Needing a win to avoid another first-round playoff exit, the Los Angeles Dodgers brought Clayton Kershaw back on short rest against the Washington Nationals in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
He ran into some trouble early, and allowed the Nationals to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Daniel Murphy’s single. However, Adrian Gonzalez answered back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.
Although he allowed Washington to tie the game in the third on Murphy’s sacrifice fly, Kershaw largely settled into the game and pitched well.
He began to lose some command in the sixth inning but nonetheless returned to the mound in the seventh. He exited with two outs, the bases loaded and a 5-2 lead, which the Dodgers’ bullpen failed to protect.
With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, the Dodgers used an Andrew Toles hit by pitch to mount a two-out rally. Andre Ethier followed with a pinch-hit single, and Chase Utley connected for a go-ahead single.
Videos are courtesy DodgerBlue.com staff writers Daniel Starkand and Eric Avakian:
Chase Utley with the biggest hit of the @Dodgers season. @DodgerBlue1958 pic.twitter.com/DKvOafeLgw
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) October 12, 2016
Chase Utley coming in CLUTCH! @DodgerBlue1958 pic.twitter.com/5IMpbnIHMB
— Eric Avakian (@AvakEric) October 12, 2016
Kenley Jansen picked up two strikeouts in the ninth as he retired the side in order. The series now shifts back to Nationals Park for a deciding Game 5 on Thursday. The start time will be based on whether the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants also go to a final game in their NLDS matchup.
