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ST. LOUIS — For all the new wisdom in baseball, some theories stay timeless. One in particular guides Mike Rizzo in building annual contenders for the Washington Nationals.
“I was taught early in my scouting and G.M. career that once you have starting pitching, anything is possible,” said Rizzo, the Nationals’ general manager, “and if you don’t have it, nothing is possible.”
In Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium on Friday, even a no-hitter seemed possible — from Washington’s fourth starter, Anibal Sanchez, who held the St. Louis Cardinals without a hit until Jose Martinez singled with two outs in the eighth inning.