{"id":1315621,"date":"2019-10-14T23:48:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T05:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/strasburg-ks-12-nats-top-cards-8-1-lead-series-3-0\/"},"modified":"2019-10-14T23:48:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T05:48:00","slug":"strasburg-ks-12-nats-top-cards-8-1-lead-series-3-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/strasburg-ks-12-nats-top-cards-8-1-lead-series-3-0\/","title":{"rendered":"Strasburg Ks 12, Nats top Cards 8-1; lead series 3-0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.9328165374677\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-989329-563\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the first inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the first inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the first inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Washington Nationals' Victor Robles and Brian Dozier celebrate after Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 8-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Washington Nationals&#8217; Victor Robles and Brian Dozier celebrate after Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 8-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-1.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Nationals' Victor Robles and Brian Dozier celebrate after Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 8-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt scratches his head during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the Washington Nationals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt scratches his head during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the Washington Nationals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-2.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt scratches his head during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the Washington Nationals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the first inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the first inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-3.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the first inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton scores on a hit by Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Washington Nationals&#8217; Adam Eaton scores on a hit by Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-4.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton scores on a hit by Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty sits in the dugout after the Washington Nationals scored four runs during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty sits in the dugout after the Washington Nationals scored four runs during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-5.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty sits in the dugout after the Washington Nationals scored four runs during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton celebrates with Juan Soto (22) after scoring on a hit by -Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Washington Nationals&#8217; Adam Eaton celebrates with Juan Soto (22) after scoring on a hit by -Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-6.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Nationals' Adam Eaton celebrates with Juan Soto (22) after scoring on a hit by -Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Washington Nationals' Anthony Rendon gets an RBI hit during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the Washington Nationals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Washington Nationals&#8217; Anthony Rendon gets an RBI hit during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the Washington Nationals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-7.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Nationals' Anthony Rendon gets an RBI hit during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the Washington Nationals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | St. Louis Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna can't catch a ball hit by Washington Nationals' Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. Adam Eaton scored on the play. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>St. Louis Cardinals&#8217; Marcell Ozuna can&#8217;t catch a ball hit by Washington Nationals&#8217; Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. Adam Eaton scored on the play. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-8.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"St. Louis Cardinals' Marcell Ozuna can't catch a ball hit by Washington Nationals' Anthony Rendon during the third inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. Adam Eaton scored on the play. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Washington Nationals' Victor Robles and Brian Dozier celebrate after Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 8-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Washington Nationals&#8217; Victor Robles and Brian Dozier celebrate after Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 8-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/10\/NLCS_Cardinals_Nationals_Baseball_49458-e1e02-9.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Washington Nationals' Victor Robles and Brian Dozier celebrate after Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. The Nationals won 8-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo\/Patrick Semansky)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/strasburg-ks-12-nats-top-cards-8-1-lead-series-3-0\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/strasburg-ks-12-nats-top-cards-8-1-lead-series-3-0\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">WASHINGTON \u2014 More than 100 pitches in, Stephen Strasburg was adamant he wasn\u2019t quite ready to leave the latest superb start by a Nationals pitcher against the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series \u2014 a win that put Washington on the verge of the city\u2019s first World Series in 86 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It was the seventh inning, and manager Dave Martinez noticed Strasburg had flexed his right leg and reached for that hamstring. So the skipper and a trainer went to the mound to check on their guy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI was trying to explain to him, \u2018Hey, you just grabbed your hamstring, so there\u2019s a little concern,\u2019\u201d Martinez recalled. \u201cHe said, \u2018No, I cramped up. It\u2019s fine. I always cramp up.\u2019 He said, \u2018I\u2019m staying in the game. I want to finish this inning.\u2019 I said, \u2018You sure you\u2019re all right?\u2019 He said, \u2018I\u2019m in the game!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The right-hander did, indeed, stay in. Even struck out the next two batters to raise his total to 12 Ks, each finished with an off-speed pitch. Strasburg took his turn silencing the Cardinals\u2019 struggling bats, Nationals postseason star Howie Kendrick doubled three times and drove in three more runs, and Washington took a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven NLCS by beating St. Louis 8-1 Monday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s a little surreal,\u201d reliever Sean Doolittle said about being one win from the World Series, \u201cand I think that\u2019s why it\u2019s important that we don\u2019t look too far ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">After Nationals starters Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer flirted with no-hitters in the first two games against the Cardinals, Strasburg wasn\u2019t quite that untouchable: He allowed a double in the second inning, six later singles and one unearned run.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Still, the Cardinals, quite simply, can\u2019t score in this NLCS: They have a grand total of two runs and 11 hits through three games. Washington\u2019s three starters have a combined ERA \u2014 no calculator necessary for this one \u2014 of 0.00.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Yes, that\u2019s zero-point-zero-zero.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe expected better,\u201d said Kolten Wong, who went 0 for 4 on Monday and is 0 for 10 in the series for St. Louis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Now it\u2019s Patrick Corbin\u2019s chance to see if he can match his rotation-mates. The $140 million lefty will start for the Nationals in Game 4 on Tuesday night, when they can close out a sweep at home. Rookie right-hander Dakota Hudson will be on the mound for the Cardinals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe\u2019ve got to get a lead at some point in this series. Hard to win a game if you can\u2019t get a lead,\u201d St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to figure out a way to create some offense early in the game and be able to hold it there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Washington hasn\u2019t put a baseball team in the World Series since 1933, when the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games. The nation\u2019s capital owns only one MLB championship; the Senators won all the way back in 1924. There wasn\u2019t even a baseball team at all in Washington for more than three decades until the Montreal Expos franchise moved to town before the 2005 season and was renamed the Nationals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Until this season, the Nationals hadn\u2019t won a playoff series, going 0-4 since 2012, but they sure look as if they\u2019re making up for lost time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cShoot, maybe we\u2019re finally coming around,\u201d third baseman Anthony Rendon said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">How about this current run? The Nationals, who found themselves at 19-31 in late May, have won 15 of their past 17 games, stretching back to the last week of the regular season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">It all starts with the pitching.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat\u2019s what our team is built around. You have those guys, those horses, that take the ball every fifth day,\u201d said Ryan Zimmerman, who drove in two runs. \u201cThey haven\u2019t disappointed, obviously, in the postseason, but they\u2019ve kind of been the backbone of this team all year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Against Sanchez in Game 1, the first hit for the Cardinals arrived with their 27th batter. Against Scherzer in Game 2, it was their 21st batter. But even when the Cardinals did something right against Strasburg, they erased it by doing something wrong.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Their fourth batter, Marcell Ozuna, doubled to the left field corner in the second, then quickly erased himself with some poor baserunning, going too far toward third on a comebacker and getting tagged out by Strasburg, who is enjoying a postseason to remember.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft, then was infamously shut down before the playoffs three years later to protect his surgically repaired right elbow. Strasburg is now hale and hearty, throwing 117 pitches Monday, his most since totaling 118 in a May 2017 game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And this sort of October excellence is what the Nationals were hoping for: Strasburg has a 3-0 record and 1.64 ERA, with 33 strikeouts and one walk \u2014 he didn\u2019t issue a free pass Monday \u2014 in 22 innings this postseason.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Much to the delight of a red towel-twirling crowd of 43,675, Washington\u2019s batters kept delivering, led by Kendrick, who has eight RBIs in the past four games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Nationals roughed up Jack Flaherty for four runs, all in the third inning; he hadn\u2019t allowed that many in a game since July 2, a span of 18 appearances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Seven of Washington\u2019s eight runs came with two outs, and there were contributions from up and down the lineup: Victor Robles homered in his return from a hamstring injury, and Rendon heard \u201cMVP!\u201d chants after a slick defensive play and an RBI double.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe haven\u2019t been able to play our brand of baseball in full,\u201d Shildt said. \u201cWe haven\u2019t been able to get in rhythm or sync, but we still have more baseball to play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">TRAINER\u2019S ROOM<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nationals: Robles, the Nationals\u2019 center fielder, missed five postseason games with a strained right hamstring he hurt in Game 2 of the NLDS.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">UP NEXT<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Corbin took the loss in each of Washington\u2019s two defeats this postseason. One was a start \u2014 in Game 1 of the NLDS, when he allowed just one unearned run with nine strikeouts \u2014 and one came in relief. Corbin also came out of the bullpen to retire one Cardinals batter in Game 2 of the NLCS on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">In his only postseason start, in Game 4 of the Cardinals\u2019 NLDS against Atlanta, Hudson allowed one earned run in 4 2\/3 innings and did not factor in the decision as St. Louis won 5-4 in 10 innings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">More AP baseball: <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/MLB\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/apnews.com\/MLB<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\u2014Sports\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\u2014Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/strasburg-ks-12-nats-top-cards-8-1-lead-series-3-0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the first inning of Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)AP | AP Washington Nationals&#8217; Victor Robles and Brian Dozier celebrate after Game 3 of the baseball National League Championship Series [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1315621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-06 18:47:39","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1315621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1315621\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1315621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1315621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1315621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}