George bracket: 2017 Nationals sweep 1961 Cubs

Game 1: Nationals 8. Cubs 7 (11 innings)
WP: Albers (1-0)
LP: Brewer (0-1)
HR: Turner (1), Scherzer (1)

Game 2: Nationals 5, Cubs 4
WP: Gonzalez (1-0)
LP: Ellsworth (0-1)
Save: Romero (1)
HR: Banks 2 (2), Williams (1), Zimmerman (1)

Game 3: Nationals 7, Cubs 4
WP: Strasburg (1-0)
LP: Hobbie (0-1)
HR: MA Taylor (1), Bouchee (1)

Game 4: Nationals 5, Cubs 1
WP: Roark (1-0)
LP: Cardwell (0-1)
HR: Zimmerman (2), Altman (1)

The scores were competitive, thanks in part to Washington's underwhelming bullpen, but the outcome wasn't. (The Nationals did not have their three late-season bullpen additions active for this series.)

The Nationals rallied in the opener to overcome a 7-2 deficit. Trey Turner hit a three-run homer in the seventh, and the Nats tied it in the ninth on two singles, a double and a pinch-hit sac fly. Bryce Harper doubled Turner home from first in the bottom of the 11th for the winning tally. Max Scherzer, who homered, was more effective as a hitter than as a pitcher.

Ernie Banks homered twice off Gio Gonzalez in the second game at Nationals Park, but the Nats already led and managed to hold on despite their leaky bullpen. Washington used three relievers to get though the ninth without allowing the tying run to score.

The series moved to Wrigley Field for Game Three. Michael A. Taylor hit a three-run homer in the eighth to open a 7-1 lead, but the Cubs got those three runs back in the eighth and ninth innings to make the final respectable.

Don Cardwell came back on short rest for Game Four, and he and Tanner Rourke dueled evenly for eight innings. But the Nats rallied for four runs in the ninth, with Ryan Zimmerman blasting a three-run homer off reliever Bob Anderson for the climax, and the Nats again went through three relief pitchers for three outs in the ninth, this time getting a 1-2-3 inning.

Player of the Series: Daniel Murphy

Player availability: All pitchers will be rested and ready for the opener of Round Two. Brandon Kintzler will be added to the active roster.

Projected rotation: Scherzer-Gonzalez-Strasburg-Roark-(Scherzer)-(Gonzalez)-(Strasburg)