Live-Blogging: 2019 NLCS Game 1: Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals 10/11/2019

NLCS Game 1: Washington National at St. Louis Cardinals 10/11/2019

Hello and welcome to another edition of ‘Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball’. Tonight, it is Game 1 of the 2019 National League Championship Series, between Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals. The Nats are buzzing after upsetting the Dodgers in five games. While the Cardinals showed that they were a more fundamentally sound team than the Braves, in their NLDS.

Tonight’s Starting Pitchers are a pair of righties. Anibal Sanchez for the Nationals and Miles Mikolas for the Redbirds. Sanchez comes in with a K/BB ratio of 2.31, while averaging 3.78 P/PA. Meanwhile Mikolas comes in with a K/BB ration of 4.50, while averaging 3.75 P/PA.

It is Washington Nationals taking on St. Louis Cardinals, coming up shortly. 

Starting Lineups:
Washington Nationals:
1. Trea Turner, SS
2. Adam Eaton, RF
3. Anthony Rendon, 3B
4. Juan Soto, LF
5. Howie Kendrick, 2B
6. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
7. Michael A. Taylor, CF
8. Yan Gomes, C
9. Anibal Sanchez, P

St. Louis Cardinals:
1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. Kolten Wong, 2B
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Marcell Ozuna, LF
5. Yadier Molina, C
6. Matt Carpenter, 3B
7. Tommy Edman, RF
8. Paul DeJong, SS
9. Miles Mikolas, P

Nationals are in their alternate navy jerseys, caps with red bills, and gray pants. While the Cardinals are in their home white uniforms, 

Top of 1st Inning:
1. Turner
2. Eaton
3. Rendon
Miles Mikolas now starting as Cardinals Pitcher.
​First Pitch around 7:09 p.m. CDT.
​Turner strikes out swinging. 1 out.
​Eaton strikes out swinging. Molina throws out Eaton at first. 2 out.
​Rendon singles to left field line. Runner on 1st.
​Soto strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Nationals strand a base runner.

Middle of 1st Inning:
WAS 0, STL 0

Bottom of 1st Inning: 
Due Up:
1. Fowler
2. Wong
3. Goldschmidt
Anibal Sanchez now starting as Cardinals Pitcher.
​Fowler strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Wong grounds out to Kendrick. 2 outs.
Goldschmidt flies out to Eaton. 3 outs.
Cardinals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning. 

End of 1st Inning:
WAS 0, STL 0

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
5. Kendrick
6. Zimmerman
7. Taylor
Mikolas currently at 14 pitches.
​Kendrick doubles to right center field. Runner on 2nd.
Zimmerman grounds out to Carpenter. 1 out.
Taylor strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
RBI-DOUBLE: Gomes hits an RBI-Double to left center field. Kendrick scores. WAS 1, STL 0
Sanchez grounds out to DeJong. 3 outs.
Nationals get a run, in their half of 2nd Inning.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Ozuna
5. Molina
6. Carpenter
Sanchez currently at 17 pitches.
​Ozuna flies out to Taylor. 1 out.
Molina flies out to Taylor. 2 outs.
Carpenter bunt grounds out to Rendon. 3 outs.
Cardinals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.

End of 2nd Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Top of 3rd Inning;
Due Up:
1. Turner, 0-1
2. Eaton, 0-1
3. Rendon, 1-1
Mikolas currently at 29 pitches.
​Turner flies out to Edman. 1 out.
Eaton gets called out on strikes. 2 outs.
Rendon flies out to Fowler. 3 outs.
Nationals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 3rd Inning.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
7. Edman 
8. DeJong
9. Mikolas
Sanchez currently at 24 pitches.
​Edman flies out to Taylor. 1 out.
DeJong strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Mikolas strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Cardinals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 3rd Inning.

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Soto
5. Kendrick
6. Zimmerman
Mikolas still pitching for Cardinals.
Soto grounds out to DeJong. 1 out.
​Kendrick grounds out to DeJong. 2 outs.
Zimmerman singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Taylor bunt grounds out to Molina, unassisted. Taylor stepped on the bunted ball by home plate. 3 outs.
Nationals strand a base runner.

Middle of 4th Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Fowler, 0-1
2. Wong, 0-1
3. Goldschmidt, 0-1
Sanchez currently at 34 pitches.
​Fowler flies out to Taylor. 1 out.
Wong ends Sanchez's perfect game bid, with a walk. Runner on 1st.
Goldschmidt flies out to Taylor. 2 outs.
STOLEN BASE: With Ozuna at-bat, Wong steals 2nd base and moves to 3rd, on the throwing error by Gomes. Runner on 3rd.
Ozuna fouls out to Rendon. 3 outs.
Cardinals strand a base runner.

End of 4th Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Gomes, 1-1, RBI
9. Sanchez, 0-1
1. Turner, 0-2
Mikolas currently at 59 pitches.
Gomes singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Sanchez strikes out on a foul tip caught by Molina. 1 out.
Turner singles to left field. Gomes advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Eaton hits into infield fly rule. 2 outs.
CARDINALS MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: WAS 5, STL 4
Rendon draws a base on balls. Bases Loaded.
Soto grounds out to Wong. 3 outs.
Nationals strand the bases loaded.

Middle of 5th Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Molina, 0-1
6. Carpenter, 0-1
7. Edman, 0-1
Sanchez currently at 45 pitches.
Molina grounds out to Turner. 1 out.
Carpenter strikes out on a foul tip caught by Gomes. 2 outs.
Edman flies out to Taylor. 3 outs.
Sanchez has a no-hitter through 5 innings.

End of 5th Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Kendrick, 1-2
6. Zimmerman, 1-2
7. Taylor, 0-2
Mikolas currently at 82 pitches.
​​​Kendrick grounds out to DeJong. 1 out.
Zimmerman doubles to center field. Runner on 2nd.
Taylor strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Cardinals elect to intentionally pass on Gomes. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Sanchez grounds into 5-4 fielder's choice. Gomes is out at 1st.
Nationals strand a pair of baserunners.

Middle of 6th Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
8. DeJong, 0-1
9. Mikolas?
1. Fowler, 0-2
Sanchez currently at 56 pitches.
Giovanny Gallegos (RHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen.
DeJong strikes out swinging. 1 out.
PINCH-HITTING: Randy Arozarena pinch-hitting for Mikolas. 
Arozarena gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
STOLEN BASE: With Fowler at-bat, Arozarena steals 2nd Base. Runner on 2nd.
Fowler grounds out to Kendrick. 2 outs.
Wong lines out to Taylor. 3 outs.
Sanchez has a no-hitter through 6 innings.

End of 6th Inning:
WAS 1, STL 0

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Turner, 1-3
2. Eaton, 0-3
3. Rendon, 1-2
PITCHING CHANGE: Giovanny Gallegos (RHP) replaces Miles Mikolas, as Cardinals Pitcher.
​Turner lines out to Gallegos. 1 out.
Tyler Webb (LHP) and Andrew Miller (LHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen.
Eaton triples to left center field. Runner on 3rd.
Cardinals elect to intentionally pass on Rendon. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
PITCHING CHANGE: Andrew Miller (LHP) replaces Giovanny Gallegos, as Cardinals Pitcher.
​Soto strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
PITCHING CHANGE: John Brebbia (RHP) replaces Andrew Miller, as Cardinals Pitcher.
​RBI-SINGLE: Kendrick hits an RBI-Single to center field. Eaton scores. Rendon advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd. WAS 2, STL 0
​Ryan Helsley (RHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen.
Zimmerman draws a base on balls. Bases Loaded.
CARDINALS MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: WAS 5, STL 3
Taylor flies out to Fowler. 3 outs.
Nationals get a run, but strand the bases loaded.

Middle of 7th Inning:
WAS 2, STL 0

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Goldschmidt, 0-2
5. Ozuna, 0-2
6. Molina, 0-2
Sanchez currently at 75 pitches.
​Tanner Rainey (RHP) warming up in Nationals Bullpen.
Goldschmidt flies out to Turner. 1 out.
Ozuna flies out to Eaton. 2 outs.
Molina gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
Carpenter grounds out to Zimmerman, unassisted. 3 outs.
Sanchez has a no-hitter through 7 innings.

End of 7th Inning:
WAS 2, STL 0

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Gomes, 2-2, RBI
9. Sanchez
1. Turner, 1-4
PITCHING CHANGE: Ryan Helsley (RHP) replaces John Brebbia, as Cardinals Pitcher.
​Gomes strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Sanchez strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Turner grounds out to DeJong. 3 outs.
Nationals go down 1-2-3, in their half of 8th Inning.

Middle of 8th Inning:
WAS 2, STL 0

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
7. Edman, 0-2
8. DeJong, 0-2
9. Helsley?
Sanchez currently at 89 pitches.
Tanner Rainey (RHP) and Sean Doolittle (LHP) warming up in Nationals Bullpen.
Edman lines out to a diving Zimmerman. 1 out.
DeJong flies out to Taylor. 2 outs.
PINCH-HITTING: Jose Martinez pinch-hitting for Ryan Helsley.
J. Martinez ends Sanchez's no-hit bid, with a single to center field. Runner on 1st.
​PITCHING CHANGE: Sean Doolittle (LHP) replaces Anibal Sanchez, as Nationals Pitcher.
Carlos Martinez (RHP) and Tyler Webb (LHP) warming up in Cardinals Bullpen.
Fowler grounds out to Rendon. 3 outs.
Cardinals strand a base runner.

End of 8th Inning:
WAS 2, STL 0

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Eaton, 1-4
3. Rendon, 1-2
4. Soto, 0-4
PITCHING CHANGE: Tyler Webb (LHP) replaces Ryan Helsley, as Cardinals Pitcher.
​Eaton grounds out to Carpenter. 1 out.
Rendon strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Soto singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
DOUBLE SWITCH: Carlos Martinez (RHP) replaces Tyler Webb, as Cardinals Pitcher, batting 1st. Harrison Bader comes into the game to play center field, batting 9th.
With Kendrick at-bat, Soto moves to 2nd, on a wild pitch by C. Martinez. Runner on 2nd.
Cardinals elect to intentionally pass on Kendrick. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Zimmerman strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Nationals strands a pair of base runners.

Middle of 9th Inning:
WAS 2, STL 0

Bottom of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Wong, 0-2
3. Goldschmidt, 0-3
4. Ozuna, 0-3
Doolittle currently at 5 pitches.
​​Wong bunt grounds out to Doolittle?
UMPIRES REVIEW: Umpires reviewing call on the field. Out at 1st. Call Stands. 1 out.
Goldschmidt grounds out to Zimmerman, unassisted. 1 out.
Ozuna strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Cardinals go down 1-2-3, to end the game.

Final:
WAS 2, STL 0
WAS leads series 1-0.
W: Sanchez (1-0)
L: Mikolas (0-1)
SV: Doolittle (1)
PoG: Sanchez (WAS) W, QS, 7.2 IP, 0 R, H, 5 K, BB
​ToG: 3:24

Final Thoughts:
Sanchez was dominate and Kendrick and Gomes were the only offense the Nationals needed. Sanchez and Doolittle threw a combined 1-hitter in tonight's game. For the Cardinals, they played like they used up their run scoring in Game 5 of the NLDS. 

Tomorrow Afternoon's Starting Pitchers are Max Scherzer for the Nationals and Adam Wainwright will go for the Cardinals. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.