For much of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been struggling. But if they are going to turn it around, they may look back at Saturday, May 19, as the day that everything changed.
On Saturday, the Dodgers swept the Washington Nationals in a doubleheader, first beating them 4-1 and then coming back to defeat them in the nightcap, 5-4.
The second win was a big one, as Rich Hill was only able to make two pitches before leaving with a blister, forcing the Dodgers to get all 27 outs from their bullpen.
While the group blew a lead in the sixth inning, the offense fought back in the ninth off Nationals closer Sean Doolittle.
Austin Barnes got the inning started with a base hit to right field, and that was followed by a bloop single off the bat of Logan Forsythe. Matt Kemp then came up to pinch-hit and crushed a two-run double down the left-field line that gave the Dodgers a decided lead.
Max Muncy had a good day at the plate, swinging the bat well in both games. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the first game, and then had two more hits in the second game, including a home run off reigning two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.
The real hero of the first game was Ross Stripling. He was able to get through six innings for the first time this season, giving up just four hits and one run while striking out a career-high nine batters without issuing a walk.
Kenley Jansen was also nails all day, pitching a scoreless inning in each game to earn two saves on the day. The Dodgers, who have won three straight games overall, go for the series sweep over the Nationals on Sunday afternoon.
