Dodgers beat Nationals 6-5 to force Game 5 in NLDS

NLDS Game 4: Dodgers beat Nationals

By Dan Israeli | Oct 11, 2016

October 16, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) pitches the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game five of the National League Championship Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dodgers win a wild one setting up a Game 5 at Nationals Park on Thursday.

One day after giving up four crucial runs in the top of the 9th, Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen sought redemption and got a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts, preserving a 6-5 lead in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In one of the most dramatic games of this postseason, Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw, pitching on three days rest, was staked a 5-2 lead after six innings of stellar work. Kershaw battled in the first and third innings, but was able to bounce back twice and headed into the 7th with victory seemingly in his grasp.

The Nationals fought back again, however, this time loading the bases on Kershaw who was removed for Pedro Baez. A hit-by-pitch (HBP) to Jayson Werth and a two-RBI single by Daniel Murphy later, and the game was tied. Kershaw finished the day with 6.2 innings pitched, giving up 5 runs (3 stranded in the seventh) on seven hits and two walks, striking out 11.

The HBP has been the story this series as later in the bottom of the 8th, Dodgers left fielder Andrew Toles was hit too, the fourth Dodger HBP in the game and the 11th player in the series, both postseason records. Following a pinch-hit single by Andre Ethier (in his first at-bat of this postseason), Chase Utley would go on to add an RBI single that was the difference in the game.

Nationals starter Joe Ross had an outing to forget in his first playoff start, pitching 2.2 innings of four-run ball, while giving up three hits and two walks, striking out three. The Nationals got another monster outing from Daniel Murphy, going 2-3 with 4 RBI. Rookie Trea Turner stayed hot going 3-5 with 3 runs, while Jayson Werth continued his strong NLDS going 2-3 with an RBI.

The Dodgers were powered by their 3-4-5 hitters (Justin Turner, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Reddick) who went a combined 3-8 with 4 runs and 3 RBI. Joc Pederson also came up big going 1-3 with a HR and two RBI on the day.

Bryce Harper continued his struggles, going 0-3 and is now hitting .214 on the series. Corey Seager went 0-5 and stopped his postseason RBI streak in the first inning.

The series will conclude on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. ET at Nationals Park. The projected pitchers for the game will be Max Scherzer for the Nationals and Rich Hill for the Dodgers.

Who do you think will win the NLDS between the Nationals and Dodgers?

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