Strasburg recovers to defeat Chicago
Nationals ace shakes off funk to force a 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 a late grand slam and the Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-0, Wednesday to send this National League 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 Thursday night in Washington. Kyle Hendricks starts for the World Series champion Cubs after throwing seven sharp innings in a 3-0 victory against Strasburg in Game 1.
Washington manager Dusty Baker was non-committal 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 Friday after his terrific performance in the playoff opener, and the Nationals had planned to go with Roark even after a persistent rain Tuesday washed out Game 4. That led to a flurry of comments and criticism about whether the ace had the right stuff to pitch in bigmoments.
But Strasburg felt better when he woke up 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,” the manager 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.”
Strasburg struck out 12, with three hits and two walks. The No. 1 overall pick in 2009 has 22 strike outs in 14 innings in the series.
“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 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 thedefending 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.”
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.
But then Chicago’s bullpen faltered. Taylor drove a 1-1 pitch into the basket overhanging the brick wall in right field for his first career homer in the playoffs.
Ryan Madson worked the eighth and Doolittle finished the three-hitter, giving the Nationals a chance to avenge years of first-round playoff heartaches.
“It’s two heavyweights going at it,” Lester said. “We’re going to the last round.”