Dakota Hudson would provide 7 big innings tonight, inducing 13 ground ball outs, walking two while striking out just one. But Hud was working quick and efficient innings, tossing only 96 pitches during his 7 innings of work, here’s his pitches by innings: (12, 9, 16, 25, 14, 12, 8)
The Cardinals would give their starter an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st, making Strasburg work a ton, throwing 38 pitches. Dex would work a seven-pitch walk to start the inning, as Wong would move him over with a weak grounder to Gomes behind the plate. Swags would come to the dish with two down after Goldy would strikeout, blasting a two-run shot, his 28th or the season, to LCF.
The Cards bats wouldn’t collect another hit off Starsburg until Edman would lead off the 4th with a single to RF, eventually stealing 2B before being stranded on 3B after three ground balls.
Speaking of steals, the Cardinals would swipe four bases tonight (Yadi, KoWo, Edman, Dex).
The Nats would plate two runs to tie the game, getting their first on a Victor Robles rbi single to LF. But this play was huge because Swags would gun down the tying run (Cabrera) to end the inning, keeping the Cards on top 2-1 at the time.
But then Anthony Rendon would happen to lead off the 6th, if ya know what I mean? Rendon would rip his 34th HR of the season to tie the game 2-2.
Swags kept riding the good vibe wave tonight, coming thru once more in the clutch, this time with two outs in the bottom of the 7th. Doolittle would get the first two outs for the Nats pen, striking out Cafecíto (pinch-hitting) and KoWo, while allowing a walk to Dex in between. Strickland would then be summoned from the pen, allowing a walk to Goldy upon entering. After Strickland would throw a wild pitch, allowing both runners to move up, Swags pounced on the opportunity, ripping a ground rule double into LF. This ball had to barely be fair, a game of inches is right. Dex and Goldy both scored, making it a 4-2 Cardinals lead.
Miller and Tsunami combined to close the door in the 9th– Miller getting the first two (Soto and Cabrera), getting Soto fly out to Dex and Cabrera to ground out to Deez. Tsunami came on for the final out, getting Zimmerman to fly out to Bader on the second pitch, earning his 20th save of the season.
The Liz King (9-13, 4.28) gets the ball tomorrow in game two, facing off against the lefty, Patrick Corbin* (12-7, 3.20). First pitch 6:45pm c/t.
Cheers, Stew