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In the first home NLCS game in Nationals
history, Strasburg (1-0) struck out 12 while giving up an
unearned run over seven innings of Game 3. He now has a 1.10 ERA
over seven career playoff appearances, four of which have come
in this postseason.
Nationals starters Anibal Sanchez, Max Scherzer and Strasburg
have not given up an earned run in 21 2/3 innings of the NLCS
while pitching Washington to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven
set.
The Cardinals have scored just two runs in the series, which
would end Tuesday if Washington can win at home again.
"We have to play with the lead," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt
said. "We have to get the lead at some point in this series. In
order to win a game, you have to get a lead, so we have to
figure out a way to create some offense early in the game and
hold it there."
Kendrick, whose grand slam was the deciding blow in the decisive
Game 5 of the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles
Dodgers, tied a league championship series record with three
doubles Monday. He drove in two runs on a double during a
four-run third inning and brought home another run on a double
in Washington's two-run fifth.
"I think we put together some good at-bats, got some guys on and
guys put some good swings on the ball," Kendrick said.
Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Victor Robles each had two
hits for the Nationals, who have won five consecutive postseason
games since losing Game 3 of the NLDS.
Robles, who added a sixth-inning home run, had been out the
previous nine days with a mild hamstring strain. His homer was
the only Washington run that did not come with two outs.
Kendrick said, "Sometimes you (thrive with two outs), sometimes
you don't, but right now is a good time to be able to drive in
some runs, and I was happy I was able to come through for my
team."
Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-1) gave up four runs on
five hits over four innings with two walks and six strikeouts.
No. 3 hitter Paul Goldschmidt struck out four times as St. Louis
batters fanned 16 times.
Washington's four-run third inning was the first time Flaherty
gave up more than two runs in an inning since June 25 against
the Oakland Athletics. He did not allow more than three runs
over his final 16 regular-season starts and his first two
postseason starts.
The Nationals will send left-hander Patrick Corbin to the mound
in Game 4 on Tuesday as they look for the NLCS sweep. The
Cardinals will counter with right-hander Dakota Hudson. There
was just one NLCS sweep over the previous 11 seasons: the New
York Mets over the Chicago Cubs in 2015.
With Washington on the brink of a World Series berth, Strasburg
said, "I think it's been just such an amazing year, and I think
it's really been great just because of where we've had to come
from. We've got such a great group of guys, and it's fun. It's
fun being around the guys and going out there and competing
together. I think (if) you ask anybody in there, we just want to
stay together and keep playing."
--Field Level Media
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