ST. LOUIS -- Off the bat, Michael A. Taylor thought Jos¨¦ Mart¨ªnez's smash was a routine bloop to center field. The crowd at Busch Stadium was loud by that point in Saturday afternoon's Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, regaining life after Taylor¡¯s third-inning homer had quieted it. Unable to hear the crack of Mart¨ªnez¡¯s bat amidst the din, Taylor instead tried to read his swing -- a bit early, a bit unbalanced.

The ball, however, was not a bloop but a 101 mph line drive; by the time Taylor realized that, it was already soaring over his head for an RBI double off Sean Doolittle. This was the type of hit that could have spoiled a banner game for Taylor and a significant win for the Nationals, at least until Doolittle restored order by retiring the next batter on one momentum-killing pitch.

Back in the dugout, Doolittle sought out Taylor to embrace him in a hug.

¡°He was right in the middle of everything that we were doing today,¡± Doolittle said. ¡°I just wanted him to know that I love him, and not to second-guess anything.¡±

One play, Doolittle knew, could not erase Taylor¡¯s contributions to the Nats. Continuing to sub for injured outfielder Victor Robles, Taylor homered to plate the first run of the Nationals¡¯ 3-1 win over the Cardinals, then singled to supply two of Washington¡¯s four hits off Adam Wainwright through seven innings.

¡°The more you¡¯re here, the more you get comfortable in these situations when the stadium gets loud and there¡¯s a lot of pressure,¡± Taylor said. ¡°Just trying to slow it down and play the game as normal as possible, I think is big.¡±

Consider Taylor a growing expert on the matter. In his first extended taste of postseason play two years ago, Taylor hit a grand slam in NL Division Series Game 4 against the Dodgers, then a three-run homer in Game 5. This year, Taylor¡¯s importance grew when Robles strained his right hamstring in NLDS Game 2. Starting daily in center field as a result, Taylor reached base five times in the final three games of that series, making a diving catch of Justin Turner¡¯s bloop for the final out in Game 5.

Saturday, Taylor added a home run and a two-hit game to his resume. And his defensive miscue proved unimpactful, thanks to Adam Eaton¡¯s two-run double in the top of the eighth.

¡°It¡¯s a great feeling,¡± Taylor said. ¡°When you¡¯re in that situation, you¡¯re able to breathe a little bit knowing that you have the lead.¡±

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It¡¯s possible Robles will return to the Nationals¡¯ starting outfield for Game 3 in Washington, likely pushing Taylor back to the bench. That¡¯s routine for a player who spent a good chunk of the season at Double-A Harrisburg, and appeared in nearly twice as many big league games as a substitute than a starter. Marginalized by the healthy trio of Robles, Eaton and Juan Soto, Taylor provided most of his value via defense and baserunning, prompting Doolittle to praise his teammate as ¡°an incredible center fielder ¡­ a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder.¡±

It¡¯s just that some days, especially in October, Taylor¡¯s value does not end there.

When manager Dave Martinez said last week that subbing Taylor for Robles would not affect the Nationals much offensively, it seemed like manager-speak. At his best, Robles offers more power, more consistency, more on-base skill. Yet Taylor has since made his manager¡¯s words seem prophetic.

¡°Mikey,¡± said Doolittle, ¡°has been a huge part of what we¡¯ve been able to accomplish.¡±