Nationals 3, Cardinals 2
Rookie Tyler Moore delivered a two-run pinch-hit single in the top of the eighth to give visiting Washington a win over St. Louis in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Kurt Suzuki added an RBI single and Ian Desmond recorded three hits and scored the go-ahead run for the Nationals, who won the franchise’s first postseason game since the Montreal Expos took Game 3 of the NLCS in 1981.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Washington announced Chad Tracy as a pinch hitter, prompting the Cardinals to go to the bullpen for left-hander Marc Rzepczynski. The Nationals countered by calling back Tracy and sending up Moore, who reached out for a 2-2 fastball off the plate and dumped it into right field to score Michael Morse and Desmond for the 3-2 lead.
Washington starter Gio Gonzalez struggled with his command in his first ever playoff start, issuing seven walks but only one hit in five innings. St. Louis took advantage in the second inning, loading the bases on three straight walks before scoring the tying run on a wild pitch and grabbing a 2-1 lead on Jon Jay’s sacrifice fly.
The Cardinals squandered an opportunity to pad their lead in the seventh. After loading the bases with none out, Ryan Mattheus (1-0) came out of the bullpen for the Nationals and needed only two pitches to get Allen Craig to ground into a fielder’s choice and Yadier Molina to bounce into a double play.
Tyler Clippard worked around an error in the eighth and Drew Storen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save. Mitchell Boggs (0-1) was saddled with the loss.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington RF Jayson Werth made a great defensive play in the sixth, robbing a two-run homer from Daniel Descalso. … Adam Wainwright started for St. Louis and allowed one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out 10 and walked three. … Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann and Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia will square off in Game 2 on Monday afternoon.