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5 moments that cost the Nationals Game 5

Geoff Burke / USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Nationals failed to capitalize on their chances to rewrite a painful history.

A franchise that has become synonymous with postseason failure was again unable to win a series Thursday night when it lost 9-8 in Game 5 of the NLDS to the Chicago Cubs.

It's the fourth time in the last six seasons that Washington claimed the NL East division title only to lose in the NLDS, and the third time that it dropped the series clincher in front of its home fans at Nationals Park.

The Nationals had plenty of opportunities to finally exorcise their playoff demons, but five defining moments cost them the win in Game 5.

Scherzer blows up in relief

Nationals ace Max Scherzer became the latest big-name starter to struggle out of the bullpen this postseason.

After Gio Gonzalez and Matt Albers pitched the first four innings, Nationals skipper Dusty Baker called on Scherzer for the fifth with a 4-3 lead. The two-time Cy Young winner retired the first two batters in order before all hell broke loose.

Willson Contreras and Ben Zobrist hit back-to-back singles. Addison Russell followed with a two-RBI double. An intentional walk, passed ball on a strike out, catcher's interference, and a hit by pitch would all come later, resulting in a four-run frame.

Baez reaches on controversial passed ball

Part of Scherzer's undoing could have been prevented had a controversial call gone the Nationals' way in the fifth.

Javier Baez swung and missed on what would have been the final out of the inning, but the ball got past Matt Wieters, allowing Baez to run to first while also granting one run to score, making it 6-4 for Chicago.

Wieters argued that Baez hit his mask on the backswing, which should have been ruled an out. The play, however, is not reviewable. Home-plate umpire Jerry Layne said after the game that he didn't believe Wieters had a play on the ball regardless of Baez's contact, so he allowed play to proceed. Had Layne ruled Baez interfered, the score would have remained 5-4 Cubs heading into the sixth rather than 7-4.

Werth loses the ball in the lights

Even when Nationals pitchers did execute, the defense behind them didn't do any favors.

Trailing 7-4 in the sixth with two outs, the Nationals saw their deficit increase after left fielder Jayson Werth completely missed a ball on a sliding catch attempt, allowing the runner to score from first. Werth would later admit he lost the ball in the lights.

Wieters fails in the clutch

Despite how bad the Nationals were playing, the Cubs' bullpen kept them in the game.

Left-handed reliever Mike Montgomery entered midway through the bottom of the sixth and allowed a double, walk, double, and intentional walk to load the bases for Wieters. The Nationals catcher hit the ball to deep right field, but it was tracked down by Jason Heyward to keep the deficit at three runs. Washington would finish the game 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base.

Lobaton picked off at 1st base

The Nationals mounted serious momentum in the bottom of the eighth against Cubs closer Wade Davis, who was in search of a seven-out save. Washington scored three runs in the previous two innings to cut the deficit to one, and had runners on first and second with Trea Turner at the plate.

All that momentum went out the window, however, courtesy of Contreras' strong arm.

The Cubs catcher caught Jose Lobaton drifting too far off first base and picked off the Nationals backstop to end the inning. The play was reviewed, with replay confirming that Lobaton's leg popped off the base while the tag was being applied.

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