WASHINGTON (AP) – The Nationals have their first pennant in franchise history, and Washington has its first pennant in 86 years.
The Nationals completed a four-game sweep of the Cardinals in the National League Championship Series by erupting for seven runs off Dakota Hudson and Adam Wainwright in the first inning of a 7-4 victory in Washington. Patrick Corbin and three relievers combined on a five-hitter against the punchless Redbirds, who managed just 16 hits the entire series.
Anthony Rendon put Washington ahead with his seventh RBI of the postseason, a sacrifice fly that scored leadoff hitter Trea Turner. Juan Soto hit an RBI double and Victor Robles followed with an RBI single before Yan Gomes poked a two-run single that chased Hudson.
Wainwright later served up a two-run single by Turner to put the Nationals ahead by seven.
The Redbirds began to chip away at their deficit when Yadier Molina homered in the fourth inning off Corbin. St. Louis later scored three times in the fifth, capped by a two-run double by Jose Martinez.
Corbin left the game after striking out 12 and allowing four hits over five innings.
The Nationals had never won a pennant, even when the franchise was the Montreal Expos from 1969-2004. Washington’s last pennant winner was the 1933 Senators, who dropped a five-game series with the New York Giants.
Washington will host Games 3 through 5 of the World Series.
