Clayton Kershaw Saves The Day; Los Angeles Dodgers Advance To NLCS

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Washington Nationals, 4-3, this evening to take the NLDS and set up a date in Chicago with the Cubs. L.A. trailed for most of the game until a four-run seventh put them ahead. Starter Rich Hill got chased in the third inning, but the bullpen held it down ( perhaps illegally) until Grant Dayton tossed a slider that didn’t slide and pinch hitter Chris Heisey smacked a dong.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen came into the game in the seventh and threw a career-high 51 pitches until he ran out of gas in the ninth. Then Clayton Kershaw, on less than 48 hours rest, shut it down. He threw seven pitches and ended the game by getting Wimer Difo to swing and miss on a big curve.