The Cardinals offense came up big again today beating the Washington Nationals 8-0 and grabbing a two games to one lead in the NLDS. It was the first playoff game in D.C. in 79 years and the Nats opened in front of their largest crowd in their short history. By the seventh inning, many were waiting across the street for the train to go home.
The Cardinals got started in the first off Washington starter Edwin Jackson. A two out single by Matt Holliday followed by a double down the line by Allen Craig made it 1-0. In the second, rookie Pete Kozma launched the first pitch he saw over the left field wall, a three run shot, to put the Cards up 4-0. A sac fly by Daniel Descalso in the sixth, a bases loaded walk from Yadier Molina in the seventh and a Holliday two-run single in the eighth capped the scoring. The Cardinals finished with 14 hits.
Chris Carpenter came up big and made the pitches when he needed to. He went 5.1 innings and the Nationals had someone on base in every inning including the bases loaded in the fifth, but Carpenter worked out of that jam by getting Michael Morse to fly to right. In all, 11 runners were stranded by Washington, 30 so far in the three game series. There just not coming up with the clutch hits.
Plus, in terms of starting pitching, remember they shut down their ace Stephen Strasburg, a decision they made at the beginning of the year as he was coming back from Tommy John surgery. So, they basically lost the ace of their staff while the Cardinals added their ace by getting Carpenter at the end of the season. The organization stands by their decision, but it could be one they regret if they can’t keep the Cardinals off the board early in Game 4.
The Cardinals look to finish off the Nats tomorrow sending Kyle Lohse to the mound.
