It was the top of the eighth, and Stephen Strasburg had given the Washington Nationals seven stellar innings — and for once, the Nats were up, but only by one run. In other words, not nearly enough for any game, and especially any game in October, against the defending World Champion Chicago Cubs.
Daniel Murphy, with two outs, lined a base hit up the middle — and walks to Anthony Rendon and Matt Wieters loaded the bases for Michael A. Taylor. At that point, Carl Edwards Jr. was still on the hill for Chicago, having loaded the bases up after Jon Lester allowed the hit to Murphy.