This is it, the second NLDS, the loser goes home a loser, and the winner moves on to face the Dodgers for a chance to go to the Fall Classic. Will the Nationals win their first Playoff series in franchise history? Will the Cubs beat the Nats and go on to repeat as World Series Champions? Only one team can rain supreme in a best of five series. Read on to see who came out victorious.
Kyle Hendricks faced off against Nationals’ ace Stephen Strasburg and things did not go well for Washington in Game 1. Two unearned runs came across to score off of Stephen Strasburg in the top of the 6th and Strasburg was done after 7 innings allowing 2 unearned runs. While Strasburg pitched great, Kyle Hendricks was slightly better giving up 0 runs in 7 innings pitched. The Cubs tacked on a run in the eighth and the Nats could not come back as they were shutout in game 1, losing 3-0.
The Nationals’ offense was much more keen in Game 2. In the bottom of the first Anthoney Rendon hit a home run to right to make it 1-0. In the top of the second, Wilson Contreras homered to tie the game. Anthoney Rizzo hit a two-run home run in the fourth, and Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run to tie the game at 3 a piece. The game was decided later in the eighth when Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run home run to take the lead 6-3. That would be the final score and the series was now tied 1-1.
Game 3 was not so kind to the Nationals, in a pitchers’ duel between Jose Quintana and Max Scherzer, the Cubs were the first to give after allowing a run in the 6th on a Zimmerman RBI double. Unfortunately for the Nats, the Cubs scored a run in the 7th and eighth to win the game 2-1. The Cubs now had a 2-1 series lead over the Nationals.
Facing elimination, the Nationals would not go down without a fight after losing Game 1 and 3. In the 3rd inning, the Nationals tacked on a run due to an error by Addison Russel. The Nationals broke the game wide open when Michael A. Taylor hit a Grand Slam in the eighth, all the while the Cubs were unable to score and were shut out 5-0 to force a game 5.
Once again, the Nationals faced elimination in Game 5, but the Cubs struck first by scoring Jon Jay from third on an Anthony Rizzo ground out. The Cubs had very little time to breathe though, because in the 2nd inning Daniel Murphy hit a solo shot to tie it up and Michael A. Taylor hit a three run bomb to bring the score to 4-1. The Cubs tacked on 2 more runs in the 3rd before an Addison Russel double brought two runs across to bring the score to 5-4 Cubs. Russel scored on an errant throw to first, and Jason Heyward was credited with an RBI after a hit by pitch with the bases loaded, and just like that, the score was 7-4. The Nationals continued to struggle after Addison Russel doubled to left center field to bring across another run.
The Nats would not go quietly into the night, and this was proven when they scored two runs in the sixth to make the score 8-6. Kris Bryant then grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring across the Cubs 9th and final run of the night. Bryce Harper came up in the bottom of the 7th with the bases loaded and hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring Taylor home, and then in the bottom of the eighth, Michael Taylor hit a single to bring across the Nationals’ 8th and final run. With 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, losing by 1 in the winner-take-all game 5, superstar Bryce Harper came up to the plate with a chance to tie the game. It just wasn’t ment to be as Wade Davis completed a 7 out save with a strikeout of Harper.
Unfortunately for me, this not only means that the Nationals have still never won a playoff series, but also that I have fallen behind in the Doubleday Double Talk Postseason Predictions Race. It pains me to say it, but here are the standings so far.
Daryll-3
Giuseppe-2
Can I come back? Well, if you want to find out, stay tuned for more MLB Postseason Updates.
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