On the strength of two early home runs and a dominant closer performance, the Los Angeles Dodgers have gone up 1-0 on the Washington Nationals in the 2016 NLDS.
In the great pitcher’s duel that wasn’t, the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame several rally attempts from the Washington Nationals to take Game 1 of their NLDS matchup, 4-3. The Dodgers jumped to an early 4-0 lead on Nats starter Max Scherzer and were able to hang on for the win despite a middling outing from their ace, Clayton Kershaw.
The action got started early when Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, a lock for NL Rookie of the Year, hit his first postseason homer off Scherzer in the top of the first inning. Seager, who struggled in his first postseason appearance last year, became the youngest Dodger to homer in postseason history at age 22.
Following an RBI single by Chase Utley in the third inning, Justin Turner hit his first postseason homer to extend the lead to 4-0.
As he has done in the past, however, Kershaw struggled to hold an early lead. Things began to unwind for Kershaw in the bottom of the third when he allowed a two RBI single to Anthony Rendon. Rookie Trea Turner added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, but Kershaw was able to hold the lead with a final line of five innings, three runs, eight hits, a walk and seven strikeouts.
Scherzer went six innings, giving up four runs on five hits, no walks and five strikeouts. With neither starting pitcher asserting their normal dominance, the bullpens were tasked with picking up the pieces in a close game. The Dodgers prevailed in the end, and can thank Kenley Jansen for his services. The flame-throwing closer recorded a five-out save, striking out three and allowing one hit.
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First-time postseason manager Dave Roberts was not hesitant to make the necessary in-game moves to win a tightly contested Game 1. In addition to calling upon Jansen in the eighth, Roberts made two double-switches to tighten the Dodgers’ defense, including a substation for second baseman Charlie Culberson in the seventh who made a big tag-out on a Daniel Murphy steal attempt.
Murphy, who famously hit two home runs against Kershaw in last year’s playoffs, went 1-3 in his Nationals playoff debut. Bryce Harper went for 1-5 while rookie Turner, making his postseason debut, struggled with zero hits and three strikeouts.
Related Story: 2016 NLDS: Corey Seager hits first postseason homer
The teams will meet again on Saturday at 4:08 p.m., ET, when righty Tanner Roark (16-10, 2.83 ERA) of the Nats will to do battle with Dodgers lefty Rich Hill (3-2, 1.83 ERA with LA) at Nationals Park. The game will air again FS1 TV and streaming services.