| 2019 National League Championship Series | ||||||||||
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| Dates | October 11–15 | |||||||||
| MVP | Howie Kendrick (Washington) | |||||||||
| Umpires | Chris Conroy,Fieldin Culbreth,Phil Cuzzi,Chad Fairchild,Chris Guccione,[a]Bill Miller (crew chief),Mike Muchlinski[a] | |||||||||
| Broadcast | ||||||||||
| Television | TBS | |||||||||
| TV announcers | Brian Anderson,Ron Darling,Jeff Francoeur andLauren Shehadi | |||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | |||||||||
| Radio announcers | Jon Sciambi andJessica Mendoza | |||||||||
| NLDS |
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The2019 National League Championship Series was a best-of-seven series inMajor League Baseball’s2019 postseason between the two winners of the2019 National League Division Series, the third-seededSt. Louis Cardinals and the fourth-seededWashington Nationals, for theNational League (NL)pennant and the right to play in the2019 World Series. The series was scheduled in a 2–3–2 format, with the Cardinals having home-field advantage because the Nationals were awild card team.[1] The series was the 50thNLCS in league history,[b] withTBS televising all games in the United States.
For the third straight year,Major League Baseball soldpresenting sponsorships to all of its postseason series; as with theALCS, this NLCS was sponsored byGEICO and officially known as the2019 National League Championship Series presented by GEICO.[2]
This was the second NLCS in which the winning team never trailed during a game (the other being in2015) and the second postseason series in which the winning team scored first in every game and never relinquished a lead once taken (the first being the1966 World Series).[3] This was also the first NLCS since 2015 to end in a sweep and the fourth best-of-seven NLCS to do so (the others being in2007 and1995).
The Nationals won their first National League pennant, and would go on to defeat theHouston Astros in theWorld Series in seven games, winning their first World Series championship in franchise history and bringing Washington D.C. its first World Series title since theWashington Senators back in1924. The Nationals also became the second team to sweep their opponent in theLCS since the series became best-of-seven, and subsequently win the World Series (the first being theAtlanta Braves in1995).
Both of the best-of-fiveNational League Division Series went the full five games. This was the first time since the2012 NLDS that both series went to five games.
TheWashington Nationals, winners of theNational League Wild Card Game, upset the top-seededLos Angeles Dodgers. The Nationals were 19–31 on May 23, then went 74–38 the rest of the season to finish in the top NLwild card spot.
TheSt. Louis Cardinals were 44–44 at the All-Star break, and also finished the season strong, going 47–27 after the break and winning their firstNational League Central title in four years. As a third-seed, the Cardinals upset the second-seededAtlanta Braves.
This was the 14th NLCS appearance for the Cardinals, who had a 7–6 record in prior Championship Series. It was the second NLCS appearance for the Nationals, who lost the1981 NLCS when they were theMontreal Expos.
The only prior postseason meeting between these two teams was the2012 NLDS, won by St. Louis. The Cardinals and Nationals faced each other seven times during the 2019 regular season, with the Cardinals winning five of those games.[4]
Washington won the series, 4–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 11 | Washington Nationals – 2, St. Louis Cardinals – 0 | Busch Stadium | 3:24 | 45,075[5] |
| 2 | October 12 | Washington Nationals – 3, St. Louis Cardinals – 1 | Busch Stadium | 2:53 | 46,458[6] |
| 3 | October 14 | St. Louis Cardinals – 1,Washington Nationals – 8 | Nationals Park | 3:26 | 43,675[7] |
| 4 | October 15 | St. Louis Cardinals – 4,Washington Nationals – 7 | Nationals Park | 3:02 | 43,976[8] |
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| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Aníbal Sánchez (1–0) LP:Miles Mikolas (0–1) Sv:Sean Doolittle (1) Attendance: 45,075 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Nationals entered Game 1 withoutcloserDaniel Hudson, who was placed on paternity leave;Wander Suero was activated in his place.[9] Washington got one run in the second asYan Gomes drove inHowie Kendrick with a two-out double. Cardinals starting pitcherMiles Mikolas went six innings, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out seven. The Nationals added a run in the seventh, again with two outs, as Kendrick drove inAdam Eaton, who had tripled. In the 8th inning, 1st basemen Ryan Zimmerman made a Superman diving catch that temporarily preserved a no-hitter for Nationals pitcher Anibal Sanchez, although Sanchez did allow a hit later in the inning and lost the no-hit bid.[48] Washington starting pitcherAníbal Sánchez did not allow a hit until a two-out single byJosé Martínez in the eighth inning; Sánchez struck out five, walked one, and hit two batsmen in7+2⁄3 innings.Sean Doolittle relieved Sánchez and recorded the final four outs, giving Washington the 2–0 win and a 1–0 lead in the series. Sánchez had also been the starting pitcher in the most recent prior one-hitter in playoff history, Game 1 of the2013 ALCS, coming against theBoston Red Sox when he played for theDetroit Tigers. It was Doolittle's first save this postseason.[10]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Max Scherzer (1–0) LP:Adam Wainwright (0–1) Sv:Daniel Hudson (1) Home runs: WAS:Michael A. Taylor (1) STL: None Attendance: 46,458 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NationalscloserDaniel Hudson returned to the team from paternity leave.[11] Washington took a 1–0 lead in the top of the third inning on a home run byMichael A. Taylor. Washington starting pitcherMax Scherzer did not allow a hit untilPaul Goldschmidt led off the seventh inning with a single; Scherzer allowed only the one hit, struck out 11, and walked two in seven innings. By holding the Cardinals hitless through the first five innings of each of their starts, Scherzer and teammateAníbal Sánchez repeated a feat they accomplished in Games 1 and 2 of the2013 American League Championship Series, a feat no other pair of pitchers has ever accomplished in the postseason.[12] The Nationals added two runs in the eighth whenAdam Eaton hit a double into the right-field corner to drive inMatt Adams andTrea Turner.Paul DeJong scored the Cardinals' first run of the series in the eighth inning ahead of a double byJosé Martínez over Taylor's outstretched glove. Hudson then retired the final two hitters on fly outs, the second a foul popup to first base, to record the save, his third this postseason.
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| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 8 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Stephen Strasburg (1–0) LP:Jack Flaherty (0–1) Home runs: STL: None WAS:Víctor Robles (1) Attendance: 43,675 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 3 starting pitchers wereJack Flaherty for the Cardinals andStephen Strasburg for the Nationals. Washington scored first, in the third inning; with a runner on first and two outs, a single, double, walk, wild pitch, and another double pushed across four runs. Flaherty exited after four innings, having allowed four runs on five hits while striking out six. Washington added two more runs in the fifth inning, again starting with a runner on first and two outs, via back-to-back doubles. AVíctor Robles home run in the sixth inning extended the lead to 7–0. Each team scored once in the seventh inning, yielding an 8–1 final score and giving Washington a commanding 3–0 lead in the series, asTanner Rainey concluded matters by working the ninth, and retiredTommy Edman on a flyout toJuan Soto to win it. Flaherty took the loss, while Strasburg was credited with the win, having allowed one run on seven hits while striking out 12 in seven innings.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 7 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Patrick Corbin (1–0) LP:Dakota Hudson (0–1) Sv:Daniel Hudson (2) Home runs: STL:Yadier Molina (1) WAS: None Attendance: 43,976 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 4 starting pitchers wereDakota Hudson for the Cardinals andPatrick Corbin for the Nationals. The Nationals chased Hudson in the first inning by scoring seven runs on a sacrifice fly, double, and three singles. For the night, Hudson pitched1⁄3 of an inning, allowing seven runs (four earned) on five hits, one walk, and a dropped-throw error by second basemanKolten Wong. Hudson's seven runs allowed tied the postseason record for most runs allowed in a start lasting1⁄3 of an inning or less, a record set byMike Foltynewicz in Game 5 of the2019 NLDS, ironically against the Cardinals.[13] The Cardinals scored their first run in the fourth on a home run byYadier Molina and three more in the fifth on an RBI groundout byTommy Edman and a two-run double byJosé Martínez. Corbin was credited with the win after allowing four runs on four hits in five innings; he also walked three and struck out 12. Washington closerDaniel Hudson entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning. After hitting Molina with a pitch and walkingPaul DeJong, Hudson retired the final four batters he faced, retiringTommy Edman on a fly out to center fielderVictor Robles for the final out, to record his fourth save of this postseason. The win sent the Nationals to the World Series for the first time in the franchise's 51-year history dating back to their founding as theMontreal Expos in 1969. The 51 seasons represented the most seasons for a team to wintheir first league pennant in MLB history.
Howie Kendrick was voted the MVP of the series.[14] It was also the first appearance in the World Series for a Washington team since1933. The Nationals were the last National League team to appear in the World Series, leaving theSeattle Mariners as the only team in Major League Baseball to have never made it.[15]
The Cardinals' .130 batting average (16-for-123) set an NLCS record for lowest team batting average.
2019 NLCS(4–0):Washington Nationals beatSt. Louis Cardinals
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Washington Nationals | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 37 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| St. Louis Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 179,184 Average attendance: 44,796 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||