Dunn ( 0-1 ) 33,449 64-43
108 August 5 Marlins 4-1 Strasburg ( 12-5 ) Nolasco ( 8-11 ) Storen ( 1 ) 30,453 65-43
109 August 6 @ Astros 5-4 ( 11 ) Stammen ( 5-1 ) López ( 3-1 ) 13,843 66-43
110 August 7 @ Astros 3-2 ( 12 ) Storen ( 1-0 ) Storey ( 0-1 ) Clippard ( 23 ) 14,273 67-43
111 August 8 @ Astros 4-3 Gonzalez ( 14-6 ) Galarraga ( 0-2 ) 16,038 68-43
112 August 9 @ Astros 5-0 Zimmermann ( 9-6 ) Harrell ( 9-8 ) 14,417 69-43
113 August 10 @ Diamondbacks 9-1 Strasburg ( 13-5 ) Cahill ( 9-10 ) 29,362 70-43
114 August 11 @ Diamondbacks 6-5 Jackson ( 7-7 ) Miley ( 12-8 ) Clippard ( 24 ) 34,030 71-43
115 August 12 @ Diamondbacks 4-7 Corbin ( 4-4 ) Detwiler ( 6-5 ) Putz ( 22 ) 27,345 71-44
116 August 13 @ Giants 14-2 Gonzalez ( 15-6 ) Vogelsong ( 10-6 ) 42,050 72-44
117 August 14 @ Giants 1-6 Bumgarner ( 13-7 ) Zimmermann ( 9-7 ) 42,081 72-45
118 August 15 @ Giants 6-4 Strasburg ( 14-5 ) Lincecum ( 6-13 ) Clippard ( 25 ) 42,133 73-45
119 August 17 Mets 6-4 Detwiler ( 7-5 ) Santana ( 6-9 ) Clippard ( 26 ) 34,827 74-45
120 August 18 Mets 0-2 Niese ( 10-6 ) Jackson ( 7-8 ) Francisco ( 20 ) 42,662 74-46
121 August 19 Mets 5-2 Gonzalez ( 16-6 ) Hefner ( 2-5 ) Clippard ( 27 ) 33,764 75-46
122 August 20 Braves 5-4 ( 13 ) Stammen ( 6-1 ) Martínez ( 5-3 ) 21,298 76-46
The Washington Nationals' 2012 season was the eighth season for the baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, the fifth season at Nationals Park, and the 44th since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec. After finishing the previous season in third place with an 80-81 record, out of last place in the NL East for the second time since moving to Washington, the Nationals made several moves to pursue playoff contention in 2012 and beyond. Despite being plagued with injuries, the Nationals had an impressive start to the season, never dropping below the .500 mark and consistently holding first or second place in their division. On September 3, the Nationals won their 82nd game of the season, making this season their first winning season since moving to Washington, D.C. in 2005 and the first for the franchise since 2003. On September 20, the Nationals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to clinch the franchise's first postseason berth since 1981, and the first for a Washington-based team since the Washington Senators won the American League pennant in 1933. On October 1, the Nationals clinched the National League East division. On October 3, they went on to clinch the best record in Major League Baseball at 98-64. They finished the season with a 98-64 record and played the St. Louis Cardinals in the Divisional Series. On October 12, in Game 5 of the NLDS, they lost to the Cardinals 9-7 and were eliminated.