Cards blank Nats, take 2-1 lead
The Washington Nationals have put themselves in position that they must win the next two, or be eliminated from the MLB Playoffs. After losing 12-4 to the Cardinals in St. Louis, the Nats were coming home for home field advantage.
Only problem, no one told the Nationals about home field advantage.
Again, as becoming a common theme story in this series, the highly vaunted Nats starting ptiching staff was rocked by St. Louis. This time it was Edwin Jackson. Jackson allowed 4 runs and 76 hits in his first 9 batters he faced. In total, Jackson went 5 innings and yielded 4 runs on 8 hits. Similarly, the bullpen was just as unimpressive. Craig Stammen continued his playoff struggled, allowing 1 run in 1 inning. Christian Garcia and Ryan Matheus also allowed runs from the bullpen. In total, over the last two games, the Nats ptiching staff has allowed 20 runs on 27 hits. You can't win playoff games pitching liek that. Pure and simple.
Then again, the Nationals offense wouldn't have helped with solid pitching. They got blanked at the plate for 7 hits, but no runs. The Nationals continue to stand runners, today stranding 11 on base.
Fact is, the Nats are down 2-1. They are not pitching or hitting well. That's evident. Problem now is, there is very little time to correct it. Like no time. I;'s now win two straight, or go home.
Ryan Zimmerman was 2 for 4 and Ian Desmond was 3 for 4. Desmond has show up at the plate, going 7 for 12 during this series. Zimmerman is 5 for 13 in the series.
