The Nationals have won games in many ways this
season but none quite as improbable as their 3-2
win over the St. Louis Cardinals in game 1 of the
National League Divisional Series
Tyler Moore Washington Nationals' Tyler Moore watches his two-RBI single during the eighth inning in Game 1 of baseball's National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Matt Holliday St. Lois Cardinals' Matt Holliday, right, reacts after striking out to end Game 1 of the National League division baseball series on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuli, left, reacts. (AP Photo/The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee) EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER OUT; THE ALTON TELEGRAPH OUT
Kurt Suzuki Washington Nationals' Kurt Suzuki (24) drives in a run with a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during second-inning action in Game 1 of the National League division baseball series on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, right, looks on. (AP Photo/The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee) EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER OUT; THE ALTON TELEGRAPH OUT
Gio Gonzalez Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez blows on his hand during the second inning in Game 1 of baseball's National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Gio Gonzalez Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez gets a pat on the head by catcher Kurt Suzuki after walking a batter during the second inning of Game 1 of the National League division baseball series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Daniel Descalso St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso (33) throws to first but cannot complete the double play after forcing Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond out at second during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the National League division baseball series, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Kurt Suzuki, Gio Gonzalez Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez, right, stands on the mound with catcher Kurt Suzuki after walking St. Louis Cardinals' Carlos Beltran during the fifth inning in Game 1 of baseball's National League division series, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Adam Wainwright, Mike Matheny St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, right, talks with starting pitcher Adam Wainwright after pulling Wainwright during the sixth inning in Game 1 of baseball's National League division series against the Washington Nationals, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Ryan Zimmerman, Yadier Molina St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, bottom, throws the ball back as Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman, top, walks back to the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning in Game 1 of baseball's National League division series, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
AP Photo/Tom Gannam
Ian Desmond Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond heads to the batter's box during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the National League division baseball series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Tyler Moore Washington Nationals' Tyler Moore celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-RBI single during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the National League division baseball series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Tyler Moore Washington Nationals' Tyler Moore (57) drives in two runs with a single against the St. Louis Cardinals in eighth-inning action during Game 1 of the National League division baseball series on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, left, looks on. (AP Photo/The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee) EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER OUT; THE ALTON TELEGRAPH OUT
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Nationals have won games in many ways this season but none quite as improbable as their 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series.
Much has been made about the Cardinals’ experience heading into this series, but it was the youth of the Nationals that paved the way to a 1-0 series lead. Washington ace Gio Gonzalez, who was making his first ever postseason start after not pitching for eight days, struggled mightily with his command, tying a career high with seven walks over five innings. He gave up just one hit but trailed 2-1 when he left, throwing 110 pitches.
The biggest key to the game came in the 7th inning when, with two on, Craig Stammen hit Matt Holliday to lead the bases with no one out. Ryan Mattheus came out of the bullpen and threw just two pitches to get out of the jam.
Mattheus got Allen Craig to ground to short, who threw out John Jay trying to score. Then Mattheus got Yadier Molina to hit into a 5-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.
“That’s the biggest game I have ever been in and that’s the three biggest outs and the two biggest pitches I have ever made,” said Mattheus.
“Being down one run, I wanted to pump the team up and hopefully get some momentum going in our direction. I came in pumped up and they got pumped up right along with me.”
Mitchell Boggs started the 8th for the Cardinals and Michael Morse reached on an error by shortstop Pete Kozma. Ian Desmond singled to put runners at first and second. Danny Espinosa, who had struck out three times already, laid down a sacrifice bunt to get the runners to second and third.
After Kurt Suzuki struck out, Davey Johnson called on Chad Tracy to pinch-hit. Cardinals skipper Mike Matheny called on left hander Mark Rzepczynski to face Tracy which led Johnson to counter with rookie Tyler Moore.
Moore delivered with a two-run single to right field scoring Morse and Desmond to give the Nats a 3-2 lead.
“I was just looking for something in my zone,” Moore said. “The one I swung at before was a little bit out of my zone. I was just trying not to do too much and just put the ball in play.”
Johnson is more of an old school manager than anything else. He doesn’t like to bunt which he did with Espinosa and he prefers guys with track records when the game is on the line.
“I’d rather have the veteran player in that situation rather than the rookie,” said Johnson. “But, rookies have been part of our success all year. They have been doing a heck of a job and Moore has gotten some big hits for us like he did tonight.”
The experience factor just doesn’t seem to matter much to this team. They were playing the defending champions in their ballpark with 47-thousand fans screaming at them.
“I mean its baseball,” said shortstop Ian Desmond.
“There is no science behind it. If you played baseball before, you got experience. It’s about controlling your heartbeat and we did that today.”
And no one on this team was surprised at what Moore was able to do with the biggest at bat in his young career.
“The kid has 10 or 11 home runs with 200 at bats,” said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.
“There is one thing we are all sure about is that he can hit and he’ll always be able to hit. We are lucky to have a guy like that on our bench.”
Game 2 on Monday will feature another youngster, Jordan Zimmermann on the hill for the Nationals against Jamie Garcia.
