Washington Nationals: Treinen’s Meltdown Helps Dodgers Force Game 5
By Ricky Keeler
Chase Utley’s 8th inning single against Blake Treinen gives the Dodgers a 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals and forces a Game 5 Thursday
Even though the Washington Nationals struggled against Clayton Kershaw for most of the day, they rallied back to score three runs in the seventh to tie the game at five. But, the Dodgers ended up rallying against Blake Treinen in the eighth. In the end, Chase Utley‘s RBI single to right center clinched a 6-5 win for the Dodgers as the series will go to a deciding fifth game.
The Washington Nationals scored first against Clayton Kershaw and made him throw 27 pitches. With two runners on and one out, Daniel Murphy singled to right to score Trea Turner and put the Nats in front, 1-0.
But, the Dodgers struck back in the bottom of the inning against Joe Ross. After Justin Turner got hit by a pitch with two outs, Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run home run to right to put Los Angeles in front, 2-1.
In the top of the third, Murphy helped tie the game up at two when he drove in Turner with a sacrifice fly to center. Turner had three hits and scored three runs today in the loss.
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During the bottom of the inning, the Dodgers were able to re-take the lead against Ross. Kershaw led off the inning with a double. Two batters later, Turner’s RBI single to left center put the Dodgers in front 3-2.
The lead would go to 4-2 after two walks and Joc Pederson being hit by a pitch. That would end Ross’ day as went 2.2 innings, gave up four runs on three hits, struck out three, and walked two.
Pederson would add an insurance run against Reynaldo Lopez in the fifth when his RBI double to left field drove in Josh Reddick. Despite giving up the run, Lopez and Oliver Perez (came in before Lopez) did a good job in keeping the Washington Nationals in the game.
Kershaw was dealing in this game up until the top of the seventh. Danny Espinosa led off with a single (first hit of the series). Three batters later, Turner reached on an infield single to extend the inning. Dave Roberts left Kershaw in to face Harper and the Nats’ right fielder drew a walk to load the bases.
Harper would be the last batter Kershaw faced. Roberts went to Pedro Baez, but he hit Werth with the first pitch while the bases were loaded. With the score 5-3, Luis Avilan came in to face Murphy. Murphy was able to get a two-run single to left center that tied the game at five. The Nats second baseman finished with four RBI’s in the loss.
As for Kershaw, he pitched a great game on short rest, but did not get the result he was looking for. He went 6.2 innings, gave up five runs on seven hits, struck out 11, and walked two in the no-decision.
The game would remain tied until the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, the Dodgers rallied after Treinen struck out the first two hitters. Treinen hit Andrew Toles and then Andre Ethier hit a pinch-hit single. Instead of going to Sammy Solis, Baker left Treinen in and Utley delivered the game-winning RBI single to right. Treinen struck out three batters in one inning of work, but he took the loss.
Kenley Jansen would come in to close it out in the top of the ninth. After his bad game in Game 3, Jansen bounced back by striking out two of the three batters he faced in a 1-2-3 inning. Joe Blanton got the win for Los Angeles after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
Next: Joe Ross Gets Game 4 NLDS Call
Next Game: Depending on the outcome of tonight’s Cubs-Giants game, Game 5 will either be played at 5:08 or 8:08 p.m ET Thursday night at Nats Park. Max Scherzer is going to start for the Nats against a starter yet to be named for the Dodgers. You can watch the game on FOX Sports 1.