The defending World Series Champions, the Chicago Cubs were looking to put the hammer on the Washington Nationals by taking a commanding 2-0 series lead, but the boys in DC had other plans.
The Cubs dominated Game One with superb pitching from Kyle Hendricks, as he tossed seven shutout innings, allowing two hits, three walks, while striking out six batters. He also bested his counterpart Stephen Strasburg, who also had a great night on the mound, tossing seven innings, allowing three hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts. But the two runs he gave up in the game, were the difference makers.
On Saturday, Jon Lester took the mound and threw six innings, allowing one run on two hits, two walks and two strikeouts. He did give up a first inning home run to Anthony Rendon, but then settled down keeping the Nats off the scoreboard through his time on the mound.
As for the Cubs offense, they scored one in the second, tying the game on Willson Contreras towering fly ball to left field for a solo shot and in the fourth, Anthony Rizzo hit a two run home run over the right field fence scoring Kris Bryant to put the Cubs up 3-1. All of the runs were given up by starter Gio Gonzalez, who tossed five innings, allowing three hots, two walks, six strikeouts, along with the two home runs.
The Nats bullpen then kept Washington in the game by tossing a combined four shutout innings between five pitchers.
Washington’s bats then came alive in an epic eighth inning as they finally broke through on Bryce Harper‘s two-run shot to left field, a no-doubter, tying the game at 3-3. Then with two men on, Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run home run, scoring Rendon and Daniel Murphy, giving the Nats their first lead of the series.
Closer Sean Doolittle entered the game in the ninth, and after striking out Contreras, he allowed a single to Addison Russell, but then induced a ground ball off the bat of Ben Zobrist for a game ending double play, sending both teams to Chicago tied 1-1.
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