The Nationals have taken a commanding 2-0 series lead in the NLCS after stunning the Cardinals 3-1 in Game 2 in St. Louis.
How the Game Was Won
Max Scherzer pitched a masterful one-hit gem. Michael A. Taylor hit a solo home run in the second inning and Adam Eaton busted open the game with a two-run RBI double, giving Washington a 3-0 lead in the eighth.
Player of the Game
Of course it was Scherzer. He held the Cardinals hitless for six innings before Paul Goldschimdt led off the seventh with a single. But Scherzer got out of the inning without a hiccup finishing off a marvelous performance.
He pitched seven innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out 11 to lead the Nationals to the win.
Nationals Starters Are Dominating the Series
Scherzer’s one-hit gem followed Anibal Sanchez’s one-hit gem in Game 1. Together the Nationals starters have pitched 14 2/3 innings of shutout baseball. They have allowed just two hits.
The Cardinals, who dropped 13 runs in a Game 5 win in the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, have not been able to crack the egg against the Nationals starters.
Now Scherzer and Sanchez hand over a 2-0 series lead to Stephen Strasburg for Game 3 back in Washington, DC.
Dave Martinez Taps into Starters Out of Bullpen
Nursing a 3-1 lead in the ninth after Sean Doolittle allowed the Cardinals’ first run of the series in the eighth, Nationals manager Dave Martinez turned to starter Patrick Corbin for a huge out in the ninth.
Corbin was called on to take down the young Cardinals’ slugger, getting him to ground out on two pitches before turning over the reins to Hudson for the final two outs.
Cardinals Have Just Four Hits in the Series
Four hits, one run. That’s all the Cardinals offense has been able to muster in the first two games of the series. The Nationals’ stifling pitching and defense has made a bit of history.
The Nationals entered the NLCS with a huge advantage in starting pitching. It’s more evident now after back-to-back amazing one-hit gems. Now, they are taking a commanding 2-0 lead back home with a chance to clinch their first-ever pennant.
