Strasburg, Taylor force Game 5
CHICAGO — Stephen Strasburg gave Washington everything he had, and it was more than enough.
So much for all those questions about heart and character.
Strasburg shook off an illness and pitched seven dominant innings, Michael A. Taylor hit an eighth-inning grand slam off Wade Davis, and the Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-0 on Wednesday to send their NL Division Series to a decisive Game 5.
“I just focused on one pitch at a time and going as long as I could,” Strasburg said.
Moments after Sean Doolittle closed out Strasburg’s first career playoff win, the focus shifted to the final game of the series in Washington on Thursday. Kyle Hendricks will start for the defending World Series champion Cubs after throwing seven sharp innings in a 3-0 victory over Strasburg in Game 1.
Washington manager Dusty Baker was noncommittal when asked about his starter, with Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark the most likely candidates.
“You know, whoever it is, I hope they pitch like Stras did today,” Baker said.
Strasburg got sick after pitching in Friday’s series opener, and the Nationals had planned to go with Roark even after a persistent rain postponed Game 4 on Tuesday. That led to a flurry of comments and criticism about whether Strasburg had the right stuff to pitch in big moments.
Strasburg felt better when he awoke Wednesday and told Baker he wanted the ball. That was all Baker needed to hear.
“I could see the focus and determination in his eyes, you know what I mean, when he came in the office and we talked to him,” Baker said. “You know, he’s a man of few words, but the words he said gave us every indication that he was ready.”
Strasburg struck out 12 , allowed three hits and walked two. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft has fanned 22 in 14 innings in the series, allowing only two unearned runs in the sixth in the opener.
“I like to think that any game that I pitch is the most important game,” Strasburg said. “That’s just how I tried to go into Game 4, and now we get a chance for a Game 5.”
Chicago wasted a gutsy performance from Jake Arrieta and solid relief by Game 2 starter Jon Lester in its first home playoff loss since Game 4 of the World Series last year. NL MVP Kris Bryant struck out four times, and the defending champs went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
“We just have to be offensively a little bit better tomorrow,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “They have been really good. We have been really good. Listen, they got a grand slam. Otherwise, it’s kind of like the same game both sides.”