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Washington Nationals super season comes to disappointing end

St. Louis rallies from a 6-0 deficit to end Washington’s banner season in Game 5 of NLDS. The Cardinals trailed, 7-5, entering the ninth inning and five times were within one strike of losing.

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Washington Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen, who came into the game with a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning but gave up four runs for the loss, faces the media in the clubhouse after The Washington Nationals lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 9-7 in game 5 of the National League Divisional Playoffs.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen sits alone in the clubhouse after the game.

Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen sits alone in the clubhouse after the game.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals 9-7.

The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals 9-7.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jason Motte (30) is mobbed after their 9-7 comeback win.

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jason Motte (30) is mobbed after their 9-7 comeback win.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper slowly leaves the dugout following their loss. Harper hit a home run and a triple in the game.

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper slowly leaves the dugout following their loss. Harper hit a home run and a triple in the game.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals fans Paul and Isabel Heffner, of Great Falls, react following the Nats 9-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Nationals fans Paul and Isabel Heffner, of Great Falls, react following the Nats 9-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki sits in the dugout after the game.

Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki sits in the dugout after the game.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso rounds the bases after a home run as Nationals relief pitcher Tyler Clippard walks back to the mound in the eighth inning.

Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso rounds the bases after a home run as Nationals relief pitcher Tyler Clippard walks back to the mound in the eighth inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals relief pitcher Tyler Clippard delivers in the top of the eighth inning.

Nationals relief pitcher Tyler Clippard delivers in the top of the eighth inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki talks with starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez in the top of the fifth inning.

Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki talks with starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez in the top of the fifth inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez reacts as Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso scores in the fifth inning.

Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez reacts as Cardinals second baseman Daniel Descalso scores in the fifth inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals left fielder Michael Morse hits a two-run home run in the third inning.

Nationals left fielder Michael Morse hits a two-run home run in the third inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals left fielder Michael Morse rounds first base after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning giving the Nationals a 6-0 lead.

Nationals left fielder Michael Morse rounds first base after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning giving the Nationals a 6-0 lead.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Meet the Press moderator David Gregory leads fans in a cheer as he calls for the teams to 'play ball' at the start of the game.

Meet the Press moderator David Gregory leads fans in a cheer as he calls for the teams to "play ball" at the start of the game.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina goes to the mound to talk with starting pitcher Adam Wainwright in the third inning.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina goes to the mound to talk with starting pitcher Adam Wainwright in the third inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hits a two-run home run in the first inning.

Oct. 12, 2012

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hits a two-run home run in the first inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper celebrates as he crosses the plate after scoring on a two-run home run by teammate Ryan Zimmerman.

Oct. 12, 2012

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper celebrates as he crosses the plate after scoring on a two-run home run by teammate Ryan Zimmerman.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Washington's third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is welcomed after a two-run homer by teammates Danny Espinosa, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth in the first inning.

Oct. 12, 2012

Washington's third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is welcomed after a two-run homer by teammates Danny Espinosa, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth in the first inning.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper watches his solo home run in the third inning.

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper watches his solo home run in the third inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning.

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper waves to the crowd as he scores on a solo home run in the third inning.

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper waves to the crowd as he scores on a solo home run in the third inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper scores after hitting a solo home run in the third inning.

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper scores after hitting a solo home run in the third inning.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Washington Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper is welcomed to the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the third inning.

Washington Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper is welcomed to the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the third inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Washington's right fielder Jayson Werth leads off with a double in the first inning.

Washington's right fielder Jayson Werth leads off with a double in the first inning.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth looks back to check on the progress of Bryce Harper who scored Werth on a triple in the bottom of the first inning.

Oct. 12, 2012

Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth looks back to check on the progress of Bryce Harper who scored Werth on a triple in the bottom of the first inning.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper slides into third on an RBI triple that scored teammate Jayson Werth.

Oct. 12, 2012

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper slides into third on an RBI triple that scored teammate Jayson Werth.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cardinals.

Oct. 12, 2012

Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cardinals.

Ricky Carioti / The Washington Post

Cardinals third baseman David Freese is tagged out at second by Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa as shortstop Ian Desmond backs up the play.

Oct. 12, 2012

Cardinals third baseman David Freese is tagged out at second by Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa as shortstop Ian Desmond backs up the play.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Fans show their support for the Nationals as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5.

Oct. 12, 2012

Fans show their support for the Nationals as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5.

Ray K. Saunders / The Washington Post

Fans wait in line to enter Nationals Park as the Washington Nationals take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5.

Oct. 12, 2012

Fans wait in line to enter Nationals Park as the Washington Nationals take on the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5.

Ray K. Saunders / The Washington Post

Ben Savarick, 12, tries to get the attention of Nationals players for autographs as Drew Pierce, 10, looks on.

Oct. 12, 2012

Ben Savarick, 12, tries to get the attention of Nationals players for autographs as Drew Pierce, 10, looks on.

Ray K. Saunders / The Washington Post

The Washington Nationals drumline entertains the fans.

Oct. 12, 2012

The Washington Nationals drumline entertains the fans.

Ray K. Saunders / The Washington Post

Fans wait to enter Nationals Park.

Oct. 12, 2012

Fans wait to enter Nationals Park.

Ray K. Saunders / The Washington Post

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

TV presenter and conservationist Anneka Tanaka-Svenska wears a hat designed by Louis Mariette during the first day of Royal Ascot, in Berkshire, west of London, on June 18, 2013. The five-day meeting is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar. Horse racing has been held at the famous Berkshire course since 1711 and tradition is a hallmark of the meeting. Top hats and tails remain compulsory in parts of the course while a daily procession of horse-drawn carriages brings the Queen to the course. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNISADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

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Two-year old male rat named Dyatlik wears a costume during a rodent exhibition in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, June 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Johnathon Carrington, valedictorian at Dunbar High School, laughs with family and friends after his school's graduation ceremony at Howard University on Friday, June 14, 2013, in Washington, DC. Carrington, who grew up in Tyler House public-housing apartments and is graduating from one of DC's low-performing high schoolsy, where academic expectations are high. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 18: Madonna attends the Dolce & Gabbana and The Cinema Society screening of the Epix World premiere of 'Madonna: The MDNA Tour' at The Paris Theatre on June 18, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

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Madonna, Michael Buble, Barbara Streisand, Jackie Chan, Jerry Seinfeld, Estelle and other celebrities.

Inmates walk at a high-security male prison camp outside Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk May 14, 2013. High-security male prison camp number 17 is intended to house male inmates who are serving a sentence for the first time, and have been convicted for serious crimes. Prisoners at the facility work in wood and metal processing shops, manufacture furniture, sew clothes and do other kinds of work. They can also take part in educational, sport and cultural programs. Picture taken May 14, 2013. REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin (RUSSIA - Tags: CRIME LAW SOCIETY) ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 4 OF 29 FOR PACKAGE 'INSIDE SIBERIA'S PRISONS' SEARCH 'ILYA PRISON' FOR ALL IMAGES

Life in a Siberian prison

A look inside a high-security prison camp outside Krasnoyarsk, Russia

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 16: Reenactors dressed as knights stage a medieval jousting competition at Eltham Palace on June 16, 2013 in Eltham, England. The 'Grand Medieval Joust' event at Eltham Palace, an English Heritage property which was the childhood home of King Henry VIII, aims to give a great insight into life at the palace during the medieval period. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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