WASHINGTON _ The Cardinals were swept in a four-game postseason series for only the third time in their history Tuesday night when they spotted the Washington Nationals seven runs in the first inning in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
Unlike Game 3, the Cardinals showed more spunk in this one, rallying to make the game relatively close and they had the potential go-ahead run at the plate in the eighth inning. But pinch hitter Matt Carpenter, one of baseball's top batsmen ever with the bases loaded, grounded out into the shift.
The Washington bullpen, worst statistically in the majors during the regular season, fired four scoreless innings in relief of Patrick Corbin, who fanned 12, and the Nationals held on for a 7-4 win to complete a four-game sweep.
Washington advanced to its first World Series in the 51-year history of the franchise (Montreal/Washington). The Cardinals, after outlasting Atlanta in five games to win the division series, finished their 2019 postseason experience with a 3-6 record.
The other times they were swept in a four-game postseason series were in the 2004 World Series by Boston and in the 1928 World Series by the New York Yankees. They never led in a game in 2004 and they never led in a game in this series either.
"This didn't require advanced sabermetrics," said manger Mike Shildt. "You have to get a lead to win a game. We aren't able to do that."
Rookie Dakota Hudson was pasted for five hits and seven runs, four earned, in a 15-pitch first inning that was marked by a couple of Cardinals' defensive pratfalls involving Kolten Wong and Jose Martinez.
The Cardinals, relief corps, starting with veteran Adam Wainwright, worked 7 2/3 scoreless innings. But 14 more Cardinals strikeouts, on top of the 16 they had on Monday, did them in. Nine of those strikeouts were by their three top offensive players _ Paul Goldschmidt, Marcell Ozuna and Paul DeJong.
But the Cardinals rallied.
"(The Nationals) couldn't have felt real comfortable over there. We weren't able to bring it home," Shildt said.
"A lot of teams ... could easily have packed it in. We had the go-ahead run at the plate with a guy we have confidence in to take the lead.
"A lot of positives took place. Not enough of them."
