The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to Wrigley after a wild finish in Game 5 of the NLDS.
In one of the most improbable finishes in recent baseball memory, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 4-3 in Game 5 of their NLDS matchup, and have punched their ticket to the 2016 NLCS where they will face the Chicago Cubs.
The game, which ran four hours and 32 minutes, the longest nine-inning game in postseason history, ended in a way that no one could have imagined going in. Clayton Kershaw has handed the ball to Kenley Jansen in the ninth before, but this time the roles were reversed and the three-time Cy Young award winner converted the first save of his career at the most opportune time. In other history-making news, Julio Urias became the youngest player — 20 years, 62 days — to win a postseason game.
The game slowed to a snail’s pace during a one-hour, six-minute seventh inning, when a combined eight pitchers were used as well as multiple pinch hitters and defensive subs. The Dodgers overcame a 1-0 deficit to take a 4-1 lead in the top of the seventh before the Nationals added two runs in the bottom half of the frame to tighten the game at 4-3.
Dodgers starter Rich Hill only lasted 2.2 innings having thrown 55 pitches, giving up one run on three hits and two walks, striking out six. The Dodgers bullpen was mostly effective in holding the lead, outside of a two-run homer served by Grant Dayton to Chris Heisey in the seventh.
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Max Scherzer was cruising until he gave up a leadoff homer to Joc Pederson in the seventh and was removed after a subsequent walk. Scherzer finished the game with six innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks, striking out seven.
The heroes for the Dodgers in the four-run seventh also included backup catcher Carlos Ruiz, who got a pinch hit RBI single, and Justin Turner, who added two more with a triple. Turner had a tremendous series batting .400 with five runs and 5 RBI.
The Nationals stars struggled to get anything going in a game with plenty of dramatic moments. Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth and Daniel Murphy combined to go 3 for 14 with five strikeouts. For the third time in six years, the Nationals have failed to advance past the NLDS.
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The Dodgers will now head to Wrigley for Game 1 of the NLCS against the Cubs on Saturday. Chicago will use Jon Lester in the opener, while the Dodgers’ starter is up in the air following Kershaw’s surprise ninth inning appearance.