{"id":47127,"date":"2017-10-12T07:06:56","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T07:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=47127"},"modified":"2017-10-12T07:11:13","modified_gmt":"2017-10-12T07:11:13","slug":"strasburg-nationals-beat-cubs-5-0-force-nlds-game-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/strasburg-nationals-beat-cubs-5-0-force-nlds-game-5.html","title":{"rendered":"Strasburg, Nationals beat Cubs 5-0, force NLDS to Game 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Strasburg, Nationals beat Cubs 5-0, force NLDS to Game 5<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Strasburg, Nationals beat Cubs 5-0, force NLDS to Game 5:- Stephen Strasburg gave Washington everything he had, and it was more than enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

So much for all those questions about heart and character.<\/span><\/p>\n

Strasburg shook off an illness and pitched seven dominant innings, Michael A. Taylor hit a late grand slam and the Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-0 on Wednesday to send their NL Division Series to a decisive Game 5.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just focused on one pitch at a time and going as long as I could,\u201d Strasburg said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moments after Sean Doolittle closed out Strasburg\u2019s first career playoff win, the focus shifted to the final game of the series in Washington on Thursday night. Kyle Hendricks starts for the World Series champion Cubs after throwing seven sharp innings in a 3-0 victory over Strasburg in Game 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington manager Dusty Baker was non-committal when asked about his starter, with Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark the most likely candidates.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, whoever it is, I hope they pitch like Stras did today,\u201d Baker said.<\/span><\/p>\n

No kidding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Strasburg got sick after his terrific performance in the playoff opener on Friday, and the Nationals had planned to go with Roark even after a persistent rain washed out Game 4 on Tuesday. That led to a flurry of comments and criticism about whether the ace had the right stuff to pitch in big moments.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Strasburg felt better when he woke up Wednesday and told Baker he wanted the ball. That was all Baker needed to hear.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI could see the focus and determination in his eyes, you know what I mean, when he came in the office and we talked to him,\u201d the manager said. \u201cYou know, he\u2019s a man of few words, but the words he said, you know, gave us every indication that he was ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing tall as clouds of mist rolled through Wrigley Field, Strasburg struck out 12 , allowed three hits and walked two. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft has 22 Ks in 14 innings in the series, allowing only a pair of unearned runs in the sixth in the opener.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like to think that any game that I pitch is the most important game,\u201d Strasburg said. \u201cThat\u2019s just how I tried to go into Game 4, and now we get a chance for a Game 5.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Chicago wasted a gutsy performance from Jake Arrieta and solid relief by Game 2 starter Jon Lester in its first home playoff loss since Game 4 of the World Series last year. NL MVP Kris Bryant struck out four times, and the defending champs went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe just have to be offensively a little bit better tomorrow,\u201d Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. \u201cThey have been really good. We have been really good. Listen, they got a grand slam. Otherwise, it\u2019s kind of like the same game both sides.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrieta walked five in four innings in his return from a hamstring injury, but limited Washington to an unearned run and two hits. Lester got the Cubs all the way to the eighth, picking off Ryan Zimmerman before departing after Daniel Murphy\u2019s two-out single.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Chicago\u2019s bullpen faltered from there. Carl Edwards Jr. walked two in a row and threw ball one to Taylor before he was replaced by Wade Davis. Taylor then drove a 1-1 pitch into the basket overhanging the brick wall in right field for his first career homer in the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was kind of numb, just running around the bases,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cHonestly, I didn\u2019t think it was going to get out the way the wind was blowing in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan Madson worked the eighth and Doolittle finished the three-hitter, giving the NL East champions a chance to avenge years of playoff heartache.<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington also made it to the playoffs in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and fell in the first round each time, including five-game losses to St. Louis in 2012 and Los Angeles last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you get out there, that stuff doesn\u2019t really matter,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cWhat we did last year doesn\u2019t help or hurt us once we\u2019re in between the lines. We\u2019ll just go out there and play our game.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Nationals jumped in front in the third, taking advantage of a Chicago error for the second straight game. Trea Turner doubled with one out for his first hit of the series and advanced on a wild pitch. Jayson Werth struck out looking before Arrieta walked Bryce Harper, putting runners on the corners.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zimmerman followed with a slow roller to shortstop. Addison Russell charged the ball, but he couldn\u2019t bring it in.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was Chicago\u2019s sixth error of the series, and reliever Brian Duensing picked up another one on an errant throw in the ninth. Left fielder Kyle Schwarber committed two errors on one play in Game 3, setting up Washington\u2019s only run in a 2-1 loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s two heavyweights going at it,\u201d Lester said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to the last round. We\u2019re going to figure it out. We\u2019ve got Game 5 so it should be exciting TV. It should be exciting in our clubhouse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sports\/nationals\/strasburg-nationals-beat-cubs-5-0-force-nlds-to-game-5\/2017\/10\/11\/3012a024-aee3-11e7-9b93-b97043e57a22_story.html<\/span><\/p>\n

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