A lackluster effort from the Washington Nationals makes Saturday’s NLDS Game 2 a must win. Here is what you should take away from Game 1.
The championship hopes of the Washington Nationals took a major dent Friday night after a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
If this is the year the Nats break through and move past the National League Divisional Series, then they must play better in Saturday’s Game 2. For a 97-win team which steamrolled to consecutive NL East crowns, Friday’s on-field performance leaves you bewildered and cynical. The bell rang, and the fighter remained on the stool.
Give Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs credit. They remained patient and waited for a mistake. When Anthony Rendon misplayed a questionable grounder, Chicago pounced.
Washington wakes up Saturday to a team in trouble. The season rests on the arm of Gio Gonzalez as a loss puts the Nats in an 0-2 hole with the next two scheduled games at Wrigley Field. They awoke a sleeping bear, or in this case 25 Cubs.
A win in the twilight will settle nerves and even the series with Max Scherzer stalking the mound on Monday. Although he is a tremendous ace to have in the hole, the Nats must take care of business Saturday for it to matter.
As for Friday’s loss, outside of a catastrophic injury, this was the worst-case scenario. A team flatter than an open bottle of ginger ale on a kitchen counter that would not help themselves.
Although curses are not real in sports, it is understandable fans feel if they are. Here are three takeaways from a bad night at the office from the Nats.