Things could be worse for the Washington Nationals, who trail by a score of 2-1 in the seventh inning, and they could be a lot better for the St. Louis Cardinals. Game 1 of the NLDS got off to a weird start when Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals' ace, allowed seven walks and two runs while still throwing a no-hitter, but the Cardinals' inability to combine a big hit with all those walks means they don't have more. With both bullpens in the game each team is still looking for a game-changing hit.
The Cardinals' offense was patient against Gio Gonzalez, but it wasn't potent. The two runs scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, and the Cardinals' hardest-hit ball of the night, a Daniel Descalso bomb to right field, was caught in a leaping grab at the fence by Jayson Werth that was startlingly reminiscent of Jason Heyward's play in the Wild Card game on Friday.
The Cardinals have the lead, and they have Mitchell Boggs and Jason Motte set to reprise their eighth and ninth-inning roles once again. But they've missed multiple chances to break this game wide open, and if they get another they'll need to take advantage before the Nationals do.