For the second time in as many games, the St. Louis Cardinals were dominated by the starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals.

After Anibal Sanchez held the Cardinals in check on Friday night, Max Scherzer was brilliant on the mound in Game 2 of the NLCS. After a 3-1 win, the Nationals head home just two victories away from the World Series.

Scherzer went seven innings, striking out 11 and allowing just three base runners. He didn't allow a hit until a Paul Goldschmidt single in the seventh.

Adam Wainwright, who started for the Cardinals, pitched well himself, but it simply wasn't enough against Mad Max. In 7 1/3 innings, Wainwright had 11 strikeouts as well, but allowed three runs on seven hits.

Michael Taylor homered to left in the third inning and Adam Eaton concluded Washington's scoring with a two-run double in the eighth. Wainwright only faced one more batter after Eaton's hit, intentionally walking Anthony Rendon.

The Cardinals started to rally with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Paul DeJong singled to center and Jose Martinez followed with an RBI double to deep center to pull St. Louis to within 3-1. Dexter Fowler then flied out to right to end the inning. The Cardinals went down 1-2-3 in the ninth.

The Nationals will host Game 3 on Monday night with Stephen Strasburg facing Jack Flaherty.