Live Blogging: Shish on Baseball: NLDS Game 5: Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals 10/12/2017

NLDS Game 5: Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals

TBS TV Broadcast

Hello and welcome to another edition of ‘Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball’. Tonight it is win or go home as the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals are set to play Game 5 of the National League Division Series. The Cubs have won the odd number games, while the Nationals have won the even number games.

This has been a series of momentum shifts. Game 2’s momentum shift occurred, when the Nationals hit 2 home runs in the Bottom of the 8th Inning, in their 6-3 win vs. Cubs. In Game 3, the momentum moves to the Cubs, when a couple of questionable pitching decisions by Dusty Baker, gave the Cubs a 2-1 win. Game 4’s momentum shift happened before the game began, where it was postponed on Tuesday. That gave Stephen Strasburg enough time to record the win, in Nationals 5-0 win over the Cubs.

Tonight’s starting pitchers are right-hander Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs, and left-hander Gio Gonzalez for the Nationals. Hendricks pitched 7 shutout innings, 2 hits, 6 strikeouts, and 3 walks in Game 1. Gio Gonzalez pitched 5 innings, 3 earned runs, off 3 hits, 6 strikeouts, and 2 walks, in Game 2.

It is the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals, Game 5 of the National League Division Series. Coming up shortly.

Location: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

Starting Lineups:
Chicago Cubs (2-2):
1. Jon Jay LF
2. Kris Bryant 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Willson Contreras C
5. Albert Almora Jr. CF
6. Addison Russell SS
7. Jason Heyward RF
8. Javier Baez 2B
9. Kyle Hendricks P
​SP: Kyle Hendricks (RHP) (7-5,3.03 ERA, 123 Ks)

Wsshington Nationals (2-2):
1. Trea Turner SS
2. Jayson Werth LF
3. Bryce Harper RF
4. Ryan Zimmerman 1B
5. Daniel Murphy 2B
6. Anthony Rendon 3B
7. Matt Wieters C
8. Michael A. Taylor CF
9. Gio Gonzalez P
SP: Gio Gonzalez (LHP) (15-9, 2.96 ERA, 188 Ks)
​
Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Jay 
2. Bryant
3. Rizzo
Gio Gonzalez now starting as Nationals Pitcher.
​First pitch at 8:08 p.m. EDT.
Jay doubles to right field. Runner on 2nd.
MANAGER'S CHALLENGE: Baker challenges the call that Jay is safe at second. Call stands.
Jay advances to third on a wild pitch by Gonzalez. Runner on 3rd.
Bryant strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Rizzo grounds out to Murphy. Jay scores. 2 Outs. CHC 1, WAS 0
Contreras draws a base on ball. Runner on 1st.
Almora singles to right field. Contreras advances to third. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
Russell draws a base on balls. Almora advances to second. Bases Loaded.
Heyward grounds out to Zimmerman, unassisted. 3 Outs.
Cubs left the bases loaded. 

Middle of 1st Inning:
CHC 1, WAS 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Turner
2. Werth 
3. Rendon
Kyle Hendricks now starting as Cubs Pitcher.
​Turner singles to second base. Runner on 1st.
Turner steals second base. Runner on 2nd.
Werth lines out to Almora, Jr. Turner advances to third. 1 Out. Runner on 3rd.
Harper grounds into fielder's choice Baez throws out Turner at home. 2 Outs. Runner on 1st.
Zimmerman strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Nationals strand Harper at first base. 

End of 1st Inning:
CHC 1, WAS 0

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
8. Baez
9. Hendricks
1. Jay
Gonzalez currently at 29 pitches.
​Baez flies out to Harper. 1 Out.
Hendricks strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Jay gets called out on strikes. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
CHC 1, WAS 0

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
5. Murphy 
6. Rendon 
7. Wieters
Hendricks currently at 20 pitches.
HOME RUN: Daniel Murphy hits a solo home run off of Hendricks. CHC 1, WAS 1
​Rendon singles to right center field. Runner on 1st.
Wieters hits a bunt single down the third base line. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
HOME RUN: Michael A. Taylor hits a 3-run home run off of Kyle Hendricks. CHC 1, WAS 4
​Gonzalez strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Turner strikes out swinging. Contreras throws him at first. 2 Outs.
Werth doubles to right field. Runner on 2nd. 
Maddon elects to intentionally pass on Harper. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Brian Duensing (LHP) warming up in Cubs Bullpen.
Zimmerman strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Nationals left runners on 1st & 2nd stranded.

End of 2nd Inning:
CHC 1, WAS 4

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
2. Bryant 
3. Rizzo 
4. Contreras
Gonzalez currently at 45 pitches.
​Bryant double to left center field. Runner on 2nd.
Rizzo gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Contreras draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Almora draws a base on balls. Bryant and Contreras move 90 feet. Bases Loaded.
Russell hits a RBI-Groundout to Turner. Bryant scores. CHC 2, WAS 4
Matt Albers (RHP) warming up in Nationals Bullpen.
Contreras scores on a wild pitch by Gonzalez. Almora advances to third. Runner on 3rd. CHC 3, WAS 4
Cubs strand a base runner on third. 

Middle of 3rd Inning:
CHC 3, WAS 4

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
5. Murphy
6. Rendon
7. Wieters
Hendricks currently at 50 pitches.
​Murphy strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Rendon flies out to Almora. 2 Outs.
Wieters singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
Taylor flies out to Rizzo. 3 Outs.
Nationals strand a base runner.

End of 3rd Inning:
CHC 3, WAS 4

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Baez
9. Hendricks?
1. Jay
PITCHING CHANGE: Matt Albers (RHP) replaces Gio Gonzalez as Nationals Pitcher.
​Baez grounds out to Turner. 1 Out.
Hendricks batting for himself. 
Hendricks grounds out to Turner. 2 Outs.
Max Scherzer (RHP) warming up in Nationals Bullpen.
​Jay pops out to Turner. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning.

Middle of 4th Inning:
CHC 3, WAS 4

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Albers?
1. Turner
2. Werth
Hendricks currently at 66 pitches.
​​PINCH-HITTING: Victor Robles pinch-hitting for Matt Albers. 
Robles strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Turner strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Werth singles to left field Runner on 1st.
Harper singles to center field. Werth advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Zimmerman flies out to Jay. 3 Outs.
Nationals strand a pair of base runners. 

End of 4th Inning:
CHC 3, WAS 4

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Bryant
3. Rizzo 
4. Contreras
PITCHING CHANGE: Max Scherzer (RHP) replaces Matt Albers as Nationals Pitcher.
​Bryant grounds out to Turner. 1 Out.
Rizzo lines out to Taylor. 2 Outs.
Contreras singles to shortstop. Runner on 1st. 
PINCH-HITTING: Ben Zobrist pinch-hitting for Albert Almora, Jr. 
Zobrist singles to left field. Contreras advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Russell hits a RBI-Double to left filed. Contreras and Zobrist score. Runner on 2nd. CHC 5, WAS 4
​Baker elects to intentionally pass on Heyward. Runner on 1st & 2nd.
Baez strikes out, but reaches second on a throwing error by Wieters. Russell scores. Heyward to third. CHC 6, WAS 4
PINCH-HITTING: Tommy La Stella pinch-hitting for Hendricks. 
La Stella reaches base on a catcher's interference. Bases Loaded.
Jay gets hit by a pitch. Heyward scores. Baez and La Stella advance 90 feet. Bases Loaded.
Bryant pops out to Turner. 3 Outs.
Cubs left the bases loaded. 

Middle of 5th Inning:
CHC 7, WAS 4

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Murphy 
6. Rendon
7. Wieters
DEFENSIVE SWITCHES: Jon Jay moves from left field to center field. Ben Zobrist remains in the game to play left field. 
PITCHING CHANGE: Brian Duensing (LHP) replaces Kyle Hendricks as Cubs Pitcher.
Murphy draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Rendon lines out to Jay. 1 Out.
Wieters strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
​PITCHING CHANGE: Pedro Strop (RHP) replaces Brian Duensing as Cubs Pitcher.
Taylor strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.

End of 5th Inning:
CHC 7, WAS 4

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Rizzo
4. Contreras
5. Zobrist
PITCHING CHANGE: Brandon Kintzler (RHP) replaces Max Scherzer as Nationals Pitcher.
​Rizzo grounds out to Kintzler. 1 Out.
Contreras grounds out to Turner. 2 Outs.
Zobrist draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Russell hits a RBI-Double to left field. Zobrist scores. CHC 8, WAS 4
Heyward flies out to Taylor. 3 Outs.
Cubs strand a base runner.

Middle of 6th Inning:
CHC 8, WAS 4

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Kintzler?
1. Turner
2. Werth
PINCH-HITTING: Wilmer Difo pinch-hitting for Brandon Kintzler.
​Difo grounds out to Strop. 1 Out.
Turner grounds out to Bryant. 2 Outs.
Werth draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st. 
PITCHING CHANGE: Mike Montgomery (LHP) replaces Pedro Strop as Cubs Pitcher.
Harper doubles to right field. Werth advances to third. Runners on 2nd & 3rd.
Zimmerman draws a base on balls. Werth scores on the Ball-4, wild pitch by Montgomery. Harper advances to third. Runners on 1st & 3rd. CHC 8, WAS 5
Murphy doubles to left field. Harper scores. Zimmerman advances to third. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. CHC 8, WAS 6
​Maddon elects to intentionally pass on Anthony Rendon. Murphy advances to 2nd. Bases Loaded.
Wieters flies out to Heyward. 3 Outs.
Nationals left the bases loaded. 

End of 6th Inning:
CHC 8, WAS 6

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Baez
9. Montgomery?
1. Jay
PITCHING CHANGE: Sammy Solis (LHP) replaces Brandon Kintzler as Nationals Pitcher.
Baez bunts a ground out to Zimmerman, unassisted. 1 Out.
PINCH-HITTING: Kyle Schwarber pinch-hitting for Mike Montgomery.
Schwarber singles to right field. Runner on 1st.
​Jay singles to center field. Schwarber advances to third. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
DOUBLE-SWITCH: Jose Lobaton replaces Matt Wieters at catcher, batting 9th. Ryan Madson (RHP) replaces Sammy Solis as Nationals Pitcher. Batting 7th.
Bryant grounds into 5-4 fielder's choice. Bryant is safe at first. Schwarber scores. 2 Outs. Runner on 1st.
CHC 9, WAS 6
​Rizzo grounds out to Murphy. 3 Outs.
Cubs strand Bryant on base. 

Middle of 7th Inning:
CHC 9, WAS 6

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Taylor
9. Lobaton 
1. Turner
PITCHING CHANGE: Carl Edwards, Jr. replaces Mike Montgomery as Cubs Pitcher.
​Taylor draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
PITCHING CHANGE: Jose Quintana (LHP) replaces Carl Edwards, Jr. as Cubs Pitcher.
Lobaton flies out to Heyward. 1 Out.
Turner singles to right field. Taylor advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Werth draws a base on balls. Taylor and Turner advance 90 feet. Bases Loaded.
Harper flies out to Jay. Taylor scores. 2 Outs. Runners on 1st & 2nd. CHC 9, WAS 7
​DOUBLE-SWITCH: Leonys Martin replaces Jon Jay, and batting 9th. Wade Davis (RHP) replaces Jose Quintana as Cubs Pitcher.
Zimmerman strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Nationals strand a pair of baserunners. 

End of 7th Inning:
CHC 9, WAS 7

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Contreras
5. Zobrist
6. Russell
​Contreras grounds out to Madson. 1 Out.
Zobrist grounds out to Zimmerman. 2 Outs.
Russell strikes out swinging. Lobaton throws out Russell to Zimmerman. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 8th Inning.

Middle of 8th Inning:
CHC 9, WAS 7

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Murphy 
6. Rendon 
7. Madson?
Davis currently at 8 pitches.
Murphy draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Rendon draws a base on balls. Murphy advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PINCH-HITTING: Adam Lind pinch-hitting for Ryan Madson.
Lind grounds into 4-6-3 double play. Murphy advances to third. Rendon is out at second. 2 Outs. Runner on 3rd. 
Home Plate Umpire Lane get dinged up on ball pitched by Wade Davis.
Taylor singles to center field. Murphy scores. Runner on 1st. CHC 9, WAS 8
​Lobaton singles to center field. Taylor advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
The Cubs have not recorded a 1-2-3 inning so far in this game. 
MANAGER'S CHALLENGE: Maddon challenges call that Lobaton is safe at first on pickoff move. Call is overturned. Lobaton is out at first. Contreras throws his counterpart out at first. 3 Outs.
Nationals strand Taylor on third base. 

End of 8th Inning:
CHC 9, WAS 8

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up;
7. Heyward 
8. Baez 
9. Martin
PITCHING CHANGE: Sean Doolittle (LHP) replaces Ryan Madson as Nationals Pitcher.
​Heyward strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Baez strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Martin lines out to Werth. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 9th Inning.

Middle of 9th Inning:
CHC 9, WAS 8

Bottom of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Turner
2. Werth 
3. Harper
Davis currently at 27 pitches.
​Turner lines out to Martin. 1 Out.
Werth strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
And now it comes down to Wade Davis vs. Bryce Harper. 
Harper strikes out swinging. 3 Outs. 
Nationals go down 1-2-3, in their half of the 9th Inning, to end the game and series.

Final:
CHC 9, WAS 8
Cubs win series 3-2
W: Duensing (1-0)
L; Scherzer (0-1)
SV: Davis (3)
PoG: Russell (CHC): 2/4, 2B, R, 4 RBI
ToG: 4:37

Final Thoughts: Well there is the old adage that the last three outs of the game are the hardest outs in baseball. But for Wade Davis and the Cubs, the last three outs of the game were the easiest to get in tonight's game. 

As for the Nationals, you wonder how many chances they will get to try win a playoff series. 

Cubs move on to the National League Division Series.  They will play the Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 1 starting on Saturday. This will be the Cubs' third consecutive trip to the NLCS. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.