Starting pitchers today were righthander Max Scherzer (Washington) and lefthander Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles).
Scherzer was 20-7 this season with a 2.96 ERA, but he didn't faced the Dodgers.
The last time, he pitched against the Dodgers was in 2015, which was a loss.
In his career, Scherzer is 2-4 against Los Angeles.
Before today, Scherzer pitched in 12 previous postseason-games and was 4-3.
Kershaw was 12-4 with an 1.69 ERA.
Kershaw pitched in one game this season against the Nationals, which was played on June 20.
He then was the winning pitcher, throwing seven innings.
The lefthander won his last eight starts against the Nationals since 2012.
Before the game, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Nationals-catcher Wilson Ramos.
He is out for the season after tearing his ACL in his right knee.
Initially, former Nationals-pitcher Livan Hernandez was to throw out the pitch.
However, the Cuban was unable to reach Washington due to Hurricane Matthew.
The Dodgers opened the score immediately in the top of the first inning off of Max Scherzer.
He began by striking out lead-off hitter Chase Utley, but then gave up a homerun to Corey Seager.
Hereafter, Scherzer hit Justin Turner with a pitch, but a double play then ended the at bat.
Clayton Kershaw struckout the side in his first inning.
But in the second inning, the Nationals got the bases loaded.
Daniel Murphy led off with a single, but was forced out.
Hereafter, Ryan Zimmerman also singled.
With two outs, the Dodgers got the bases loaded when Pedro Severino reached on an error, but a pop-fly then ended the inning, leaving three runners behind.
...Kenley Jansen...
...5-out save...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
The Dodgers then struck with three runs the top of third inning.
Andrew Toles led off with a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Clayton Kershaw, then scored on a single by Chase Utley.
The latter was forced out on a grounder by Corey Seager, but hereafter, Justin Turner followed with a 2-run homerun to make it 4-0 in favor of the Dodgers.
The Nationals got two runs back in its third at bat.
With one out, Bryce Harper doubled, then Jayson Werth walked.
With two outs, the two executed a double-steal, then both scored when Anthony Rendon followed with a single.
Washington narrowed the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth inning.
Pedro Severino led off with a double, advanced on a grounder and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trea Turner.
The Nationals threaten to score again in the fifth.
Jayson Werth led off with a single, then Anthony Rendon singled with one out.
A flyout followed, then Kershaw closed the inning with a strikeout.
Both teams stranded a runner in the sixth, but then the Dodgers got into scoring position again in the seventh.
With one out, Yasmani Grandal singled and advanced on a grounder.
To set up a force play, next batter Sammy Solis was walked intentionally.
The inning then ended with a grounder, leaving two runners behind.
With the Dodgers leading 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Ryan Zimmerman led off for Washington with a flyout into deep leftfield off of reliever Pedro Baez.
Hereafter, closer Kenley Jansen was brought in for a 5-out closing.
This season, Jansen threw 1 2/3 inning only once and that was back in April.
This year, Jansen was credited with a career-high 47 saves, which was the second-highest total in the Majors.
During the season, Jansen became the all-time save-leader in Dodgers-history.
He closed the season with 189 saves in his career, passing Eric Gagné, who had 161.
Jansen also set an all-time career franchise-record in strikeouts for relievers with 632.
The previous high was 604, accomplished by Jim Brewer.
In the bottom of the eighth, Jansen got the second out when pinch-hitter Stephen Drew popped out into foul territory.
Hereafter, the righthander gave up a double to pinch-hitter Clint Robinson, but then ended the innig by striking out pinch-hitter Chris Heisey.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Dodgers got the bases loaded with two outs.
Washington-closer Mark Melancon struckout the first two batters, but then Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick singled, resulting in runners on second and third base.
Hereafter, the bases were loaded when Yasiel Puig was walked intentionally.
That brought up Kenley Jansen in the batter's box.
As it of course was the intention that Jansen would return to the mound in the bottom of the ninth, no pinch-hitter was inserted.
With that, Jansen batted himself in what was only his fourth big league at bat.
However, Jansen, who is a former catcher, struckout and so, three runners were left behind.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jansen retired the side to end the game and record a 5-out save.
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Los Angeles nips Washington in opener of NLDS
WASHINGTON, D.C. (USA) -
Los Angeles Dodgers opened the best-of-five National League Division Series on Friday (October 7) with a 4-3 victory against Washington Nationals.
Game Two of the Series will be played on Saturday.
The Nationals won its third National League East-championship in five years with a 95-67 record.
It was the sixth time that Manager Dusty Baker has led a team to a title after doing so with San Francisco Giants (1999, 2000), Chicago Cubs (2003) and Cincinnati Reds (2010, 2012).
With this, he became only the third Manager in history to have led four different teams to the postseason.
The other two Managers are Billy Martin and Davey Johnson.