It was a big night on Wednesday in terms of Washington Nationals achievements and the scoreboard. The Nationals completely routed the St. Louis Cardinals using a stout offense and a milestone pitching performance by the score of 10-0. The Nationals are now on a five game win streak and one victory away from sweeping a three game series of the Cardinals in front of the home crowds at Nationals Park.
Nationals starter Livan Hernandez pitched a brilliant complete game shutout, nearly shutting down the Cardinals potent offense. Hernandez went the distance and went all nine innings giving up only three hits, no walks and striking out six. Without a doubt it was his finest performance of 2011 thus far. Wednesday night's performance marks Hernandez's ninth career shutout and his 50th complete game pitched. He lowered his ERA to 3.77.
On the offensive side of the ball it was a big night for first baseman Michael Morse. Morse smashed two of the four home runs of the night for the Nats, one a two-run blast. Morse finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Danny Espinosa and Jayson Werth added solo shots of their own, Espinosa's came back-to-back with Morse's in the seventh-inning. Morse is now hitting 12 home run followed behind by Espinosa and Werth has nine. Another notable performance came from Roger Bernadina who went 3-for-5 with a RBI.
A combination of pitching, offense and smart baseball has put Washington fans in a state of euphoria. Both Michael Morse and Livan Hernandez were made trending topics on Twitter in Washington D.C. late Wednesday night.
The Nationals 32-36 record has put them only half a game back from the fourth place NL East Florida Marlins and even striking distance of the third place New York Mets.