NLDS-Game 3: Nationals avoid sweep; Cards take 2-1 lead

Former Detroit Tiger Doug Fister pitched seven shutout innings as the Washington Nationals avoided elimination (and a sweep) in the National League Division Series with a 4-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.

Nationals pitcher Drew Storen allowed the first two batters to reach in the bottom of the 9th, but shook off his postseason struggles, allowing a run in closing it out as Washington forced a Game 4 this Tuesday night against the Giants.




Kolten Wong hit a two-run homerun to snap a 7th inning tie, Matt Carpenter went deep for the third straight game, and John Lackey pitched St. Louis past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-1, to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five National League Division Series.

Facing elimination in St. Louis for the second consecutive postseason, the Dodgers will turn to ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest this Tuesday night in Game 4 while Shelby Miller will make his first playoff start for the Cardinals.