Nats jump on Bucs, wait out Mets, clinch NL East

PITTSBURGH — What felt inevitable all spring and summer became official Saturday night. For the third time in five years, the Nationals are National League East champions.

The Nats beat the Pirates, 6-1, then waited 23 minutes until the Mets’ 10-8 loss to the Phillies in New York, which officially clinched the division title and punched Washington’s postseason ticket. Then the celebration was on.

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“You just knew it was going to happen,” right-hander Max Scherzer said. “We could feel it in the air, we started celebrating. We knew everything that’s been happening, we’re going to be popping champagne in here. It was just one of those things you could feel unfold.”

Washington has spent 171 days in first place this season, trailing by the smallest of margins (a half-game) for four days in early May. Otherwise, the club’s status atop the NL East has been unquestioned.

With a magic number of two, the Nats needed a win and a Mets loss Saturday night. Both came easily. New York fell behind early and couldn’t recover. Neither could Pittsburgh, which dropped back to .500 following another shaky start by Ivan Nova and a week’s worth of sloppy defense behind him. The Nats scored six runs on eight hits in Nova’s four innings of work, but only three of those runs were charged to Nova.

“First inning, [Nova] was elevated, wasn’t as sharp. After that, I thought he was getting into a very good spot, a very competitive spot,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “We more or less took him out of the game with our defense.”

The Nationals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, when Nova gave up four singles and hit two batters. Stephen Drew delivered the biggest hit, a two-run single to center. Washington put together another three-run frame in the fourth without an extra-base hit, as Nova allowed two bunt singles and uncorked a wild pitch while the Bucs committed three errors behind him.

That proved to be enough for the Nats’ pitching staff, even when they had to pick up for Joe Ross’ 2 2/3-inning start. Sean Burnett cleaned up the third after Ross’ exit, then Reynaldo Lopez tossed 5 1/3 outstanding innings. Marc Rzepczynski and Blake Treinen finished the job in the ninth.

“That’s what I came here for,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. “This is what I expect and I think this is what these guys expected, too. From Spring Training, we talked about where we wanted to go, what we had to do, and they worked hard for it. And I mean this is something. I want these guys to enjoy it and just have a good time.”

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDShort outing for Ross raises questions: As the Nationals try to line up their postseason rotation behind Scherzer …

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