STRASBURG STIFLES CUBS TO TIE SERIES
Washington’s Steven Strasburg pitches seven shutout innings and Michael Taylor hits a grand slam in the Nationals’ 5-0 win at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
CHICAGO» Stephen Strasburg gave Washington everything he had, and it was more than enough.
Strasburg shook off an illness and pitched seven dominant innings, Michael A. Taylor hit a late grand slam 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.
Strasburg got sick after his terrific performance in the playoff opener Friday, and the Nationals had planned to go with Tanner Roark even after a persistent rain washed out Game 4 on Tuesday.
But Strasburg felt better when he woke up Wednesday and told manager Dusty Baker he wanted the ball.
“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, you know, gave us every indication that he was ready.”
Standing tall as clouds of mist rolled through Wrigley Field, Strasburg struck out 12, allowed three hits and walked two. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft has 22 K’s 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.
Arrieta walked five in four innings in his return from a hamstring injury, but limited Washington to an unearned run and two hits. Lester got the Cubs all the way to the eighth, picking off Ryan Zimmerman before departing after Daniel Murphy’s two-out single.
But Chicago’s bullpen faltered from there. Carl Edwards Jr. walked two in a row and threw ball one to Taylor before he was replaced by Wade Davis. Taylor then drove a 1-1 pitch into the basket overhanging the brick wall in right field for his first career homer in the playoffs.
“I was kind of numb, just running around the bases,” Taylor said. “Honestly, I didn’t think it was going to get out the way the wind was blowing in.”
Ryan Madson worked the eighth and Sean Doolittle finished the three-hitter, giving the NL East champions a chance to avenge years of playoff heartache.
Washington also made it to the playoffs in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and fell in the first round each time.