Here are the WS-winning Nats' top 5 wins of '19

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals won a lot in 2019 -- 93 games in the regular season, 12 more in the postseason -- and more than a few of them were memorable. They made T-shirts sporting the saying “Stay in the Fight” and it became their rallying cry, leading to one come-from-behind victory after another.

MLB.com is picking out the five best wins of the 2019 season and trying to figure out if there’s any lessons from those games to be taken into 2020.

1. Oct. 30: World Series Game 7 -- Nationals 6, Astros 2
The clincher, the one generations of fans in D.C. had been waiting for, the game where the Nationals won the World Series. And they did it in classic Nats 2019 fashion, with a late-innings come-from-behind victory (you’ll see a theme here). Zack Greinke carried a 2-0 shutout into the seventh inning when Anthony Rendon launched a solo homer. After a walk to Juan Soto, Greinke was out of the game and Howie Kendrick swatted a two-run homer off the right-field foul pole off Will Harris to give the Nationals the lead and stun a sold-out crowd in Houston. Daniel Hudson closed out the victory and the celebration began.

What does it tell us about 2020?
For the next year, the Nationals can call themselves the reigning World Series champions.

2. Oct. 15: National League Championship Series Game 4 -- Nationals 7, Cardinals 4
The Nationals blitzed the Cardinals after Patrick Corbin struck out the side in the top of the first inning, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the frame, which allowed the crowd at Nationals Park to go crazy for the entire night. This was the Nats' lineup at the top of its game. Six of the eight position players collected hits in the game, with Soto, Rendon and Trea Turner right in the middle of the big first inning. And although Corbin gave up four runs and lasted just five innings, he did so after he had plenty of room to work with, finishing with 12 strikeouts.

What does it tell us about 2020?
Starting pitching sets the tone for the Nationals, and Corbin striking out the side on 13 pitches never let the Cardinals get off the mat. This game showed just how well-rounded the Nats could be at their best, from dominant starting pitching to their deep lineup to a strong showing from the back end of the bullpen. It’s a model they’ll look to continue next year.

3. Oct. 9: National League Division Series Game 5 -- Nationals 7, Dodgers 3
A game that will be fondly remembered in Nationals history as the one to alter the reaction to the words “Game 5” around Washington fans. The Nats found themselves down, 3-1, in the eighth inning against the Dodgers when Rendon and Soto hit back-to-back homers off Clayton Kershaw. Two innings later, Kendrick hit a grand slam at Dodger Stadium and the Nationals were off to St. Louis for their first trip to the NLCS.

What does it tell us about 2020?
When asked how his team came back to win this game and series against the heavily favored Dodgers, Nats general manager Mike Rizzo summed it up best in the clubhouse amid the chaos: “Our stars were stars.” That’s the story of how the Nationals won this game. Even when Stephen Strasburg faltered early, he shut L.A. down from then on and threw six innings. Corbin got four outs in relief. And then on offense it was Rendon, Soto and Kendrick putting the Nats ahead. This team was carried to a World Series by its stars, but with Strasburg, Rendon and Kendrick free agents, we'll see if Washington can figure out a way to bring them back.

4. Oct. 1: National League Wild Card Game -- Nationals 4, Brewers 3
The Nationals' magical postseason run almost never got started, as they trailed by two runs the NL Wild Card Game in the eighth inning. The Brewers turned to their closer, Josh Hader, who was named the NL’s best reliever this season. With six outs left in their season and their backs against the wall, the Nats pulled off a dramatic comeback. With the bases loaded and two outs, Soto singled and the ball rolled underneath Trent Grisham’s glove in right field, allowing three runs to score to give Washington the lead.

What does it tell us about 2020?
No moment has been too big for Soto in his young career, and neither was this one in his first playoff game -- two outs in the eighth inning, his team trailing by two, bases loaded, facing one of the toughest relievers in baseball, lefty on lefty, still a few weeks shy of his 21st birthday. The expectations for Soto are going to keep skyrocketing, and he continues to show that he is more than capable of reaching them. Expect big things from Soto in '20.

5. Sept. 3: Seven-run ninth inning -- Nationals 11, Mets 10
After giving up five runs in the top of the ninth, the Nationals responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning, pulling off a historic comeback against the division-rival Mets. Seven of the eight batters who came to the plate reached base, capped by a walk-off three-run homer from Kurt Suzuki.

What does it tell us about 2020?
Comebacks like this are extremely rare, but can anyone really afford to doubt the Nationals next season? They recovered from a 19-31 start in 2019 to win the World Series, posting numerous comeback victories. This comeback for the ages proved just how resilient the Nationals were this past season, and they will look to continue that in '20.