The 2019 Nationals grinded their way through their World Series championship-winning season, and they are playing with the same grit in MLB Dream Bracket 2.

Facing the 2011 D-backs, the Nationals battled to a Game 7 victory in Round 2 of the simulated series. Juan Soto and Kurt Suzuki contributed seven RBIs apiece, while Anthony Rendon and Victor Robles each recorded eight hits.

• Box score and game summary

The Nats' pitching was led by Max Scherzer, who struck out 22 over 14 innings with a 1.29 ERA. Stephen Strasburg (14 strikeouts, 14 2/3 innings) also stood out with a 1.84 ERA.

MLB Dream Bracket 2 features a 64-team tournament with two all-time teams from each of the 30 Major League franchises, three Negro Leagues teams and the 1994 Montreal Expos. The simulated competition is being produced by Out of the Park Baseball 21, Major League Baseball’s most realistic strategy game (PC and Mac).

The 2012 Nationals lost to the 1975 Reds in the National League Region 1 portion of the bracket.

• Full bracket and info | Complete Dream Bracket 2 rosters

Let’s take a look at how the 2019 Nationals, who also bested the 1977 Dodgers in Round 1, won this series and advanced to face the World Series-winning 1995 Braves.

Game 1: Nationals 3, D-backs 1
Scherzer gave the Nationals just what they needed to win the opening game of the series. He quieted the D-backs' offense with nine strikeouts, no walks, five hits and one run (a homer to Chris Young) over 7 2/3 innings. At the plate, Scherzer singled off Ian Kennedy in the third and scored on an Adam Eaton sacrifice fly. Rendon and Robles drove in the Nats’ other two runs. Sean Doolittle earned the save.

Game 2: D-backs 6, Nationals 0
The D-backs opened the game swinging, and they closed it in the same fashion. Strasburg allowed a two-run homer to Justin Upton in the first inning before settling down to fan five over seven frames. Arizona built upon its lead after Strasburg’s exit, scoring four runs in the eighth inning -- three off Wander Suero and one off Fernando Rodney. A pair of future Nationals stifled Washington: Starting pitcher Daniel Hudson struck out five and gave up only two hits in seven innings, and Gerardo Parra recorded two hits and two runs.

Game 3: D-backs 14, Nationals 4
Arizona dominated this game with seven home runs in a lopsided victory. Aaron Hill, Paul Goldschmidt (two), Ryan Roberts (two), Miguel Montero and Justin Upton went yard as the D-backs outhit the Nationals, 15-9. Starter Patrick Corbin exited after allowing five runs (three homers) in 2 1/3 innings. Seven pitchers were called from the bullpen after that. A pair of RBIs from Rendon and Soto weren’t enough to close the gap.

Game 4: Nationals 15, D-backs 3
The Nationals responded with a trouncing in Game 4. They scored seven runs off starting pitcher Joe Saunders in just 3 2/3 innings to set the tone. Eaton homered in the fourth, while he, Rendon and Suzuki tallied three RBIs apiece. The Nats sent 10 players to the plate in a seven-run fourth inning. Aníbal Sánchez picked up the win by striking out four and allowing three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 frames.

Game 5: D-backs 3, Nationals 0
Scherzer’s 13 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings were not enough as the Nationals’ bats went quiet. Washington outhit Arizona, 7-6, and struck out only five times, but the club was unable to produce any runs to support its pitching. Scherzer was assessed the loss after allowing a first-inning RBI single to Upton. The D-backs added two insurance runs in the ninth. Kennedy (two strikeouts, six hits, 6 2/3 innings) earned the win.

Game 6: Nationals 4, D-backs 1
The Nationals evened the series behind a nine-strikeout outing from Strasburg. The righty walked two and allowed five hits and one run over 7 2/3 innings. Hudson’s seven strikeouts in five frames weren’t enough to fend off the Nats. Washington struck in the first and eighth innings with two-run hits from Howie Kendrick and Soto, respectively. Doolittle earned his third save with a scoreless ninth.

Game 7: Nationals 7, D-backs 1
The Nationals used power to defeat the D-backs and clinch the series. Suzuki, Soto and Robles homered off starter Josh Collmenter in the first four innings to pull away early. Each of their shots traveled an estimated 400 feet or more, and Suzuki finished with a game-high four RBIs. Corbin bounced back from Game 3 to throw seven innings with three strikeouts, seven hits and just one run in the win.