Stephen Strasburg went seven strong innings on Monday night as the Washington Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-1 to take a 3-0 lead in the NLCS.

Strasburg had 12 strikeouts without a single walk. He allowed seven hits, but just one run (unearned).

When the Cardinals reached base, they went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Their greatest chance came when Jose Martinez and Yadier Molina singled to begin the seventh inning. After Tommy Edman stuck out, Paul DeJong singled to left. Martinez scored on a throwing error and Molina advanced to second. The threat ended, however, when Matt Wieters and Dexter Fowler struck out.

The Nationals broke the game open against Jack Flaherty in the third. Adam Eaton had an RBI single, Anthony Rendon recorded an RBI double and Howie Kendrick doubled to center to score two runs. Already with a 4-0 lead, Washington added two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.

Still leading 7-1 after the Cardinals got on the board, Ryan Zimmerman added an insurance run in the seventh.

Flaherty struggled, allowing four runs on five hits in four innings. He had allowed four runs over his first 13 playoff innings.

The Nationals are one win away from Washington's first World Series in 86 years.

Patrick Corbin will start in Game 4 against Dakota Hudson for the Cardinals.