The Cardinals smashed the Nationals 8-0 in game three of their NL Division Series matchup, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
St Louis jumped all over Edwin Jackson, a starter for last year's Cardinals World Championship team, scoring four runs on six hits over the first two innings of the game. A three-run homer by rookie shortstop Pete Kozma was the big blow that stretched the Cardinals' lead from one run to four runs. But after that second inning, Jackson substantially calmed down. After the second inning, Jackson allowed two hits and one walk in three scoreless innings while tallying all four of his strikeouts in the game.
However, despite Jackson calming down after the rough start, Washington's offense couldn't put any runs on the board against Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter. In his 5 2/3 innings, Carpenter didn't allow a run, and allowed just one extra base hit (a double to Ian Desmond). The Nationals had opportunities to score, particular in the first (first and second with one out, first and third with two outs), fourth (runner on second with one out), fifth (bases loaded, two outs), and sixth innings (first and second, two outs) but came away without runs on all four occasions. The Cardinals bullpen went into lockdown mode after Carpenter left the game, allowing just one baserunner in 3 1/3 innings.
Once Jackson left the game, the Cardinals went to work adding even more breathing room for their ptiching staff. Daniel Desclaso hit a sac fly in the sixth to make it 5-0, Christian Garcia walked in a run in the seventh to make it 6-0, and Ryan Mattheus allowed a two-run single to Matt Holliday in the eight to make it 8-0.
The St Louis has now battered and beat down the Nationals pitching staff for two games in a row, winning back to back games by eight runs. They'll look to finish off Washington in tomorrow's game, which has a 4:07 gametime. Kyle Lohse, who won the Cardinals' Wild Card playoff game with the Braves, will make the start against Ross Detwiler of the Nationals. Detwiler will need to have the best start of his life to move the Nationals on to game five of the series, because the Cardinals' hitters are on a great roll after struggling terribly in game one of the series against Gio Gonzalez.
