October 15, 2019: Nationals sweep Cardinals, punch ticket to World Series

In another installation in our mini offseason series of looking back on Nationals history, we will be taking a look back on the 2019 NLCS, where the Nationals clinched their first ever World Series appearance with a sweep over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The series was owned by the Nationals from Game 1 all the way to Game 4, and little did we know that the decisive Game 4 victory would be the final win of the season at Nationals Park for the team. In this piece, I will give brief summaries of the 4 games that helped the Nats punch their ticket to the penultimate series of the MLB season, the Fall Classic.

Game 1: Nationals 2, Cardinals 0

Overall, this game has been remembered for two main things 5 years later. The fact that Anibal Sanchez carried a no-hitter deep into the game, 7.2 innings to be exact, and the Ryan Zimmerman catch that probably had every fan thinking that Sanchez was really going to make playoff history.

Sanchez was solid in the regular season, pitching to an 11-8 record, 3.85 ERA and 1.27 WHIP as the Nationals 4th starter in the rotation. It was quite a surprise when he turned back the clock to his Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers days, carrying a no-hitter into the 8th inning as Ryan Zimmerman momentarily saved the performance with an insane diving catch in that same frame. The Nats got runs on an RBI double from Yan Gomes and an RBI single from Howie Kendrick, which was all the support that the team would need en route to a combined 1-hit shutout.

Game 2: Nationals 3, Cardinals 1

The second game of the series was all about Max Scherzer, who absolutely shoved in the Nationals' Game 2 victory. In the victory, Mad Max threw 7.0 scoreless innings, striking out 11 and walking 2 while allowing just 1 hit. The offense was supplemented by a solo shot from Michael A. Taylor in the third inning, and a 2-run double from Adam Eaton in the 8th inning. This would prove to be all the offense that would be necessary, and Daniel Hudson would shut the door in the 9th inning fresh off his return from paternity leave. The Nationals headed home after taking 2 games on the road, allowing just 1 run and 4 hits over 18 innings.

Game 3: Nationals 8, Cardinals 1

Nationals Park was buzzing from the start, and the Nationals would get a vintage playoff start from Stephen Strasburg to cruise to an easy 8-1 victory. Strasburg was masterful, pitching 7.0 innings allowing just 1 unearned run, scattering 7 hits and striking out 12 Cardinals hitters. The Nationals struck early, getting 4 runs in the third inning alone with an Eaton RBI single, Anthony Rendon RBI double, and a 2-run double from Kendrick giving the team a 4-0 cushion.

Kendrick would double again in the 5th, driving in another run, and Mr. National Ryan Zimmerman would drive him in during the next at-bat to make it 6-0. Victor Robles would tack on a solo shot in the 6th, and Zimmerman would single home another run in the 7th, giving the Nationals an 8-1 lead that they would never relinquish.

Game 4: Nationals 7, Cardinals 4

The final game of the 2019 NLCS was over before it started, well, almost. With Patrick Corbin on the mound for the closeout game, the Nationals knew that they were going to be in good hands if they could get him some early run support, and they did exactly that.

Washington plated 7 runs in the first inning, getting contributions from almost the entire lineup as they knocked Cardinals' starter Dakota Hudson after the game after just 0.1 innings. Corbin didn't have his best game, allowing 4 earned runs and 3 walks over 5.0 innings, but was able to strike out 12 Cardinals batters. Tommy Edman flew out to Victor Robles to end the series, and the celebration was on at Nationals Park, as the team had won the National League Pennant for the first time ever.

This was an extremely satisfying series, as it was the Cardinals who had ended the Nationals inaugural playoff run back in 2012, one night after The Werthquake. Howie Kendrick was named NLCS MVP, finishing the series 5/15 with 4 doubles and 4 RBIs, but would have more magic up his sleeve later on in the World Series as well...

What was your favorite memory from the 2019 NLCS? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.