Strasburg Dominates As Nationals Lead Series 3-0
Muhammad Rameez Published October 15, 2019 | 12:05 PM
Stephen Strasburg pitched seven shutout innings to put the Washington Nationals on the brink of their first World Series appearance after clobbering the St. Louis Cardinals 8-1 on Monday
Los Angeles, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Oct, 2019 ) :Stephen Strasburg pitched seven shutout innings to put the Washington Nationals on the brink of their first World Series appearance after clobbering the St. Louis Cardinals 8-1 on Monday.
Strasburg struck out 12, allowed just one run and veteran Howie Kendrick drove in three runs for the Nationals, who seized a commanding 3-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.
"It has been special to see what he is doing," second baseman Kendrick said of Strasburg.
After the game, Strasburg was mobbed by his teammates in a dugout celebration.
"I am not much of a hugger but they kind of surrounded me, so I kind of had to take it," Strasburg joked.
The Nationals can sweep the series in four straight with a win at home on Tuesday.
They are one of two current Major League Baseball teams -- along with the Seattle Mariners -- to have never played in the World Series.
The franchise was based in Montreal, Canada and known as the Expos for the first 36 years of its existence.
"It's a little surreal and I think that's why it's important that we don't look too far ahead," said pitcher Sean Doolittle about being one victory away from their first World Series.
Strasburg now has a 1.10 ERA over seven career playoff appearances, four of which have come in these playoffs.
The offensively challenged Cardinals have scored just two runs in the series and the Nationals starting pitchers Anibal Sanchez, Max Scherzer and Strasburg have not given up an earned run in 21 2/3 innings of the NLCS. Sanchez and Scherzer flirted with no-hitters in the first two games.
The Nationals have used a mix of young guns and experienced vets for their October success.
Kendrick tied a league championship series record with three doubles on Monday. Kendrick's grand slam in game five of the NL Division Series was the deciding blow in a thrilling rally to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Old guys rule - "In a time when they push youth, the old guys can still do it," the 36-year-old Kendrick said.
"We got a great mix. Youth is cool, we were all there at one time. But it is fun to see us having success too." He highlighted a four-run third inning with a two-run double and had another RBI with a double in the fifth inning.
Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Victor Robles each had two hits for the Nationals, who were 19-31 in late May but have now won 15 of their last 17 games thanks in part to their pitching staff.
"That's what our team is built around (pitching). You have those guys, those horses, that take the ball every fifth day," said Zimmerman.
"They haven't disappointed, obviously, in the postseason, but they've kind of been the backbone of this team all year." St. Louis have had just 11 hits in the three games. The Cardinals were held without a hit into the eighth inning of game one and into the seventh inning of game two.
"We've got to get a lead at some point in this series. Hard to win a game if you can't get a lead," St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said.
"We've got to figure out a way to create some offense early in the game and be able to hold it there."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From Sports
-
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
6 hours ago -
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
6 hours ago -
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
6 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
6 hours ago -
Bagnaia hits back with record Jerez practice lap
6 hours ago -
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
6 hours ago
-
Shahzaib Rind calls on Deputy Speaker Balochistan
7 hours ago -
Inter-university weightlifting championship kicks off at SAU
8 hours ago -
T20 World Cup 2024 Trophy unveiling ceremony held
7 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
9 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
9 hours ago -
New Zealand cricket CEO visits PSCA, expresses satisfaction over security arrangements
10 hours ago