It was the longest 9-inning game in post-season history. After four hours and 32 minutes, the Los Angeles Dodgers bested the Washington Nationals 4-3 in Game 5 of the NLDS.
The Dodgers scored all four runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Nationals brought it within a run on a pinch hit two-run home run by Chris Heisey in the bottom of the seventh. The seventh inning alone took one hour and six minutes.
I was shocked to see Dave Roberts bring in Kenley Jansen in the seventh inning. Was he going for a nine-out save? That was more fireman than closer a la Mike Marshall circa 1974.
Well, Jansen got seven outs. The final two outs were recorded by Clayton Kershaw. Making his first relief appearance since 2009, Kershaw was working on a day's rest. The moment he got Daniel Murphy to pop out to second, the D.C. crowd got deflated. Pinch hitter Wilmer Difo wasn't equal to the task and was overmatched by Kershaw as he struck out to end the game. I know there is no MVP in the NLDS, but if there was Kershaw would win it having earned two wins and a save. It was the first save of his big league career. Kershaw did have one save in the minors. His catcher was a fellow named Kenley Jansen.
This was a good series. Four of the five games were decided by one run including the Dodgers' three wins. It's a shame that someone had to lose, but the Nationals fell short after taking a lead into the seventh inning with Max Scherzer on the mound.
The Dodgers now advance to the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs beginning Saturday. In 2007 and 2008, the Dodgers swept the Cubs in back to back NLDS. But that was nearly a decade ago and the Cubs may have their best team ever. But with the Cubs having been idle since Tuesday, I am disinclined to bet against the Dodgers.
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