NLDS Game 2: St. Louis Cardinals storm back with 12-4 win over Washington Nationals – Part 2
They may have lost the National League Division Series Game 1; but undeterred and unscathed they seemed as the Game 2 kicked off. The St. Louis Cardinals inflicted a humiliating 12-4 defeat over the Washington Nationals to tie the five-game series by 1-1.
While the Cardinals pitchers had come menacingly prepared for this encounter, it was the batters who stole the limelight in the game that had some breathtaking moments with two homers that Carlos Beltran smashed.
"We know this offense has the potential to do this," Cardinals' rookie manager Mike Matheny said. "It was nice to see this, and hopefully it becomes contagious and the guys just keep going."
While Beltran embellished the scorecard with his homers, it was Allen Craig who executed the fifth career post-season homer here. Not only that, he scored thrice to add to the 12-4 victory of the Redbirds.
While the end result of the entire season was an altogether different one for the Cardinals, for Craig – however, things would go well if the Cardinals kept the momentum.
"If we get things going, we feel like we can carry the team," Craig said. "As you saw tonight, we put a lot of good swings on the ball and really drove the ball. It was a lot of fun."
It was Jaime Garcia who had to make the start for the Cardinals. But within two innings, he had to exit after the shoulder injury. While the odds were well against the Cardinals, they did not surrender and moved on to triumph.
It was Lynn who the Cardinals deemed fit to bring in. He did not let his choice be proven wrong as he pitched three strong innings, allowing only two runs with five strike-outs to his credit.
"I was ready from the get-go in case anything happened," he said. "Something I was able to do at times this year, able to be down in the bullpen a little bit, and I was able to use that experience."
Jordan Zimmermann, the Nationals' starter, surrendered five runs merely in three innings. With the batters marvellously executed things for the Cardinals, the bullpen remained considerably stronger here.
With the Nationals bullpen at its lowest in the Game 2, Joe Kelly, Edward Mujica and Mitchell Boggs pitched well, keeping the Cardinals lead intact. It was Trevor Rosenthal who pitched a scoreless ninth to conclude the Game 2 with 12-4 win for the Cardinals, tying the NLDS at one game apiece.
The Cardinals showed everyone that they have what it takes are willing to put it all on the line to dominate any team which gets in their way.
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