Nationals Sweep Cardinals in 4 Games to Advance to World Series

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer in 2018.
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer in 2018. Photo by REX/Shutterstock (9888991c)

Few could have ever imagined this just a couple of months ago, but on Tuesday, the once-improbable became reality.

The Washington Nationals, who upset the reigning National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, finished up a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals to advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

Washington, who finished in 2nd place in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves, has been on a magical run that has taken them as one of the playoffs’ biggest long shots to play for a title to the Fall Classic.

The Cardinals, who the Nats defeated by a 7-4 final score on Tuesday night in the nation’s capital, proved to be a little challenge for the hottest team in baseball.

The Nationals scored seven runs in the first inning of Game 4 in an onslaught against Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson, putting the game essentially out of reach just after it began.

Patrick Corbin struck out 12 Cardinals in 5 innings on the mound despite giving up 4 runs, earning the win in a game that Nats fans won’t soon forget.

Now, the team will wait and see whether they will travel to the Bronx to face the Yankees or to Houston to face the Astros in Game 1 of the World Series.