Nationals vs. Cubs: Score, highlights from NLDS Game 4

Ryan Fagan

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Nationals vs. Cubs: Score, highlights from NLDS Game 4 image

Game 4 of the NLDS started out with drama — will Stephen Strasburg start? — ended with dropped jaws.

Strasburg was brilliant, striking out 12 in seven shutout innings, and the Nationals wound up with a 5-0 victory, thanks to an eighth-inning grand slam by Michael A. Taylor. If you want to take a trip back through this rain-soaked game, here's your chance. 

Sporting News provided live updates the entire contest, and this is like a stoll down memory lane (that won't be as much fun for Cubs fans). 

NLDS Game 4: Nationals vs. Cubs. Score, results, highlights

(All times ET)   

8:08 p.m.: And that's it. Sean Doolittle shuts down the Cubs in the ninth. See you in D.C. tomorrow night. 

8:02 p.m.: Amazing how much different this series feels right now, isn't it? Nationals are three outs away from hosting a winner-take-all Game 5. They'll have Gio Gonzalez, Tanner Roark and Max Scherzer (for a couple innings, max) lined up to go. 

7:57 p.m.: The rain can't be fun. 

7:49 p.m.: Cubs are down to their final three outs. It's 5-0 Nationals, heading into the top of the ninth. 

7:42 p.m.: Kris Bryant needs a reboot.

7:39 p.m.: Nothing's ever easy for Nationals fans. Two of the first three Cubs to face Ryan Madson have reached base. 

7:27 p.m.: Hey, remember when Jon Lester picking off Ryan Zimmerman was the most amazing thing that happened in the eighth inning? 

7:25 p.m.: Seriously, that was amazing. 

7:21 p.m.: On a night where home runs looked impossible, Michael A. Taylor hits a grand slam off Cubs closer Wade Davis. Holy cow. 

7:15 p.m.: This is the game. Nationals have the bases loaded, and Joe Maddon is bringing in Wade Davis mid at-bat, with a 1-0 count on Michael Taylor. Edwards just couldn't locate the strike zone. 

7:05 p.m.: This is why that pickoff was so amazing. 

7:01 p.m.: Jon Lester picked off Ryan Zimmerman. What in the world. 

6:50 p.m.: Sorry for the lack of entries. Was spellbound by Strasburg's masterpiece. Seriously. 

6:33 p.m.: It's raining at Wrigley. Looks like it will be for a while, too. 

6:27 p.m.: Conspiracy alert!

6:23 p.m.: Jon Lester works a second scorless inning. 

6:18 p.m.: I asked the question: Any chance the Nationals use any relievers other than Doolittle/Madson/Kintzler? Your thoughts ...

6:12 p.m.: Strasburg is on cruise control. Five innings, zero runs, eight strikeouts. 

6:10 p.m.: The Cubs have a rally! Oh, wait. Nope. Javy Baez hits into a double play, negating Jason Heyward's leadoff single. 

6:06 p.m.: Ah, the "mold" trolls. 

6:05 p.m.: Jon Lester's playoff relief appearance started much smoother this time. Given a clean inning to start, Lester sets down the Nationals with zero trouble in the fifth inning. Still 1-0, Nationals. 

5:57 p.m.: Yep. This. 

5:55 p.m.: OK, stop me if you've heard this one: Strasburg escaped a jam by striking out a Cubs hitter. Stunning, right? 

That's eight strikeouts in four innings. One hit, one walk allowed. He's been outstanding. 

5:47 p.m.: Cubs catch a break. Willson Contreras winds up on second base after hitting a tapper about 15 feet in front of the mound. That's how this one is going to be won today, with the wind blowing in like this. 

5:41 p.m.: Arrieta escapes, with a strikeout of Jayson Werth. Still 1-0 Nationals. 

5:37 p.m.: In a game where home runs aren't happening, this could be the game. Nationals have the bases loaded, with two outs, in the fourth inning.  

5:19 p.m.: Strasburg is dealing, folks. Strikes out the side in the third inning.

5:12 p.m.: Nationals on the board. Tapper by Ryan Zimmerman booted by Addison Russell. Turner scores. 1-0 DC.

5:05 p.m.: Big strikeout of Jayson Werth, with Turner on third base. 

4:59 p.m.: Trea Turner has a hit, folks! Finally. 

4:56 p.m.: The pigeons are assembling along the edge of the infield. 

4:55 p.m.: Like the wind, Strasburg escapes the second inning. Wait, check that. Because of the wind, Strasburg escapes. 

4:47 p.m.: Wrigley giveth and Wrigley taketh. Addison Russell got robbed by the winds blowing in.  

4:46 p.m.: Zobrist doubles

4:39 p.m.: Arrieta's first inning: Out, Out, Walk, Out. Arrieta's second inning: Out, Out, Walk, Out. 

That'll work. 

4:33 p.m.: Pigeon update!

4:32 p.m.: Hell of a play by Bryant there. 

4:25 p.m.: Two up, two down. 

4:21 p.m.: One pitch, one strike. So far so good for Stras.

4:19 p.m.: Arrieta walked Bryce Harper, but that was the only hiccup in the inning. Up next, we see how Strasburg really feels. 

4:16 p.m.: Can SOMEBODY MAKE THIS HAPPEN?

4:14 p.m.: Yep.

4:10 p.m.: I believe this is what they call the killer instinct.

4:08 p.m.: Here's the Nationals' lineup. 

4:07 p.m.: Cubs broke out the big names for first-pitch duties. 

4:02 p.m.: So, remember how Strasburg was under the weather? And how Dusty Baker said it was because of high mold counts in Chicago? You didn't really think Cubs fans were going to ignore that, did you? 

3:47 p.m.: This isn't a going to be a bright and sunny day at Wrigley. 

Ryan Fagan

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Ryan Fagan, the national MLB writer for The Sporting News, has been a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2016. He also dabbles in college hoops and other sports. And, yeah, he has way too many junk wax baseball cards.