After spending most of the game trailing the Cardinals 2-1, the Washington Nationals took a 3-2 lead on a clutch, two-out bloop single in the eighth inning, and the bullpen took over from there to seal the victory in Game 1 of this National League Division Series.
Drew Storen saves Nationals’ 3-2 win with perfect 9th
St. Louis took that 2-1 lead in the second inning, thanks to Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez’s wildness; he walked four batters, and two of them scored. In the middle innings, both teams squandered good scoring chances. In the sixth, the Nationals loaded the bases with two outs but didn’t score. In the seventh, the Cardinals loaded the bases with nobody out, but failed to score when Ryan Mattheus recorded three outs on two pitches (a postseason first).
In the eighth, though, pinch-hitter Tyler Moore came through with a single that dropped into right field with two outs and runners on second and third, giving the Nats a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of that inning, recently demoted closer Tyler Clippard held the Cardinals scoreless. And in the ninth, new closer Drew Storen set down the Cards in order, finishing by striking out Matt Holliday.
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